- name
- reddit-research
- description
- >
Reddit Research
General-purpose Reddit research agent. Search, read, monitor — all from the terminal. No API key needed.
Why?
Reddit is the largest collection of authentic human opinions on the internet. Unlike SEO-optimized blog posts or sponsored content, Reddit threads contain real experiences, tested solutions, and unfiltered takes.
Zero auth. Zero cost. Zero dependencies.
Data Providers
| Provider | Flag | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reddit (default) | --provider reddit | Real-time data, feeds, threads | ~60 req/min |
| PullPush | --provider pullpush | Historical/deleted posts, global comment search | Sometimes down |
| Arctic Shift | --provider arctic-shift | Archived data, deep history | Requires --sub or --author |
Default is Reddit (real-time). Switch to PullPush or Arctic Shift when you need historical data or deleted content.
Setup
Node.js 18+ required (for native fetch). No npm install needed.
cd <skill-dir>/scriptsCLI Tool
Search
npx tsx reddit.ts search "<query>" [options]Options:
--sub <subreddit>— restrict to a subreddit--sort relevance|top|new|hot|comments— sort order (default: relevance)--time hour|day|week|month|year|all— time filter (default: week)--limit N— max results (default: 15)--provider reddit|pullpush|arctic-shift— data source--author <username>— filter by author (Arctic Shift only)--compact— one-line format--save— save results to file--json— raw JSON output--markdown— markdown formatted output
Examples:
npx tsx reddit.ts search "pumpfun scam" --sort top --time month
npx tsx reddit.ts search "best VPN" --sub privacy --sort top --time year
npx tsx reddit.ts search "openclaw" --provider pullpush --limit 20
npx tsx reddit.ts search "agent" --provider arctic-shift --sub openclawComment Search
Search through comments using PullPush or Arctic Shift:
npx tsx reddit.ts comments "<query>" [--sub <subreddit>] [--provider pullpush|arctic-shift] [--limit N]npx tsx reddit.ts comments "solana scam" --provider pullpush --limit 10
npx tsx reddit.ts comments "openclaw" --provider arctic-shift --sub openclawSubreddit Feeds
npx tsx reddit.ts hot <subreddit> [--limit N] [--time day|week]
npx tsx reddit.ts new <subreddit> [--limit N]
npx tsx reddit.ts rising <subreddit> [--limit N]
npx tsx reddit.ts top <subreddit> [--time day|week|month|year|all] [--limit N]
npx tsx reddit.ts controversial <subreddit> [--time day|week] [--limit N]Multi-Subreddit Feed
npx tsx reddit.ts multi <sub1+sub2+sub3> [--sort hot|new|top] [--time day|week] [--limit N]Read Thread
npx tsx reddit.ts thread <url> [--sort top|best|new|controversial] [--limit N] [--depth N]User Profile
npx tsx reddit.ts user <username> [--posts|--comments] [--sort new|top|hot] [--limit N]Subreddit Info
npx tsx reddit.ts subreddit <name>Find Subreddits
npx tsx reddit.ts find-subs "<query>" [--limit N]Popular Subreddits
npx tsx reddit.ts popular [--limit N]Cross-Posts / Duplicates
npx tsx reddit.ts duplicates <post_id>Wiki
npx tsx reddit.ts wiki <subreddit> [page]Watchlist
npx tsx reddit.ts watchlist # Show all
npx tsx reddit.ts watchlist add <sub> [note] # Add subreddit
npx tsx reddit.ts watchlist remove <sub> # Remove
npx tsx reddit.ts watchlist check # Check hot posts from allCache
npx tsx reddit.ts cache stats # Cache statistics
npx tsx reddit.ts cache clear # Clear all cached dataResearch Loop (Agentic)
When doing deep research, follow this loop:
1. Decompose the Question
Turn the research question into 3-5 search queries:
- Direct query: Core keywords
- Subreddit-specific: Search within the most relevant sub
- Solution-focused: Add "solved", "fix", "how to"
- Experience-focused: Add "experience", "review", "worth it"
- Negative signal: "scam", "avoid", "warning"
- Historical: Use
--provider pullpushfor deleted/old content
2. Search and Triage
Run each query. For each result set:
- High score + lots of comments = worth reading the thread
- Low score but specific = might have niche info
- Cross-posted = narrative spreading
3. Read Key Threads
npx tsx reddit.ts thread <url> --sort top --limit 304. Cross-Reference
npx tsx reddit.ts duplicates <post_id>5. Comment Deep Dive
Search through comments when posts don't surface the answer:
npx tsx reddit.ts comments "specific error message" --provider pullpush --limit 206. Synthesize
Group findings by theme:
### [Finding/Theme]
[Summary]
- u/username in r/subreddit (⬆️ N): "[key quote]" [Link](url)
- u/username2 in r/subreddit2 (⬆️ N): "[another take]" [Link](url)Heartbeat Integration
On heartbeat, run watchlist check to see if watched subreddits have notable activity. Flag only if genuinely interesting/actionable.
Rate Limits
- Reddit JSON: ~60 req/min, User-Agent required, auto-retry with backoff
- PullPush: Generous, no official limit, sometimes down
- Arctic Shift: Generous, no official limit
- Cache: 15min TTL prevents redundant hits
File Structure
skills/reddit-research/
├── SKILL.md # This file
├── README.md
├── package.json # Zero dependencies
├── assets/
│ └── banner.svg
├── scripts/
│ ├── reddit.ts # CLI entry point
│ └── lib/
│ ├── api.ts # Reddit + PullPush + Arctic Shift wrapper
│ ├── cache.ts # File-based cache
│ └── format.ts # Terminal + markdown formatters
├── data/
│ ├── watchlist.json # Watched subreddits
│ └── cache/ # Auto-managed
└── references/
└── reddit-json-api.md # API endpoint referenceRequirements
- Node.js 18+ (for native
fetch) - No API key needed
- No npm install needed — zero dependencies