If you enjoy learning from free eBooks, you’ll love this guide! This article will help you set up a Python crawler that automates the process of claiming and downloading daily free eBooks from [Packtpub](https://www.packtpub.com) effortlessly. With a few simple steps, you can have this handy tool ready to use!

Getting Started

Before diving in, make sure you have Python installed on your system. The crawler is built to work with Python 2.x. Ready? Let’s roll up our sleeves!

• Step 1: Verify Python Version

  Open your terminal and type:

  python --version

  Make sure you see version 2.x.

• Step 2: Clone the Repository

  You’ll need to get the crawler code. Run:

  git clone https://github.com/niqdev/packtpub-crawler.git

• Step 3: Install Dependencies

  Navigate into the project folder and install required dependencies with:

  pip install -r requirements.txt

• Step 4: Configure Your Settings

  Create a config file by copying the example provided:

  cp configprod_example.cfg configprod.cfg

  Update the new config file with your Packtpub email and password.

Simplifying the Download Process

You can run the crawler using the following command to fetch your eBook:

python scripts/spider.py --config configprod.cfg

Understanding the Code: An Analogy

Let’s think of this crawler as a diligent librarian. Every day, it wakes up at the same time (which you can schedule), checks for the latest free book (like checking a shelf), makes a note of its title and details (parsing information), and puts it in your chosen bookshelf (downloading and uploading to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Firebase). If anything goes wrong, this librarian will send you a note (notification via Gmail, IFTTT, or other services).

Additional Options

There are more ways to customize what you download. For instance:

• To download all formats (pdf, epub, mobi), you can type:

python scripts/spider.py --config configprod.cfg --all

• Specify a single format (like pdf) using:

python scripts/spider.py --config configprod.cfg --type pdf

• You can also download extra materials (like the book cover) with:

python scripts/spider.py --config configprod.cfg --extras

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter any issues, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

• ImportError: No module named paramiko: Install the module using this command:

sudo -H pip install paramiko --ignore-installed

• Failed building wheel for cryptography: Ensure missing dependencies are installed as outlined in the documentation.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

With these steps, your Packtpub crawler should now be up and running, helping you enhance your knowledge daily. Automatically download free eBooks, manage your collections in cloud storage, and receive notifications—all with minimal effort!

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.