# Lemmy Scraper (`dami_studio/lemmy-scraper`) Actor Scrapes public Lemmy posts from any instance (default lemmy.world) by front-page feed, community, or keyword search. Returns title, link, body, author, community, score, comments, votes, NSFW flag and thumbnail as JSON. Best for brand and product mon - **URL**: https://apify.com/dami\_studio/lemmy-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Dami's Studio](https://apify.com/dami_studio) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, News, Integrations - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $1.50 / 1,000 post returneds This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Lemmy Scraper Scrape public posts from any **Lemmy** instance — the federated, Reddit-style link aggregator. Browse an instance's front-page feed, pull a single community, or search by keyword. No account, no API key, no login. Uses the public **Lemmy v3 REST API**, so reads are fast and clean (structured JSON, not HTML scraping). ### Modes - **Feed** — the instance front page (`/api/v3/post/list`). Just set `instance` and `sort`. - **Community** — one community's posts. Set `mode: "community"` and put the community name in `query` (e.g. `technology`, or cross-instance `technology@lemmy.world`). - **Search** — search posts by keyword. Set `mode: "search"` and put the term in `query` (e.g. `linux`). ### What you get per post `id`, `title`, `url` (the external link the post points to, if any), `body` (post text; markdown, with stray HTML stripped), `author`, `authorActor` (the creator's federated actor URL), `community`, `communityTitle`, `score`, `comments`, `upvotes`, `downvotes`, `nsfw`, `thumbnail`, `published` (ISO), and `postUrl` (the permalink on the instance, e.g. `https://lemmy.world/post/123`). #### Fields that can be null - `url` / `thumbnail` — many posts are pure text discussions with no external link or image. - `body` — link posts often have no body text. - Any field Lemmy omits for a given post comes back `null` rather than being dropped. ### Input | Field | Notes | |---|---| | `instance` | Lemmy instance host (bare domain). Default `lemmy.world`. | | `mode` | `feed`, `community`, or `search`. Default `feed`. | | `query` | Community name (community mode) or search term (search mode). | | `sort` | `Hot`, `Active`, `New`, `TopDay`, `TopWeek`, `TopMonth`, `TopAll`. Default `Hot`. | | `maxItems` | Max posts to return (paginated 50 at a time). Default 100. | ### Output One dataset row per post, deduped by post `id`. Pricing is pay-per-result: you are only charged for genuine post rows (`ok: true`). Rows we couldn't deliver are never charged: - invalid input — a single `ok: false` diagnostic row with `errorCode: "BAD_INPUT"` (bad instance, bad mode, or a missing community name / search term), - no posts for this feed/community/search (`NO_RESULTS`), - a missing community or non-Lemmy host (`NOT_FOUND`), - rate limits or network errors (`RATE_LIMITED` / `NETWORK`). #### Proxy The Lemmy v3 REST API is public and has no anti-bot, so **no proxy is required** and the default runs without one (saving proxy credits). Only enable Apify Proxy if an instance rate-limits your IP at very high volume. #### Troubleshooting - `NOT_FOUND` in community mode? Check the community name. If it lives on another instance, use the cross-instance form `name@otherinstance.tld`, or set `instance` to that instance directly. - `NO_RESULTS`? The feed/community/search genuinely returned nothing on this instance — try a different `sort`, a broader search term, or a larger instance. - `BAD_INPUT`? `community` and `search` modes both require `query`. `instance` must be a bare Lemmy domain like `lemmy.world`. ### Example ```json { "instance": "lemmy.world", "mode": "community", "query": "technology", "sort": "Hot", "maxItems": 50 } ```` ### Notes Lemmy is federated: a large instance like `lemmy.world` also relays content from communities hosted elsewhere. The `postUrl` permalink points to the instance you scraped; `authorActor` and the community's federated identity tell you where the content originates. # Actor input Schema ## `instance` (type: `string`): The Lemmy instance host to scrape (bare domain, no https://). Examples: lemmy.world, lemmy.ml, beehaw.org, sh.itjust.works. ## `mode` (type: `string`): What to scrape: "feed" = the instance front-page feed; "community" = a single community (put its name in Query); "search" = search posts by keyword (put the term in Query). ## `query` (type: `string`): For mode "community": the community name, e.g. "technology" or "technology@lemmy.world". For mode "search": the keywords to search for, e.g. "linux". Ignored in mode "feed". ## `sort` (type: `string`): How to sort posts. Hot/Active rank by recent engagement; New is chronological; the Top\* options rank by score within a time window. