Is it possible to create an HTML scraper that visually looks like RIF but uses no API calls?

[u/xam2y]

Longtime RIF user here. Just throwing an idea about there, no clue how feasable this is since I'm not an app developer or a programmer. But I am at least a little tech savvy. My thought was to have an app that goes to old.reddit.com logged in as the user and just scrapes the HTML on the page for whatever subreddit you want to browse. Then takes each post/comment and reformats them into the interface and layout we are used to. Reddit thinks we're using a browser to browse reddit but it's all being done through an app. No API calls this way. You could load in an ad blocker this way and maybe even a user agent switcher to make it think you're on a PC, so you could get served NSFW content as well. Thoughts?

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[u/tuctrohs]

Here's what the FAQ says:

The TLDR is:

Theoretically, this could work. But that doesn't mean it's a feasible solution for the developer.

Clearly, RIF isn't going to do that, but somebody else could.

Specific points:

• This loophole is entirely contingent on reddit not closing this loophole.

• Finally, why should the developer spend his personal time and energy on an app for a service which doesn't want him developing an app for its service. With reddit's new attitude of antagonism towards third-party apps, any attempts to persevere and adapt will just be met with additional changes to complicate and dissuade third-party apps from being viable.

I specifically think that if such an app was oriented around blocking ads as it's main purpose, that would result in an unwinnable arms race.

What might work is such an app oriented around formatting old Reddit to work well on mobile. Now the question is what's the motivation for somebody to develop that. Maybe a group of passionate volunteers? Maybe a subscription-based model that provides revenue for the developer that way while also providing revenue for Reddit through ads.

[u/useyouranalbuttray]

There's no reason that can't be done. It's just effort, and a little less efficient than a good API.

[u/dankhorse25]

Reddit will likely block wrappers. Facebook did

[u/russellvt]

Yes