The Undocumented Web: scraping, private APIs, proxies and “alternative solutions”

What is the undocumented web? Scott and Wes dive into it, discussing APIs, faking, scraping, automation, proxies as well as tips and tricks for best practices.

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Show Notes

3:05 - What Is the undocumented web?

• When traditional methods don’t give you what you want
• Wild West

6:10 - Undocumented APIS

• Instagram’s private API
• Use dev tools’ XHR Request
• React Dev Tools will also have the data
• Ep 008 - Wes Bos Origin Story
• Realtor.ca - MLS Mapping
• Simon Willison’s Zeit Day Talk about XML files
• Charles Proxy App - also good for debugging requests

17:34 - Faking

• Faking User Agents
  • Sending headers from requests
  • Free Blackberry wifi on plane

23:52 - Scraping

• What is craping?
• Cheerio - jQuery like node package

27:30 - Automation

• Cron Jobs
• Filling out forms instantly
• Headless browsers
  • Puppeteer
  • PhantomJS

33:30 - Proxies

• Need a fresh IP address
• Need a different country
• Side note: Canadians buying stuff in USA M4S1P1 === 41100
• API throttling

39:00 - Tips and Tricks

• Multiple API keys
• diskDB - Text files as databases
• Search Github for API keys
• Inspect Element and Delete Overlays
• Delete Cookiesokay

44:45 - Stories

• Photo Voting
• MLS Listing
• Top Entrepreneur voting cheating
• Vanity Plate Checker
• My Hockey Team Sucks
• Vehicle auction bidding app
• youtube-dl

××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ×××

• Scott: Octopath Traveler & OST
• Wes 1: AvE Youtube Channel
• Wes 2: Mustie1 Youtube Channel

Shameless Plugs

• Scott’s Level Up Tuts Pro
• Wes’ Courses

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