tiktok-flask
The “Automate TikTok Daily Data Pulls” Problem Continues.
Quick reminder –
INSTIGATOR:
OMG TIKTOKAPI IS SO EXCITING!
PROBLEMS:
(see 8/12 daily log for round 1 of problems)
MORE PROBLEMS (Let’s call them… obstacles so we can feel more positive)
PROBLEM:
I have a script. I want it to run daily.
SOLUTION:
Local cron jobs!
PROBLEM:
These only run when your computer is on.
SOLUTION:
Computer is usually on so this shouldn’t be a problem, right?
PROBLEM:
WRONG – WHAT IF THE COMPUTER IS NOT ON AND WE MISS THAT CRUCIAL DAY OF DATA!?? (this is what my head is saying)
SOLUTION:
A web browser!! Just spin up a web browser and use node cron!
SIDE NOTE: I actually got this working and felt pretty baller for a second before realizing…
PROBLEM:
The TikTokApi (the unofficial one created by a computer science student) refuses to run anywhere outside of the virtual environment I created for it in V1
SOLUTION:
Google “how to run jupyter notebook inside a virtual environment”
PROBLEM:
None of these methods seem to work…????
SOLUTION:
Peek at the TikTokApi code so you can see what’s happening under the hood. Oh! We can read it! This is excellent!! Maybe I can try just running the file like he has it here!
PROBLEM:
The API relies on selenium which uses a “web driver” – essentially something that fakes user input in a web browser.
SOLUTION:
Install selenium! Run the test code from here (but change .Firefox() to .Chrome())
PROBLEM:
error – ‘chromedriver needs to be in path’
SOLUTION:
Download chromedriver directly into the virtual environment bin folder thank you, Miske for this helpful answer!
PROBLEM:
“This driver only supports Chrome 85”
SOLUTION:
Download the driver for the chrome we DO have, which is 84
PROBLEM:
… can any of this work on heroku!? Can Heroku even HAVE web drivers!?
SOLUTION:
I haven’t tried all of this yet, but once I figure out something that Selenium actually does (something small) you can bet your booty that I will be trying it.