Description
Summary I’m looking for a Python developer to build a reliable stock monitoring script for Smyths Toys Ireland. The goal is to monitor the Pokémon TCG category and detect changes in store-level stock for products. The script will eventually be integrated into an existing Discord bot, but for this job I mainly need the Smyths monitoring component working reliably. Requirements: * Monitor the Pokémon TCG category and automatically discover products/product IDs. * Check store-level availability for each product across Irish Smyths stores. * Detect when an item changes from out of stock to in stock. * Capture the store name and available quantity where this information is provided. * Run automatically at approximately 5-minute intervals. * Avoid duplicate alerts when stock has not changed. * Be suitable for running continuously on a Windows PC using Python 3.12. * Return the stock data in a clean format that I can integrate into an existing Python Discord bot. * Include clear setup instructions and requirements/dependencies. I already have an existing Python project and Discord bot running, so I do not need an entire bot built from scratch. I have done some testing already and identified the store-stock request used by the website. Normal browser requests work, but repeated automated requests can eventually receive HTTP 403 responses. I can provide the testing information I already have to the selected developer. Reliability is the main requirement. I don’t want something that works for a few requests and then stops. Any solution should use an approach that is appropriate and permitted for accessing the site. Before applying, please briefly explain: 1. Whether you have built retail stock monitors or similar systems before. 2. What Python libraries/technology you would likely use. 3. How you would design it to run reliably over long periods. 4. Approximately how long you expect the job to take. Deliverable is the working source code plus setup instructions. I would also like a short test period to confirm it continues operating reliably before considering the job complete.