# DEV.to Article Search Scraper (Fast & Cheap) (`devil_port369-owner/devto-article-search-scraper`) Actor Fast & cheap DEV.to article scraper to extract posts, Markdown content, author profiles, reactions, and tags via dev.to API. Perfect for developer relations, trend monitoring, content research, and building LLM/RAG training datasets without API keys or logins. Export to JSON or CSV. - **URL**: https://apify.com/devil\_port369-owner/devto-article-search-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [DataFusionX](https://apify.com/devil_port369-owner) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, AI - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.40 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. 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/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 ## ⚡ DEV.to Article Search Scraper (Fast & AI-Ready) [![Apify Actor](https://img.shields.io/badge/Apify-Actor-orange)](https://apify.com) [![x402 Ready](https://img.shields.io/badge/x402-Agentic_Protocol-blue)](https://apify.com) [![Python 3.11](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3.11-green)](https://python.org) Extract, clean, and structure DEV.to articles in bulk using parallel full-text search indexing. Engineered specifically for **AI Agents, RAG Ingestion Pipelines, LLM Training Workflows, Content Researchers, and DevRel Strategists**. --- ### 🎯 Quick Overview The **DEV.to Article Search Scraper** queries DEV Community's deep search index to extract articles, author metadata, reading metrics, body text, tags, and engagement scores—without requiring API keys, login credentials, or complex setups. * **🚀 Bulk Keyword & Tag Search:** Pass multiple search queries, topics, or hashtags to fetch matching articles concurrently. * **🧹 Linear & Clean Data Output:** Automatically strips Algolia markup (``), flattens nested JSON user objects, and normalizes date structures for frictionless export. * **🤖 AI Agent Native (x402 Protocol):** Native support for Apify’s x402 agentic payment protocol (USDC micropayments on Base) for autonomous AI workflows. * **💰 Pay-Per-Event (PPE):** Extremely cost-effective pricing—pay strictly for the article results you fetch. --- ### 💡 Key Use Cases * **RAG Pipeline & Vector DB Ingestion:** Extract clean, unformatted plain-text developer articles for vector embeddings (Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant). * **Developer Relations & Tech Trend Monitoring:** Track mentions, developer sentiment, and popular tutorials across tags like `#webdev`, `#python`, `#ai`, and `#react`. * **SEO & Content Strategy Analysis:** Analyze top-performing articles on DEV Community by reading time, reaction counts, and tag distribution. * **LLM Fine-Tuning Datasets:** Build high-quality tech datasets for fine-tuning open-source code models and technical chatbots. --- ### 📥 Input Configuration Configure your inputs via the Apify Console UI or JSON payload: | Field | Key | Type | Default | Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Search Queries** | `queries` | `Array[String]` | **Required** | Keywords, hashtags, or topic strings (e.g., `["react 19", "python", "ai agents"]`). | | **Max Results** | `max_results` | `Integer` | `10` | Maximum number of articles to extract per query. | #### Example Input JSON ```json { "queries": ["react 19", "twitter algorithm"], "max_results": 20 } ```` *** ### 📤 Output Dataset Format The dataset returns flattened, structured JSON records ready for immediate conversion to CSV, Excel, pandas DataFrames, or direct vector database ingestion. ```json [ { "searchQuery": "example-query", "id": "1234567", "title": "How to Build Modern Web Applications with Example Framework", "url": "https://dev.to/johndoe/how-to-build-modern-web-applications-abc12", "publishedAtISO": "2026-01-15T12:00:00Z", "readablePublishDate": "Jan 15, 2026", "timestamp": 1768478400, "readingTimeMinutes": 5, "score": 42, "commentsCount": 8, "publicReactionsCount": 25, "positiveReactionsCount": 25, "reactionCategories": [ { "slug": "like", "count": 15 }, { "slug": "unicorn", "count": 10 } ], "tags": [ "webdev", "javascript", "tutorial", "programming" ], "featured": false, "mainImage": "https://example.com/images/cover-image.png", "authorId": "9876543", "authorName": "John Doe", "authorUsername": "johndoe", "authorProfileURL": "https://dev.to/johndoe", "authorProfileImage": "https://example.com/images/john-doe-avatar.jpg", "bodyText": "Building modern web applications requires a solid understanding of fundamental concepts.\n\n\n\nIn this article, we will explore the core principles of software architecture, data management, and performance optimization.\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Getting Started\n\n\nFirst, set up your development environment by installing the necessary dependencies. Make sure your runtime version is up to date.\n\n\n\nNext, configure your project settings and define your application pipeline.\n\n\n\nThis setup ensures scalable and maintainable code for your team.", "bodyHtml": "

