Automating the check of a Reddit karma breakdown involves using Reddit’s API to fetch a user’s karma data, then aggregating it by category (link vs. comment) and by subreddit if needed. The process can be fully scripted and scheduled to run automatically, producing a current breakdown on a regular interval.
Overview of automation flow
- Authenticate to Reddit via OAuth2 using a scriptable app.
- Fetch basic karma values (link karma, comment karma, total karma).
- Optionally collect per-subreddit activity to break down karma by subreddit.
- Aggregate data into a structured format (JSON, CSV).
- Store results locally or push to a lightweight database.
- Schedule the task to run at desired intervals.
Setup prerequisites
Create a Reddit app and obtain credentials
- Register a script-type app on Reddit’s developer portal.
- Record the client ID, client secret, and your Reddit username.
- Choose a unique user agent string for your script.
Choose a programming approach
- Python with PRAW (Python Reddit API Wrapper) for ease of use.
- JavaScript/TypeScript with Snoowrap for Node.js environments.
- Direct HTTP requests if you prefer a low-level approach.
Core steps to implement
1) Authenticate and obtain tokens
- Use OAuth2 with a script-type app to obtain a read-only access token.
- Store tokens securely and set up automatic refresh if needed.
2) Fetch basic karma data
- Query the authenticated user’s profile for total, link, and comment karma.
- Example data points:
- Total karma
- Link (post) karma
- Comment karma
3) Optional: break down by subreddit
- Fetch the user’s recent submissions and comments.
- Group each item by subreddit and sum its karma contribution.
- Consider a rolling window (e.g., last 90 days) for more current insight.
4) Aggregate and format results
- Compute:
- Total karma
- Post vs. comment karma
- Karma by subreddit (optional)
- Output formats:
- JSON for machine readability
- CSV for spreadsheet analysis
5) Storage and history
- Save results to a local file or a lightweight database (SQLite).
- Maintain a timestamped history to track changes over time.
6) Scheduling and automation
- Use cron (Linux/macOS) or Task Scheduler (Windows) to run on a timer.
- Ensure environment variables securely store credentials.
- Log success and error messages for auditing.
Practical example (Python + PRAW)
import praw
import time
import json
from collections import defaultdict
# Replace with your app credentials
CLIENT_ID = 'your_client_id'
CLIENT_SECRET = 'your_client_secret'
USER_AGENT = 'karma-breakdown-script/0.1 by your_username'
USERNAME = 'your_username'
reddit = praw.Reddit(client_id=CLIENT_ID,
client_secret=CLIENT_SECRET,
user_agent=USER_AGENT,
username=USERNAME,
password='your_password') # If using script-type, password is needed
def fetch_basic_karma():
me = reddit.user.me()
return {
'total_karma': me.link_karma + me.comment_karma,
'link_karma': me.link_karma,
'comment_karma': me.comment_karma
}
def fetch_subreddit_breakdown(limit=1000):
# Gather karma by subreddit from recent activity
subreddit_totals = defaultdict(int)
for item in reddit.user.me().submissions.new(limit=limit):
subreddit_totals[item.subreddit.display_name] += item.score
for item in reddit.user.me().comments.new(limit=limit):
subreddit_totals[item.subreddit.display_name] += item.score
return dict(subreddit_totals)
def main():
basic = fetch_basic_karma()
sub_breakdown = fetch_subreddit_breakdown()
result = {
'timestamp': int(time.time()),
'basic': basic,
'subreddit_breakdown': sub_breakdown
}
with open('karma_breakdown.json', 'w') as f:
json.dump(result, f, indent=2)
if __name__ == '__main__':
main()
Notes:
- Respect Reddit’s rate limits. Avoid excessive requests in a short time.
- Use read-only scopes if you don’t need post submission rights.
- Protect credentials; rotate tokens periodically.
Pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Pitfall: OAuth tokens expire.
Fix: Implement token refresh and handle authentication errors gracefully.
- Pitfall: API rate limits.
Fix: Batch requests, respect delays, and fetch in smaller chunks when aggregating by subreddit.
- Pitfall: Incomplete breakdown due to windowing.
Fix: Decide on a window (all-time vs. last 90 days) and document the scope.
- Pitfall: Data duplication on frequent runs.
Fix: Use a single source of truth (append-only event logs) or store previous results for diffing.
- Pitfall: Credentials exposed.
Fix: Use environment variables or secret managers; avoid embedding in code.
- Pitfall: App approval changes.
Fix: Review Reddit’s API terms and ensure your app complies with scopes and usage.
Deliverables and ongoing maintenance
- A runnable script or small app that outputs a structured karma breakdown.
- A simple schedule to run automatically and store history.
- A short wiki or README detailing:
- How to set up credentials
- How to run locally
- How to interpret the output