Today I decided to seriously try Twitter (X) automation.
Not just reading documentation.
Not just watching videos.
Actually trying it hands-on.
And honestly… today taught me more than any tutorial.
Step 1: Starting with the Official API
I created a developer account.
Created an app.
Generated:
- Client ID
- Client Secret
- Access Token
- Bearer Token Everything looked perfect.
I thought:
“Okay da, now automation is easy.”
But reality started showing slowly.
Authentication Errors
When I tried posting using Tweepy, first I got:
- 401 Unauthorized
- 403 Forbidden
- 402 Payment Required
At first I thought I did something wrong.
So I checked:
- Keys correct ah?
- Tokens correct ah?
- Permissions set ah?
- Read & Write enabled ah?
Everything was correct.
But then I understood the real issue.
The Reality: Paid Access Required
Twitter (X) currently gives limited free access.
To actually post tweets using the API,
you need credits or paid access.
That was the turning point.
Technically I was correct.
But practically, it required payment.
That was frustrating — but also eye-opening.
Because automation is not just coding.
It is also platform policies and business rules.
Step 2: Trying Selenium Automation
Since API was restricted,
I decided to try Selenium.
The idea was simple:
Open browser → Login → Post automatically.
But again…
More errors.
I faced:
- NoSuchElementException
- SessionNotCreatedException
- Chrome crash errors
- Login detection issues
- “Could not log you in now” message Twitter is very strict with automation detection.
Even when the code was correct,
the platform behavior was unpredictable.
What I Realized Today
Today was not a failure.
It was a clarity day.
I understood:
- APIs are controlled ecosystems
- Access levels matter
- Authentication is layered
- Automation is not just code — it's compliance
- Selenium is not always reliable for secure platforms Most importantly:
Being technically correct doesn’t always mean it will work in production.
That is a powerful lesson.
What I Learned as a Developer
Today improved my understanding of:
- OAuth authentication
- API rate limits
- Access tiers
- Automation architecture
- Error debugging Even though I didn’t successfully post via API, I successfully learned how real-world systems behave.
And that matters more.
What’s Next?
I’m not stopping.
Tomorrow I’ll try again.
Maybe:
- Explore alternative approaches
- Improve Selenium strategy
- Or restructure my automation system
Because automation is not one-step success.
It’s iteration.
And I’m just getting started.
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