this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2022

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What software/library to use to write a bot that snipes a PS5 as soon as it is available for preorder? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I have tried to use fast fingers to preorder a PS5 as soon as it restocks and have failed. Now I want to turn to the dark side.

What do I use to achieve this? I know python and shell scripting but know nothing about web development.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Popular libs for web scraping are requests and beautifulsoup. You may want to check out this tutorial for the basics.

I wouldn't be too optimistic that you stand a chance against "professional scrapers" but good luck anyway!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

I have used bs4 before but didn't know it could be used for that. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Game theory at work turning this into a mutually assured destruction scenario where everyone loses.

Next step will be an AI that predicts when there will be stock and sends the order a few milliseconds before the stock is officially listed.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

I don't see the game theory aspect here. Can you explain?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Well, like game-theory applies to all such scenarios.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

That is technically correct but game theory is not useful here because scalpers and normal consumers aren't parties that can ever (even hypothetically) reach a compromise. If you look at the 101 example of "two hostages being interrogated separately", this situation is nothing like that. Everyone is just trying to preorder one or more video game console as stupid as it sounds

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago (2 children)

You're probably better off finding a bot someone else has already made. Here's a few.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

Nice. Thanks a lot.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

I had to modify the code for one of the bots in there but was able to preorder one finally. Thanks a lot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

PS5 is evil device with DRM. Give your money to charity instead of S*ny.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

For Python I would use requests and Selenium.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Thanks. Will look into selenium.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago (1 children)

Selenium is great because it allows one to do browser actions such as clicking an element and going to a different page, so it could be used to implement "sniping a PS5".

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago

Selenium worked. Thanks a lot.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (1 children)

fucking gamers

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

Down with g*mers indeed

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago (3 children)

To solve this problem.. ask yourself... why you want this PS5? What motivates your desire for a closed capitalist hardware full of neocolonial games? To the point of this clicking nonesense?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 years ago

I asked these questions and the problem wasn't solved but thanks for trying.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 years ago

After the Revolution, the only game is Farming Simulator 2095

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 years ago

LOL 😂😂😂