Crawlee for Python is a comprehensive library for building reliable web scrapers and automating browser interactions. It targets developers needing to extract data for AI, LLMs, or RAG applications, offering a unified interface for both raw HTTP requests and headless browser automation, with built-in proxy rotation and robust error handling.

How It Works

Crawlee provides two primary crawler types: BeautifulSoupCrawler for efficient HTML parsing via HTTP requests, and PlaywrightCrawler for JavaScript-heavy sites using headless browsers. This dual approach allows users to select the most performant method for their specific needs. Its asynchronous, asyncio-based architecture and extensive configuration options enable fine-grained control over crawling behavior, retries, and data storage.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install with: python -m pip install 'crawlee[all]'
• Install Playwright dependencies: playwright install
• Verify installation: python -c 'import crawlee; print(crawlee.__version__)'
• Full documentation: https://crawlee.dev/docs/intro
• Examples: https://crawlee.dev/examples

Highlighted Details

• Unified interface for HTTP and headless browser crawling.
• Asyncio-based for high performance and compatibility.
• Automatic retries, proxy rotation, and session management.
• Configurable request routing and pluggable storage.

Maintenance & Community

• Developed by Apify.
• Support channels: GitHub Issues, Stack Overflow, GitHub Discussions, Discord server.
• Contribution guidelines available in CONTRIBUTING.md.

Licensing & Compatibility

• Licensed under Apache License 2.0.
• Permissive license suitable for commercial use and integration with closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

The library is open to early adopters, suggesting potential for ongoing development and API changes. While it aims to bypass bot protections, effectiveness may vary against sophisticated anti-bot measures.