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Why I switched from Web App to Desktop App for my Reddit Tool (Electron + Python)

The Problem with Server-Side Automation

When I started making a Reddit tool on my own, everything slowed down - suddenly got hit with IP bans outta nowhere. One minute it was working, next minute nothing loaded.

While creating a SaaS that talks to Reddit - or pretty much any big site - you typically make calls from your server side. Here's the catch: Reddit notices tons of pings arriving from identical AWS or Vercel IP zones, then shuts them down.

My "Aha!" Moment

This morning my test profile got blocked fast - just five minutes - since I ran a regular proxy. That showed me client-side running’s the real path ahead for apps like this one.

Why Desktop Apps Win Here

I picked making Reddit Toolbox as a desktop app you run on your own machine - rather than a web-based service - for solid reasons. Check this out:

  1. Local IP used: each request runs through the person’s device, never my system. So Reddit views it as many actual people online instead of automated scripts.
  2. Home-based proxy help: Setting up nearby proxies on a desktop feels smoother because it works better with your system.
  3. Data privacy means your info never leaves your device - kept safe right where you are.

The Tech Stack

I’m going with a mix - part one way, part another

  • Frontend: Next.js (for the dashboard)
  • Desktop app: Python does the main work, also handles tasks automatically

Things got tough when we shifted gears - yet folks sticking around jumped way up.

Anyone making auto-tools this year? Try keeping it local instead.

Have a look at the project right here if it catches your eye - Reddit Toolbox → https://wappkit.com/

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