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.

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

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

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

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); }); } + ")();"}); '

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'

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.

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

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

Rate Limiting

Action Limit

Between API calls 2+ seconds

Between posts 4+ seconds

Per session Max 5 comments

Daily 10-15 comments max

Karma Milestones

Karma Unlocks

100+ Can post in most subreddits

500+ Reduced spam filter triggers

1000+ Trusted contributor status

5000+ Community recognition

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%)

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

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