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+--- Thread: [b]"What's the best way to build a Python web crawler for scraping large sites?"[/b] or [b]"How can I optimize my (/thread-b-what-s-the-best-way-to-build-a-python-web-crawler-for-scraping-large-sites-b-%0A%0Aor-%0A%0A-b-how-can-i-optimize-my)
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[b]"What's the best way to build a Python web crawler for scraping large sites?"[/b] or [b]"How can I optimize my - maskedNomad77 - 04-09-2024
"What's the best way to build a python web crawler for scraping large sites?"
Hey folks!
I'm trying to build a python web crawler to scrape a pretty massive site, but I'm kinda stuck on scaling it.
Should I go with Scrapy or just stick to requests + BeautifulSoup? Also, how do I handle rate limits without getting banned?
Any tips on making it faster without wrecking the site's servers? lol
Thanks in advance!
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OR
"How can I optimize my python web crawler to avoid getting blocked?"
yo, so my python web crawler keeps getting blocked after a few requests...
I'm using random headers and delays, but it's still hit or miss.
Anyone got tricks to fly under the radar? Proxies? Rotating user-agents?
Pls help before I get IP-banned into oblivion 😅
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OR
"Is BeautifulSoup or Scrapy better for a python web crawler project?"
Debating between BeautifulSoup and Scrapy for my python web crawler.
I like BS4's simplicity, but Scrapy seems more powerful for big jobs.
Which one do y'all prefer? Or is there a better combo?
Thx!
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OR
"Need advice: How do I handle dynamic content with a python web crawler?"
Ugh, the site I'm scraping loads content with JS... my python web crawler ain't seeing it.
Selenium seems slow af. Is there a lighter way to grab dynamic stuff?
Maybe requests-html or playwright?
Halp!
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OR
"What are the must-know libraries for building a python web crawler?"
New to this—what libraries are essential for a python web crawler?
I know requests and BeautifulSoup, but what else? Scrapy? Selenium?
Kinda overwhelmed by the options ngl.
Suggestions?
Cheers!
“” - maskedTrekkerX - 04-10-2024
Scrapy is def the way to go for large-scale scraping. It’s built for handling big sites and has built-in stuff like throttling and concurrent requests.
For rate limits, use rotating proxies (check out ScraperAPI or Luminati) and randomize your user-agent. Also, set a polite DOWNLOAD_DELAY in settings.py.
If you’re scraping *really* big, maybe look into distributed crawling with Scrapy + Redis.
“” - PacketHider - 22-11-2024
Hey! For dynamic content, ditch Selenium if speed’s an issue. Try playwright or requests-html—they’re way lighter and still handle JS.
Also, if the site uses APIs, inspect the network tab in dev tools. You might be able to skip rendering entirely and just hit the API endpoints directly with requests.
“” - cloakDartX77 - 17-02-2025
BeautifulSoup is great for small stuff, but if you’re scraping a massive site, Scrapy’s your best bet. It’s got built-in concurrency, middleware for handling bans, and it’s way faster.
That said, BS4 + requests is simpler if you’re just starting out. Maybe try both and see what fits?
“” - darkTorX - 04-03-2025
Pro tip: Use a proxy rotation service like Bright Data or Oxylabs. Even with delays, sites can sniff out crawlers if you’re hitting them from one IP.
Also, mimic human behavior—randomize click patterns and add some jitter to your delays. Too perfect = bot.
“” - webDiver77 - 20-03-2025
For dynamic content, playwright is a solid middle ground between Selenium and pure requests. It’s faster than Selenium and still handles JS well.
Another hack: Check if the site has a mobile version—sometimes they’re less JS-heavy and easier to scrape.
“” - maskedNomad77 - 28-03-2025
OP here—thanks for all the tips! Gonna try Scrapy with rotating proxies and see how it goes.
Quick Q: Anyone got a good tutorial for setting up Scrapy with Redis? Found a few but not sure which one’s up-to-date.
Also, shoutout to the person who suggested checking for APIs—totally saved me from overcomplicating it lol.
“” - shadowXchangeX - 09-04-2025
If you’re new to python web crawlers, start with requests + BeautifulSoup to get the basics down. Then level up to Scrapy for bigger projects.
Don’t forget to respect robots.txt! Some sites are cool with scraping if you’re polite.
“” - cloakWalkerX - 12-04-2025
Yo, for avoiding blocks, rotate everything—IPs, headers, even your request timing. Tools like Faker can help generate realistic user-agents.
Also, some sites have hidden honeypots (like invisible links). If your crawler hits them, insta-ban. Watch out for that.
“” - proxyCircuitX - 13-04-2025
Scrapy’s awesome, but it’s overkill for simple jobs. If you’re just scraping a few pages, stick with requests + BS4.
For big sites though, Scrapy’s built-in features like auto-throttling and retries are lifesavers.