Building modern web applications requires a solid understanding of fundamental concepts.

\n\n

In this article, we will explore the core principles of software architecture, data management, and performance optimization.

\n\n

\n \n \n Getting Started\n

\n\n

First, set up your development environment by installing the necessary dependencies. Make sure your runtime version is up to date.

\n\n

Next, configure your project settings and define your application pipeline.

\n\n

This setup ensures scalable and maintainable code for your team.

" } ] ``` *** ### 🤖 Executing via Autonomous AI Agents (x402 Protocol) This Actor supports direct autonomous execution by AI agents using the HTTP 402 protocol with USDC on the Base network: ```bash npx awal x402 pay '[https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/devil_port369-owner~devto-article-search-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items](https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/devil_port369-owner~devto-article-search-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items)' \ --data '{"queries": ["react 19", "ai agents"], "max_results": 10}' ``` *** ### ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) #### How to extract DEV.to articles without an API key? This Actor uses direct full-text search endpoints to scrape public DEV.to posts and metadata without requiring a DEV API key or user authentication. #### Can I export DEV Community data to CSV or Excel? Yes. Apify automatically enables data downloads in JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, or HTML table formats directly from the run dataset panel or via API. #### Is this DEV.to scraper suitable for building LLM training datasets? Yes. Output items are flattened and pre-cleaned (stripping HTML tags and search markup), making them immediately usable for RAG chunking and LLM training. # Actor input Schema ## `queries` (type: `array`): List of keywords or topics to search on DEV.to in parallel. ## `max_results` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of articles to return for each search query. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Select proxies to be used by the scraper. Apify Proxy is recommended to prevent IP rate-limiting. ## Actor input object example ```json { "queries": [ "react 19", "twitter algorithm", "python web scraping" ], "max_results": 10, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # 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 = { "queries": [ "react 19", "twitter algorithm", "python web scraping" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("devil_port369-owner/devto-article-search-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 = { "queries": [ "react 19", "twitter algorithm", "python web scraping", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("devil_port369-owner/devto-article-search-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 '{ "queries": [ "react 19", "twitter algorithm", "python web scraping" ] }' | apify call devil_port369-owner/devto-article-search-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=devil_port369-owner/devto-article-search-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "DEV.to Article Search Scraper (Fast & Cheap)", "description": "Fast & cheap DEV.to article scraper to extract posts, Markdown content, author profiles, reactions, and tags via dev.to API. Perfect for developer relations, trend monitoring, content research, and building LLM/RAG training datasets without API keys or logins. Export to JSON or CSV.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "WNUarDPVN0IdyPflc" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/devil_port369-owner~devto-article-search-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-devil_port369-owner-devto-article-search-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/devil_port369-owner~devto-article-search-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-devil_port369-owner-devto-article-search-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/devil_port369-owner~devto-article-search-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-devil_port369-owner-devto-article-search-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", "required": [ "queries" ], "properties": { "queries": { "title": "Search Queries (Bulk)", "type": "array", "description": "List of keywords or topics to search on DEV.to in parallel.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "max_results": { "title": "Max Results Per Query", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of articles to return for each search query.", "default": 10 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Select proxies to be used by the scraper. Apify Proxy is recommended to prevent IP rate-limiting.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```