While many people claim that a "custom bot" is the best solution, I doubt they have actually experienced it firsthand. Although there are advantages to having a custom bot, there are also drawbacks to consider.
- Developing a custom bot requires a deep understanding of the specific domain and the techniques employed by websites to detect bots. These nuances are not immediately apparent, but are learned over time. A custom bot developer may not have this level of understanding.
- Testing a custom bot falls primarily on the user. While the developer may identify major issues, it is often the user who discovers the finer edge cases, which may go unnoticed. In the case of public bots, more users can contribute to uncovering and addressing these issues.
- Websites frequently undergo changes that can break the functionality of a bot. Custom bot users are constantly reacting to these changes, whereas public bots tend to have updates released promptly, often before most users even realize there was a change.
- Requesting new features for a custom bot can be challenging as it involves contacting the developer and negotiating the associated costs.
- When a bug is found in a custom bot, resolving the issue becomes a discussion between the user and the developer regarding who is responsible for addressing it.
- The assumption that a custom bot leaves fewer traces is misleading. In reality, developers not actively working within the domain may create bots with more obvious traces compared to developers immersed in automating that specific domain.
- The cost of a custom bot can become significant since users are paying for every line of code, each update, and every new feature. In contrast, public bots distribute the costs among all users.
- As someone requesting a bot, you may lack experience in managing a software project and underestimate the associated costs and time, leading to potential issues with the developer.
However, it's not entirely negative. A custom bot can be tailored precisely to your requirements and workflow. If you need to manage a large number of accounts (e.g., 10,000+), a custom bot can be designed specifically for that purpose. Public bots, on the other hand, generally cater to the average user with 1-100 accounts, which means they may not be as suitable for handling a high volume of accounts. Additionally, specific needs that can only be met by a custom bot may justify choosing that option. It's possible to find a skilled developer with expertise in your domain who is available, charges reasonable prices, promptly fixes issues, and provides updates and new features at affordable rates. However, let's be realistic, such an ideal scenario is not the norm.
In my experience with custom work, customers often underestimate the costs involved, assuming that a custom bot can be developed for a slightly higher price than a similar public bot. Unfortunately, this is not practical without cutting corners. Equally, developers often struggle to accurately estimate the time required for a new project.
All the aforementioned considerations may be irrelevant if the developer already has experience in the domain and havees a ready-made bot codebase. In such cases, the supposed benefits of a "no footprint" bot (even if that were true) are diminished because the developer is essentially reusing the same codebase they sell to you.