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of posts to return. The actor paginates (50 per request) until it reaches this many or runs out of posts. ## `notionConnector` (type: `string`): Optional. Write each post as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless. ## `notionParentId` (type: `string`): Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): OPTIONAL. The Lemmy v3 REST API is public and has no anti-bot, so no proxy is needed and the default routes traffic directly (saving proxy credits). Only enable Apify Proxy if an instance rate-limits your IP at high volume. ## Actor input object example ```json { "instance": "lemmy.world", "mode": "feed", "query": "technology", "sort": "Hot", "maxItems": 100, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): Scraped rows are stored in the default dataset (one row per result). Blocked/empty/error runs return a single uncharged diagnostic row instead. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "instance": "lemmy.world", "query": "technology" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dami_studio/lemmy-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "instance": "lemmy.world", "query": "technology", } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dami_studio/lemmy-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "instance": "lemmy.world", "query": "technology" }' | apify call dami_studio/lemmy-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dami_studio/lemmy-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Lemmy Scraper", "description": "Scrapes public Lemmy posts from any instance (default lemmy.world) by front-page feed, community, or keyword search. Returns title, link, body, author, community, score, comments, votes, NSFW flag and thumbnail as JSON. Best for brand and product mon", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "vMOCMRV1iF9cX5O8N" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dami_studio~lemmy-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dami_studio-lemmy-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~lemmy-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dami_studio-lemmy-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dami_studio~lemmy-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dami_studio-lemmy-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "instance": { "title": "Lemmy instance", "type": "string", "description": "The Lemmy instance host to scrape (bare domain, no https://). Examples: lemmy.world, lemmy.ml, beehaw.org, sh.itjust.works.", "default": "lemmy.world" }, "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "feed", "community", "search" ], "type": "string", "description": "What to scrape: \"feed\" = the instance front-page feed; \"community\" = a single community (put its name in Query); \"search\" = search posts by keyword (put the term in Query).", "default": "feed" }, "query": { "title": "Query (community name or search term)", "type": "string", "description": "For mode \"community\": the community name, e.g. \"technology\" or \"technology@lemmy.world\". For mode \"search\": the keywords to search for, e.g. \"linux\". Ignored in mode \"feed\"." }, "sort": { "title": "Sort", "enum": [ "Hot", "Active", "New", "TopDay", "TopWeek", "TopMonth", "TopAll" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to sort posts. Hot/Active rank by recent engagement; New is chronological; the Top* options rank by score within a time window.", "default": "Hot" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max posts", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of posts to return. The actor paginates (50 per request) until it reaches this many or runs out of posts.", "default": 100 }, "notionConnector": { "title": "Notion connector (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. Write each post as a page into your Notion when the run finishes. Authorize a Notion connector once in Settings → API & Integrations → MCP connectors, then pick it here. Leave empty to skip (default) — results are always saved to the dataset regardless." }, "notionParentId": { "title": "Notion target data source ID", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. The Notion data source ID of the database to write into (only used if a Notion connector is set). Leave empty to create the pages privately in your workspace instead." }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy (optional)", "type": "object", "description": "OPTIONAL. The Lemmy v3 REST API is public and has no anti-bot, so no proxy is needed and the default routes traffic directly (saving proxy credits). Only enable Apify Proxy if an instance rate-limits your IP at high volume.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```