Comment by xmcp123

11 hours ago

I have been writing bots and scrapers for almost 20 years.

Not once have I had someone I work for in this capacity even ask about robots.txt

16 comments

xmcp123

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kazinator  10 hours ago

robots.txt can used as a reward mechanism. If an automated visitor that we would normally block begins by accessing robots.txt that's a good sign and we give that a plus score or whatever. If subsequent accesses from that visitor comply with robots.txt, we let them continue (perhaps with some rate checks).

Conversely, if an obviously automated visitor does not fetch robots.txt, that can be an instant ban, kind of like a reverse honey pot, if you will.

So it can have some nonzero value in the overall context; it's just silly to think of it as a blocking mechanism.

In short, robots.txt documents what access is allowed; it states the policy. Enforcing it the job of something else.

Someone you work for in this capacity shouldn't ask about robots.txt because that's the sort of detail for which they have you to deal with.

salawat  10 hours ago

You are part of the problem, sounds like.

  • 1659447091  7 hours ago

    > You are part of the problem, sounds like.

    And may be or could be part of the solution by them taking upon themself to implement it in an ethical manner by having the bots and scrapers respect robots.txt; unless the spec specifically says not to in that case I agree with finding new clients or another job

  • appplication  10 hours ago

    This implies the solution is every actor in the world willfully complying which doesn’t sound very realistic if you ask me.

    Similar to saying world hunger would be solved in everyone who could donated $100 to those in need. Sure it may be true but foot stomping about why isn’t it organically happening is missing the point.