+- Proxy Community (https://proxycommunity.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Use Case (https://proxycommunity.com/forum/forum-use-case)
+--- Forum: Web Scraping (https://proxycommunity.com/forum/forum-web-scraping)
+--- Thread: [b]"What’s the best way to build a Python web crawler for scraping large sites?"[/b] Alternatively: [b]"How can I (/thread-b-what%E2%80%99s-the-best-way-to-build-a-python-web-crawler-for-scraping-large-sites-b-%0A%0Aalternatively-%0A%0A-b-how-can-i)
Pages:
1
2
[b]"What’s the best way to build a Python web crawler for scraping large sites?"[/b] Alternatively: [b]"How can I - InvisibleCircuit99 - 20-06-2024
"What’s the best way to build a python web crawler for scraping large sites?"
Hey folks! I’m trying to scrape a massive site (like, *thousands* of pages) and my current python web crawler is kinda slow + keeps getting blocked. 😅
I’ve messed around with Scrapy, but the learning curve’s steep. BeautifulSoup + Requests is easier, but idk if it scales well.
Any tips? Like:
- How to speed things up without getting banned?
- Best libs for handling big jobs?
- Should I even bother with async stuff?
Also, anyone got experience with rotating proxies or user-agents? My script keeps getting slapped by Cloudflare lol.
Thanks in advance! 🙏 (and sorry if this has been asked a million times)
“” - vpnXpertX88 - 19-02-2025
If you're dealing with Cloudflare and slow scraping, try using Scrapy + Scrapy-Splash. It handles JS rendering better than just Requests.
For proxies, check out Bright Data or Luminati—they’re pricey but work well for large-scale python web crawler projects.
Async *can* help, but tbh, if you’re new to it, stick with threading first (like concurrent.futures). Less headache, still faster than sequential requests.
Also, randomize your user-agents and throttle requests. Cloudflare hates bots that go brrrrr.
“” - fastShroud77 - 13-03-2025
Hey! Been there lol. For big sites, Scrapy is worth the learning curve—it’s built for scaling.
Pro tip: Use rotating proxies (I like ProxyMesh) and set a DOWNLOAD_DELAY in Scrapy to avoid bans.
If you’re stuck, check out Zyte (formerly Scrapinghub). They’ve got tools to handle anti-bot stuff.
Async is great but overkill if you’re just starting. Focus on not getting blocked first!
“” - maskedDiver77 - 21-03-2025
For a python web crawler scraping thousands of pages, you *need* proxies. Free ones won’t cut it—try Smartproxy or Oxylabs.
Also, Cloudflare hates fast requests. Slow down (like 2-5 sec delay) and mimic human behavior.
BeautifulSoup + Requests is fine for small stuff, but Scrapy + middleware (like scrapy-rotating-proxies) is better for large sites.
Async? Only if you’re comfy with it. Otherwise, threading is simpler.
“” - proxyDash_99 - 26-03-2025
Dude, Cloudflare is the worst. Try adding headers (like Accept-Language, Referer) to make your python web crawler look legit.
For libs, Scrapy is king for big jobs. If it’s too complex, maybe try httpx + asyncio? Faster than Requests but still manageable.
Proxies: I’ve had luck with Storm Proxies. Rotate ’em and keep delays random.
Also, CAPTCHA solvers like 2Captcha can save your butt.
“” - InvisibleCircuit99 - 27-03-2025
Wow, thanks for all the tips! Didn’t expect so many replies.
I’ll give Scrapy another shot with rotating proxies (probably Smartproxy) and throttle the requests.
Quick Q: Anyone tried Scrapy Cloud? Is it worth it for handling bans automatically, or should I just stick to local tweaking?
Also, big shoutout for the proxy recommendations—saved me hours of trial and error. 🙌
“” - InvisibleLegend77 - 28-03-2025
If you’re scraping *massive* sites, Scrapy + Redis is a powerhouse combo. Lets you distribute crawling across machines.
Proxies are a must—I use GeoSurf. And yeah, randomize user-agents (fake-useragent lib is handy).
Async is cool, but Scrapy’s already async under the hood. Stick with it and tweak settings like CONCURRENT_REQUESTS.
P.S. Check out Scrapy’s AutoThrottle feature to avoid bans.
“” - darkDart77 - 29-03-2025
Honestly, for a python web crawler, start simple. Use Requests + BeautifulSoup with a *slow* delay (3+ sec) and see if that avoids bans.
If you *must* scale, Scrapy is the way. But yeah, the learning curve sucks.
Proxies: Luminati is gold but $$$. For free, try scraping public proxy lists (ironic, I know).
Async? Only if you’re ready for the rabbit hole.
“” - AnonStorm - 30-03-2025
Cloudflare’s a pain, but you can bypass it with playwright or selenium—just slower.
For proxies, I rotate with ProxyCrawl. Works decently.
Scrapy’s the best for large-scale python web crawler, but if it’s too much, try httpx + asyncio. Less magic, more control.
Oh, and always respect robots.txt. Unless you’re feeling risky lol.