Show HN: Degrees What?

#1

Post by perilunar » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 5:11 AM UTC

One of my pet peeves is when people specify a temperature in "degrees" when it’s not clear from the context which scale is being used. I always want to ask “degrees what?”

So I made this little conversion tool that uses degrees angle to convert between degrees Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius.

Tip: you can add a number in a query to link directly to a temperature. e.g. https://degreeswhat.com/?100

Show HN: Degrees What?
degreeswhat.com

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#2

Post by fouronnes3 » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 5:45 AM UTC

Congrats on a good execution of a fun idea. The mobile UX feels very good.

Also sorry to be that guy but:

> when people specify a temperature in "degrees" when it’s not clear from the context which scale is being used.

It should be degrees Celsius. Anything else is just insane ;)

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#3

Post by mdturnerphys » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 5:58 AM UTC

I always want to ask “degrees what?"

I once worked on a system that ran at -40 degrees. I loved leaving off the scale when giving tours and telling about it, because someone would invariably ask if I meant Celsius or Fahrenheit and then everyone got to learn where the crossing point of the two scales is.

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#4

Post by Vecr » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 5:59 AM UTC

fouronnes3 wrote: post #2

Congrats on a good execution of a fun idea. The mobile UX feels very good. Also sorry to be that guy but: > when people specify a temperature in "degrees" when it’s not clear from the context which scale is being used. It should be degrees Celsius. Anything else is just insane ;)

"Degrees Kelvin". Yeah, I've actually heard that.

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#5

Post by lostmsu » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:08 AM UTC

mdturnerphys wrote: post #3

I always want to ask “degrees what?" I once worked on a system that ran at -40 degrees. I loved leaving off the scale when giving tours and telling about it, because someone would invariably ask if I meant Celsius or Fahrenheit and then everyone got to learn where the crossing point of the two scales is.

-40K are impossible AFAIK

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#6

Post by laingc » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:12 AM UTC

Vecr wrote: post #4

fouronnes3 wrote: post #2

Congrats on a good execution of a fun idea. The mobile UX feels very good. Also sorry to be that guy but: > when people specify a temperature in "degrees" when it’s not clear from the context which scale is being used. It should be degrees Celsius. Anything else is just insane ;)

"Degrees Kelvin". Yeah, I've actually heard that.

To be fair, that is actually common in physics. Elsewhere obviously not so much.

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#7

Post by defrost » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:12 AM UTC

The 'compass' setting is a minefield if done 'correctly'

For the kinds of maps I coded for in the 1980's you'll want your compass rose to indicate

* Geographic North (on, say a WGS84 ellipsoid)

* Magnetic North (where a magnetic compass points, this varies by time and geographic location)

* Rotational North (the spin axis of the planet - it walks a bit)

This things can be added if you're looking for an additional ( pointless? ) challenge.

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#8

Post by defrost » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:14 AM UTC

laingc wrote: post #6

Vecr wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Degrees Kelvin". Yeah, I've actually heard that.

To be fair, that is actually common in physics. Elsewhere obviously not so much.

Celsius = Kelvin + offset in any case, they're not so different .. not like that other scale used in very few countries.

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#9

Post by mdturnerphys » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:18 AM UTC

laingc wrote: post #6

Vecr wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Degrees Kelvin". Yeah, I've actually heard that.

To be fair, that is actually common in physics. Elsewhere obviously not so much.

I think the point was that it's just "Kelvin" not "degrees Kelvin"

Re: Show HN: Degrees What?

#10

Post by laingc » Tue, Jul 04, 2023, 6:20 AM UTC

mdturnerphys wrote: post #9

laingc wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, that is actually common in physics. Elsewhere obviously not so much.

I think the point was that it's just "Kelvin" not "degrees Kelvin"

I didn’t pick that up, but I suppose that’s fair. I’ve heard both, as I have with Celsius.