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Show HN: API store

phantombuster.com

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Re: Show HN: API store

#3

Post by paps »

hbcondo714 wrote: post #2

This looks similar to https://rapidapi.com but rather than pricing for each individual API, there is one monthly cost to access all APIs?

It's similar in the sense that it's a listing of APIs. But we're providing non-official APIs that work by automating / scraping websites. Our platform runs Headless Chrome instances behind the scenes.

As a matter of fact, the automation code is available here: https://github.com/phantombuster/api-store

Re: Show HN: API store

#4

Post by chrismeller »

paps wrote: post #3
hbcondo714 wrote: post #2

This looks similar to https://rapidapi.com but rather than pricing for each individual API, there is one monthly cost to access all APIs?

It's similar in the sense that it's a listing of APIs. But we're providing non-official APIs that work by automating / scraping websites. Our platform runs Headless Chrome instances behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, the automation code is available here: https://github.com/phantombuster/api-store

So eventually you’ll have reliability issues because your data source is a violation of someone’s TOS?

Re: Show HN: API store

#5

Post by paps »

chrismeller wrote: post #4
paps wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's similar in the sense that it's a listing of APIs. But we're providing non-official APIs that work by automating / scraping websites. Our platform runs Headless Chrome instances behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, the automation code is available here: https://github.com/phantombuster/api-store

So eventually you’ll have reliability issues because your data source is a violation of someone’s TOS?

Well, it's up for debate. We automate websites on behalf of our users (that is, logged in as them). Which means the site knows at all time who's doing what and can take action in case of abuse.

Also, we see more and more ruling indicating that scraping is in fact legal. Websites can block users according to their ToS but they can't take legal action against them or us. Maybe.

In any case, our platform also provides the tools for anyone to automate any website (make them into an API). That part is just a developer tool.

Re: Show HN: API store

#6

Post by madamelic »

paps wrote: post #5
chrismeller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So eventually you’ll have reliability issues because your data source is a violation of someone’s TOS?

Well, it's up for debate. We automate websites on behalf of our users (that is, logged in as them). Which means the site knows at all time who's doing what and can take action in case of abuse. Also, we see more and more ruling indicating that scraping is in fact legal. Websites can block users according to their ToS but they can't take legal action against them or us. Maybe. In any case, our platform also provides t…

>We automate websites on behalf of our users (that is, logged in as them). Which means the site knows at all time who's doing what and can take action in case of abuse.

So you break ToS on your user's account, thereby risking their own and not yours... Even better.

>Also, we see more and more ruling indicating that scraping is in fact legal.

It doesn't matter if it is legal. What matters more is if the service considers it a violation of an implicit agreement not to abuse servers with rapid API requests (Big props if you are already throttling)

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Like your service is a great idea, but breaking ToS on your user's accounts is super no-bueno in my opinion. I scrape too but I am always under the complete understanding the service can ban my account or IP at any time.

Re: Show HN: API store

#7

Post by naiv »

paps wrote: post #5
chrismeller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So eventually you’ll have reliability issues because your data source is a violation of someone’s TOS?

Well, it's up for debate. We automate websites on behalf of our users (that is, logged in as them). Which means the site knows at all time who's doing what and can take action in case of abuse. Also, we see more and more ruling indicating that scraping is in fact legal. Websites can block users according to their ToS but they can't take legal action against them or us. Maybe. In any case, our platform also provides t…

Wow, you are located in San Francisco. I would have guessed in India or somewhere else where you might not fear being sued.

>> "is in fact legal"

There is a big difference between "legal" and "court decision" . If a court will rule in hiq labs favor vs. linkedin it doesn't make scraping linkedin automagically legal for you.

Re: Show HN: API store

#8

Post by [deleted] »

paps wrote: post #3
hbcondo714 wrote: post #2

This looks similar to https://rapidapi.com but rather than pricing for each individual API, there is one monthly cost to access all APIs?

It's similar in the sense that it's a listing of APIs. But we're providing non-official APIs that work by automating / scraping websites. Our platform runs Headless Chrome instances behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, the automation code is available here: https://github.com/phantombuster/api-store

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: API store

#9

Post by amelius »

paps wrote: post #3
hbcondo714 wrote: post #2

This looks similar to https://rapidapi.com but rather than pricing for each individual API, there is one monthly cost to access all APIs?

It's similar in the sense that it's a listing of APIs. But we're providing non-official APIs that work by automating / scraping websites. Our platform runs Headless Chrome instances behind the scenes. As a matter of fact, the automation code is available here: https://github.com/phantombuster/api-store

Wouldn't it be easy for e.g. Facebook to train a classifier on the behavior of your scrapers, and from there block you?

Re: Show HN: API store

#10

Post by nunez »

paps wrote: post #5
chrismeller wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So eventually you’ll have reliability issues because your data source is a violation of someone’s TOS?

Well, it's up for debate. We automate websites on behalf of our users (that is, logged in as them). Which means the site knows at all time who's doing what and can take action in case of abuse. Also, we see more and more ruling indicating that scraping is in fact legal. Websites can block users according to their ToS but they can't take legal action against them or us. Maybe. In any case, our platform also provides t…

Yikes.
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