The Powerhouse of Web Crawling: Horseman, the Endlessly Configurable Tool
Horseman is an open-source web crawling tool that empowers users to extract valuable data and insights from websites. Designed with flexibility and customization in mind, Horseman offers a robust set of features that make it an indispensable tool for developers, SEO experts, designers, and content creators alike.
Unlocking the Power of Web Crawling
At its core, Horseman operates by methodically crawling through a website and executing a wide range of JavaScript snippets on each page. These snippets can be used to extract data, analyze content, and perform various actions supported by the Chrome DevTools console. The results are then neatly presented in an easy-to-analyze table format.
Key Features and Capabilities
Horseman’s impressive arsenal of features includes:
- Seamless Crawling: Horseman effortlessly crawls websites, executing snippets on every page to gather the desired data.
- 120+ Pre-built Snippets: Horseman comes packed with over 120 pre-built snippets, providing a robust starting point for your web crawling needs.
- Custom Snippet Creation: Users can create their own custom snippets or leverage the power of AI-generated snippets powered by GPT-3.5 integration.
- Cross-platform Compatibility: Horseman runs seamlessly on Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it a versatile tool for any operating system.
- Integrations: Horseman’s ecosystem includes integrations with powerful tools like Mozilla Readability and Google Lighthouse, further enhancing its capabilities.
Diverse Use Cases
Horseman’s versatility shines through its wide range of applications:
For Developers:
– Test website performance
– Identify JavaScript errors across a site
– Check accessibility issues
– Extract data for integration with other applications
For SEO Experts:
– Analyze how site content ranks for target keywords
– Detect and address duplicate content issues
– Generate meta descriptions by summarizing content
– Identify thin or low-value pages
For Designers:
– Audit image dimensions and compression
– Identify the largest content images
– Check for overflowing elements
– Review color contrast issues
For Content Teams:
– Analyze heading tags and content hierarchy
– Assess reading level across the website
– Evaluate the sentiment of headlines
– Summarize content for social media promotion
Who Can Benefit from Horseman?
Horseman is tailored for a diverse range of professionals, including:
- Frontend web developers
- Performance analysts
- Digital agencies
- Accessibility experts
- SEO specialists
- JavaScript engineers
- Website owners
- Content creators
In short, Horseman is the go-to tool for anyone who needs to extract data or analyze websites with unparalleled depth and precision.
Pricing and Availability
Horseman is currently in its early development stage and is offering early bird pricing through GitHub Sponsors. The available plans include:
- Sponsor – $5/month, 1 device limit
- Sponsor++ – $10/month, 3 device limit
- Sponsor+++ – Custom pricing, custom device limit
While there is no free version currently available, the early bird pricing provides an opportunity to get hands-on with this powerful web crawling tool.
Support and Community
As an open-source project, Horseman relies on a thriving community for support. Users can access community-based support through GitHub discussions, and the creator, Chris Johnson, is available to answer questions for sponsors.
Integrations and API Access
Horseman’s ecosystem boasts several key integrations, including:
- GPT-3.5: Generate custom snippets powered by advanced AI technology.
- Mozilla Readability: Intelligently extract article content from web pages.
- Google Lighthouse: Gain valuable website performance insights.
While Horseman does not currently offer a public API, its open-source nature allows developers to build custom integrations and explore the tool’s full potential.
What Users Are Saying
Horseman has already won the praise of early users, who have highlighted its flexibility, customizability, and overall usefulness across various applications:
“A crawling skeleton key; flexible, fast, and perfect for any technical toolbox.”
“The ability to easily create your own snippets is like having devtools for a whole site.”
“I love the modularity of Horseman, it’s the Voltron of crawlers!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are snippets?
Snippets are small pieces of JavaScript code that allow you to interact with page content and extract valuable data.
Can I use Horseman without knowing JavaScript?
Yes, Horseman has over 120 built-in snippets, and you can also leverage the GPT-3.5 integration to generate custom snippets without any coding experience.
What are some example use cases?
Horseman can be used for a wide range of applications, including web performance analysis, SEO issue identification, content summarization, and data extraction. Refer to the “Use Cases and Applications” section for more details.
What integrations does Horseman offer?
Horseman’s key integrations include GPT-3.5, Mozilla Readability, and Google Lighthouse, which enhance its capabilities and functionality.
What operating systems does Horseman support?
Horseman is designed to work seamlessly on Windows, Mac OS (both Intel and M1/M2 chips), and Linux systems, ensuring cross-platform compatibility.
