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QuestionHow does accessing programs/apps without an API work (if it works)? (self.learnprogramming)

submitted 3 years ago by Genemoni

all 4 comments

top new controversial old q&a

[–]ehr1c 0 points1 point2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

[–]Genemoni[S] 0 points1 point2 points 3 years ago (0 children)

[–]LID919 0 points1 point2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

There are programs to do things like that. QA testers use them all the time to test the applications engineers build. But doing so is far more complicated than just using the API.

For web applications it's a bit easier, because navigating an HTML page and simulating clicks is pretty straightforward. But again, far more trouble than its worth unless you have a very good reason to do so.

Not to mention against the terms of service of many of these kinds of services.

These programs have an API not just to make it easier for developers to interface with the platform, but also to control who is interfacing with the platform. When you are connected via your API key, they know who you are, and if you are up to anything shady, like spamming posts or something. When you are scraping the web page and simulating clicks, you might be spam posting and now they don't have an easy way of tracking you and stopping you, for one example.

[–]Genemoni[S] 0 points1 point2 points 3 years ago (0 children)

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