The Clearcote blog
Practical guides to browser automation, web scraping and browser fingerprinting. For the in-depth, reproducible write-ups, see Research.
Testing in Parallel with Playwright: Setup That Holds Up
A practical guide to testing in parallel with Playwright and Puppeteer: isolate accounts and profiles, size workers, and tell real bugs from parallel failures.
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python headless browserHow to Use a Python Headless Browser Safely at Scale
Learn how to set up, script and scale a Python headless browser with Playwright or Selenium, plus fixes for leaks, speed and bot detection.
13 min read
Chromium forkChrome Based Web Browser: Engines, Forks, and Privacy
Discover what a Chrome Based Web Browser is, how Chromium forks differ from Google Chrome, and how engine-level fingerprint controls work.
13 min read
chrome extension testingChrome Extension Testing: Playwright and Puppeteer Guide
Master Chrome extension testing with Playwright and Puppeteer: load MV2/MV3 builds, script popups, and handle worker restarts in CI.
10 min read
test automation tools10 Test Automation Tools Worth Knowing in 2026
A practitioner's guide to 10 test automation tools: Playwright, Selenium, Cypress, Puppeteer and more, with honest strengths, limits and use cases.
15 min read
selenium headlessSelenium Headless: How to Run Chrome Without a Window
Learn how selenium headless works in Chrome and Edge, which flag to set, how to fix CI failures, and how to measure real speed gains.
9 min read
scraping browserBest Scraping Browser Tools in 2026: 7 Picks Compared
What a scraping browser really needs — fingerprint coherence, proxies, CDP support — plus 7 tools compared for Playwright, Puppeteer, and AI-agent stacks.
11 min read
residential proxiesResidential Proxies Explained: Types, Uses and Risks
Residential proxies route traffic through real ISP-assigned IPs. Learn how they differ from datacenter proxies, where they fit, and how to vet them.
15 min read
web scraping pythonWeb Scraping Python: Build a Scraper That Lasts
Web scraping Python guide: pick requests, lxml, Scrapy, or Playwright, then add retries, politeness, and dataset tests before you scale.
15 min read
web scraping blockedWeb Scraping Blocked? Diagnose It Before You Fix It
Web scraping blocked by 429s, CAPTCHAs or silent soft blocks? Diagnose the cause, then fix pacing, identity coherence and proxies in the right order.
13 min read
browser fingerprintingWhat Is Browser Fingerprinting and Why It Sticks
Learn what is browser fingerprinting: how canvas, WebGL, fonts and TLS combine into an identifier, how unique it is, and which defenses actually work.
17 min read
web scraping javascriptWeb Scraping JavaScript: Render Only When You Must
A 2026 guide to web scraping javascript: check HTML and JSON first, render in R only when the DOM is the only source, then validate every record.
14 min read
web scraping api10 Web Scraping API Providers Compared for 2026
Compare 10 web scraping API providers on features, pricing models, and limitations, plus integration tips for consistent device identity.
12 min read
Chrome DevTools ProtocolChrome DevTools Protocol: A Practical Guide for Automation
Learn how the Chrome DevTools Protocol works: domains, targets, sessions, commands and events, and how Playwright, Puppeteer and Clearcote attach to it.
12 min read
model context protocolModel Context Protocol: How It Works and Why It Matters
Learn how the Model Context Protocol connects AI agents to tools and browsers, plus transports, security and a fixed-identity browser setup.
13 min read
selenium dockerSelenium Docker: How to Run Grid Tests in Containers
Run Selenium Docker containers the right way: pinned images, 2 GB shared memory, Grid scaling and fixes for browser crashes in CI.
8 min read
cross browser testingCross Browser Testing Tools: 10 Options Compared for 2026
Compare 10 cross browser testing tools, from hosted device farms to visual testing and open-source frameworks, with trade-offs and setup guidance for 2026.
15 min read
AI web scrapingAI Web Scraping Explained: LLMs, Agents and Ethics
How AI web scraping works with LLMs and browser agents, where it breaks, what it costs, and how to stay compliant.
14 min read
user agent spoofingUser Agent Spoofing in Puppeteer: Headless Detection Guide
Learn how user agent spoofing works in Puppeteer headless browsers, why detection still catches it, and how to keep automation consistent and reproducible.
10 min read
playwright web scrapingPlaywright Web Scraping in 2026: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
Learn Playwright web scraping step by step, from setup and dynamic content to proxies, sessions, anti-bot limits and Docker deployment.
13 min read
puppeteer vs seleniumPuppeteer vs Selenium: Which One Should You Use?
Compare Puppeteer vs Selenium. Learn protocol differences, performance benchmarks, and which tool fits your multi-login and testing needs.
12 min read
web crawler vs web scraperWeb Crawler vs Web Scraper: A Practical Decision Guide
Web crawler vs web scraper explained with clear criteria, real architectures, and tooling guidance for Playwright, Puppeteer, and lightweight HTTP scrapers.
12 min read
Playwright alternatives7 Playwright Alternatives for Smarter Browser Automation
Compare 7 Playwright alternatives for browser testing, scraping, AI agents, cross-browser work, and repeatable automation in 2026.
13 min read
web scraping botHow to Build a Web Scraping Bot That Actually Holds Up
Learn how to build a resilient web scraping bot with the right tooling, identity coherence, proxy strategy, and scale-aware architecture for production use.
12 min read