Reddit Cultivation Skill (AppleScript Chrome Control)

Build and maintain Reddit presence by controlling the user's real Chrome browser via AppleScript. No Playwright, no Selenium, no API tokens.

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How It Works

Claude Code → osascript → Chrome (real browser, logged in) → Reddit

• AppleScript executes JavaScript in Chrome's active tab
• Chrome is already logged into Reddit → cookies sent automatically
• Same-origin fetch → no CORS, no detection, no IP blocks
• Reddit cannot distinguish this from human browsing

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Prerequisites

• macOS only (AppleScript is a macOS technology)
• Chrome: View → Developer → Allow JavaScript from Apple Events ✓ (restart Chrome after enabling)
• User logged into Reddit in Chrome

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Method Detection (Run First)

Chrome multi-profile can cause AppleScript to not see windows. Always detect first:

WINDOWS=$(osascript -e 'tell application "Google Chrome" to return count of windows' 2>/dev/null)
if [ "$WINDOWS" = "0" ] || [ -z "$WINDOWS" ]; then
    echo "Use Method 2 (System Events + Console)"
else
    echo "Use Method 1 (execute javascript)"
fi

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Method 1: AppleScript Execute JavaScript (Preferred)

Works when count of windows > 0.

Navigate

osascript -e 'tell application "Google Chrome" to tell active tab of first window to set URL to "https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/rising/"'

Execute JS & Read Result (document.title trick)

# Run JS that writes result to document.title
osascript -e 'tell application "Google Chrome" to tell active tab of first window to execute javascript "fetch(\"/api/me.json\",{credentials:\"include\"}).then(r=>r.json()).then(d=>{document.title=\"R:\"+JSON.stringify({name:d.data.name,karma:d.data.total_karma})})"'

# Wait, then read title
sleep 2
osascript -e 'tell application "Google Chrome" to return title of active tab of first window'

JXA for Complex JS (avoids escaping hell)

osascript -l JavaScript -e '
var chrome = Application("Google Chrome");
var tab = chrome.windows[0].activeTab;
tab.execute({javascript: "(" + function() {
    // Complex JS here — no escaping needed
    fetch("/r/SideProject/rising.json?limit=10", {credentials: "include"})
        .then(r => r.json())
        .then(d => {
            var posts = d.data.children.map(p => ({
                title: p.data.title.substring(0, 60),
                score: p.data.score,
                comments: p.data.num_comments,
                id: p.data.name,
                url: "https://reddit.com" + p.data.permalink
            }));
            document.title = "POSTS:" + JSON.stringify(posts);
        });
} + ")();"});
'

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Method 2: System Events + Console (Multi-Profile Fallback)

When AppleScript can't see Chrome windows (multi-profile bug), use keyboard automation.

Step 1: Copy JS to Clipboard

python3 -c "
import subprocess
js = '''(async()=>{
    let resp = await fetch('/api/me.json', {credentials: 'include'});
    let data = await resp.json();
    document.title = 'R:' + JSON.stringify({name: data.data.name, karma: data.data.total_karma});
})()'''
subprocess.run(['pbcopy'], input=js.encode(), check=True)
"

Step 2: Execute via Chrome Console Keyboard Shortcuts

osascript -e '
tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Google Chrome"
        set frontmost to true
        delay 0.3
        -- Cmd+Option+J = open/close Console
        key code 38 using {command down, option down}
        delay 1
        -- Select all + Paste + Enter
        keystroke "a" using {command down}
        delay 0.2
        keystroke "v" using {command down}
        delay 0.5
        key code 36
        delay 0.3
        -- Close Console
        key code 38 using {command down, option down}
    end tell
end tell'

Step 3: Read Title via System Events

sleep 3
osascript -e '
tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Google Chrome"
        return name of window 1
    end tell
end tell'

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Workflow

Step 1: Check Account Status

Get username, karma, verify login using /api/me.json.

Step 2: Scan Rising Posts

For each target subreddit, fetch rising posts:

/r/{subreddit}/rising.json?limit=10

Look for:

• Rising posts with < 15 comments (early = more visibility)
• Score > 2 (some traction)
• Questions you can answer or discussions with genuine insight

Step 3: Draft Comments

Rules:

• 2-4 sentences, natural tone
• Add genuine value (insights, experience, helpful info)
• No self-promotion, no links, no emojis
• Match the subreddit's culture
• Each comment must be unique

Step 4: Post All Comments

Get modhash, then post each comment with 4s delay between posts.

// Get modhash first
let me = await fetch("/api/me.json", {credentials: "include"}).then(r=>r.json());
let uh = me.data.modhash;

// Post comment
let body = new URLSearchParams({
    thing_id: "t3_xxxxx",  // post fullname
    text: "Your comment here",
    uh: uh,
    api_type: "json"
});
let resp = await fetch("/api/comment", {
    method: "POST",
    credentials: "include",
    headers: {"Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"},
    body: body.toString()
});
let result = await resp.json();
document.title = "POSTED:" + JSON.stringify(result);

Extract the comment ID from the response HTML: look for id-t1_XXXXXXX in the result.

Step 5: Session Summary with Links

ALWAYS end with a summary table containing direct links to every comment posted.

The comment link format is:

https://www.reddit.com/r/{subreddit}/comments/{post_id}/comment/{comment_id}/

Where:

• {subreddit} = the subreddit name
• {post_id} = the post ID (from thing_id minus the t3_ prefix)
• {comment_id} = extracted from the POST response (the t1_XXXXXXX value, minus t1_ prefix)

Example summary table:

#	Sub	Post	Comment Link
1	r/SideProject	"Post title"	https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/comments/abc123/comment/xyz789/
2	r/ClaudeAI	"Post title"	https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/def456/comment/uvw012/

This lets the user bookmark, follow up on replies, and track which comments got traction.

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Recommended Target Subreddits

Priority	Subreddit	Why
High	r/SideProject	Project launches, very welcoming
High	r/indiehackers	Revenue/growth discussions
Medium	r/ClaudeAI	AI tooling audience
Medium	r/coolgithubprojects	Open source visibility
Medium	r/startups	Startup discussions
Medium	r/entrepreneur	Business insights
Medium	r/opensource	Technical audience

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Comment Guidelines

• Add genuine value (insights, experience, helpful info)
• No self-promotion in comments
• Match the subreddit's tone
• Be specific, not generic
• 2-4 sentences, natural voice

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Rate Limiting

Action	Limit
Between API calls	2+ seconds
Between posts	4+ seconds
Per session	Max 5 comments
Daily	10-15 comments max

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Karma Milestones

Karma	Unlocks
100+	Can post in most subreddits
500+	Reduced spam filter triggers
1000+	Trusted contributor status
5000+	Community recognition

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Algorithm Insights

• First 30 minutes determine if post reaches Hot page
• Early upvotes weighted 10x more than later ones
• 2 early comments > 20 passive upvotes
• Best posting time: Sunday 6-8 AM ET
• Upvote ratio matters: 100↑/10↓ (90%) beats 150↑/50↓ (75%)

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Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
count of windows = 0	Chrome multi-profile bug → use Method 2
"Allow JavaScript" not working	Restart Chrome after enabling
Modhash expired	Re-fetch from /api/me.json
403 response	Rate limited, wait 5+ minutes
Comment not appearing	Check for shadowban: visit profile in incognito

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Why AppleScript (Not Playwright/Selenium)

Tool	Problem
Playwright	Sets navigator.webdriver=true, detected instantly
Selenium	Same detection issue
Puppeteer	Same detection issue
curl + API	IP blocked by Reddit after few requests
AppleScript	Controls real Chrome, undetectable, cookies included