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https://github.com/dbrennand/twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer

An application to watch the Twitter stream and send accounts to the Botometer API for analysis. The results are stored in a SQLite database.
https://github.com/dbrennand/twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer

bot-detection botometer data-gathering twitter-api twitter-bot-detection twitter-streaming-api

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An application to watch the Twitter stream and send accounts to the Botometer API for analysis. The results are stored in a SQLite database.

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# twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer



An application to watch the Twitter stream and send accounts to the [Botometer API](https://botometer.osome.iu.edu/) for analysis. The results are stored in a SQLite database.



## Prerequisites



Before using this application, credentials for the following are required:



  * [The Twitter API](https://developer.twitter.com/en/docs)



  * [The Botometer API](https://rapidapi.com/OSoMe/api/botometer-pro)



### Twitter API Credentials



The application connects to the Twitter stream API to query Twitter user's to Botometer for analysis.



To get access to the Twitter API, a developer account is needed. You can apply for one [here](https://developer.twitter.com/en/apply-for-access) and find more information about the application process [here](https://developer.twitter.com/en/docs/twitter-api/getting-started/getting-access-to-the-twitter-api).



Once you have a developer account, go to the [developer portal](https://developer.twitter.com/en/portal/dashboard) to create an application.



When creating the application, provide a unique *name* and follow the instructions. The application's API key and secret will be shown (aka. `consumer_key` and `consumer_secret`). Furthermore, you will need to generate an access token and access token secret to use the Twitter stream API. Go to your application, click **Keys and tokens** > **Access Token and Secret** > **Generate**. Store the credentials somewhere safe as they will be needed later.



### Botometer API Credentials



The application uses the [Botometer API](https://rapidapi.com/OSoMe/api/botometer-pro/details) to collect bot scores for Twitter users.



To get access to the Botometer API, a RapidAPI account is needed. You can create one [here](https://rapidapi.com/auth/sign-up).



Once you have a RapidAPI account, go to the Botometer API [pricing](https://rapidapi.com/OSoMe/api/botometer-pro/pricing) page and subscribe to the *Basic* or *Pro* plan.



> [!NOTE]

>

> The *Pro* plan requires a credit or debit card to be added to the RapidAPI account.



Once you have chosen a plan, go to the RapidAPI [developer dashboard](https://rapidapi.com/developer/apps). Then, go to security page for the `default-application`. The application key (API key) will be shown. Store it somewhere safe as it will be needed later.



Further details on accessing the Botometer API can be found [here](https://github.com/IUNetSci/botometer-python#rapidapi-and-twitter-access-details).



## Dependencies



Install the application's dependencies using one of the options below:



```bash

# Poetry

poetry install --no-dev

# Pip

pip install -r requirements.txt

# Or use Docker!

# Please refer to the heading below

```



## Usage



```

$ python twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer/main.py -h



usage: main.py [-h] [-t TRACK] [-f DATABASE_NAME] [-d]

               rapidapi_key twitter_app_auth



An application to watch the Twitter stream and send accounts to the Botometer

API for analysis. The results are stored in a SQLite database.



positional arguments:

  rapidapi_key          Botometer Rapid API key.

  twitter_app_auth      Twitter application credentials.



optional arguments:

  -h, --help            show this help message and exit

  -t TRACK, --track TRACK

                        A hashtag to track. Can be specified more than once.

  -f DATABASE_NAME, --database_name DATABASE_NAME

                        Name of the database file. Defaults to: twitter-

                        stream-bot-data-gatherer.

  -d, --debug           Enable debug messages.

```



### Tracking a Single Hashtag



```bash

python twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer/main.py  \

  '{"consumer_key": "", "consumer_secret": "", "access_token": "", "access_token_secret": ""}' \

  --track '#StandWithUkriane'

```



### Tracking Multiple Hashtags



```bash

python twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer/main.py  \

  '{"consumer_key": "", "consumer_secret": "", "access_token": "", "access_token_secret": ""}' \

  -t '#StandWithUkriane' \

  -t '#RefugeesWelcome' \

  -t '#Ukrania'

```



### Modifying the SQLite Database Name



```bash

python twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer/main.py  \

  '{"consumer_key": "", "consumer_secret": "", "access_token": "", "access_token_secret": ""}' \

  -t '#StandWithUkriane' \

  # The database will be named 'twitter-db.db'

  -f 'twitter-db'

```



### Docker 🐋



Build the container image:



```bash

docker build -t twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer:v0.1.0 .

```



Run the application and persist the SQLite database:



```bash

docker run -it --name twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer \

    -v absolute/path/to/store/db:/usr/src/app/db \

    twitter-stream-bot-data-gatherer:v0.1.0  \

    '{"consumer_key": "", "consumer_secret": "", "access_token": "", "access_token_secret": ""}' \

    --track '#StandWithUkriane'

```



## SQLite Database Structure



The SQLite database will contain one table called `data`. Within the table will be three columns:



1. `screen_name`: The screen name of the Twitter account.



2. `status_json`: The full JSON response of the [Tweet Object (aka. Status)](https://developer.twitter.com/en/docs/twitter-api/v1/data-dictionary/object-model/tweet) from the Twitter stream.



3. `botometer_json`: The full JSON response from the Botometer API.



## My Related Work



* [dbrennand/Final-Year-Project](https://github.com/dbrennand/Final-Year-Project) - An application that generates a report to identify potential bots that a Twitter user is following.



## Acknowledgments



This application would not be possible without the work of the [Observatory on Social Media at Indiana University](https://osome.iu.edu/) who created Botometer. Please see the [Botometer FAQ](https://botometer.osome.iu.edu/faq) page for further information on Botometer.



## Authors -- Contributors



* [**dbrennand**](https://github.com/dbrennand) - *Author*



## License



This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.