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Setup Guide

This guide will help you set up the Auto-Commenter project for Reddit automation.

Table of Contents

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Installation
  3. Configuration
  4. Creating Your Personalization File
  5. First Run
  6. Troubleshooting

Prerequisites

Required

  • Claude Desktop or Claude CLI

  • Node.js (v16 or higher)

  • Reddit Account

    • You'll need to be logged into Reddit in your browser
    • Account should be in good standing (not new or flagged)

Recommended

  • Basic understanding of Markdown
  • Familiarity with Reddit communities
  • Text editor (VS Code, Sublime, etc.)

Installation

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/auto-commenter.git
cd auto-commenter

Step 2: Install Dependencies

npm install

This installs the Playwright MCP server.

Step 3: Verify MCP Setup

Check that .mcp/settings.json exists and contains:

{
  "playwright": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": [
      "@playwright/mcp@latest"
    ]
  }
}

Configuration

Step 1: Configure Target Subreddits

Edit .claude/skills/reddit-commenter/resources/subreddits.md:

  1. Keep or remove the example subreddits
  2. Add your target subreddits
  3. For each subreddit, document:
    • Core community rules
    • Community nature
    • Good topics to answer

Example:

### r/YourSubreddit

| Item | Content |
|------|---------|
| **Core Community Rules** | • No self-promotion<br>• Be helpful |
| **Community Nature** | • Supportive community<br>• Mix of beginners and experts |
| **Good Topics to Answer** | • Getting started questions<br>• Tool recommendations |

Step 2: Configure Product Information

Edit .claude/skills/reddit-commenter/resources/product.md:

Replace the template with your actual product information:

  1. Core value proposition
  2. Target customer pain points
  3. Competitor comparison
  4. Reddit-friendly descriptions

Keep it concise and authentic.

Creating Your Personalization File

This is the most important step - it makes your comments sound like you, not an AI.

Step 1: Collect Your Comments

Go to Reddit and find 8-10 comments you've written that represent your style:

Selection Criteria:

  • ✅ Various topics
  • ✅ Various lengths (1 sentence to several paragraphs)
  • ✅ Various tones (helpful, critical, analytical, humorous)
  • ✅ Comments you're proud of
  • ❌ Don't pick only your "best" formal comments
  • ❌ Include natural, casual comments too

Step 2: Analyze Your Style

Open Claude and provide this prompt:

I need you to analyze my Reddit commenting style and create a personalization guide.

Here are 10 comments I wrote on Reddit:

[Comment 1]
---
[Comment 2]
---
[Comment 3]
---
(continue for all comments)

Please analyze:
1. My core writing characteristics (tone, sentence structure, vocabulary)
2. Frequently used expressions
3. Expressions I avoid
4. 6-8 style patterns I use (with examples)
5. How I approach different types of posts (humor, questions, discussions)

Then create a personalization guide following this structure:
[paste the structure from personalization_reddit.md template]

Step 3: Review and Refine

Claude will generate a personalization guide. Review it and:

  1. Check if the patterns match your style
  2. Add any missing characteristics
  3. Remove anything that doesn't sound like you
  4. Add examples from your actual comments

Step 4: Save the File

Save the personalization guide as: .claude/skills/reddit-commenter/resources/personalization_reddit.md

⚠️ Important: This file contains your personal style. Don't commit it to GitHub if it has identifying information.

First Run

Test Single Comment

  1. Open Claude Desktop

  2. Make sure you're logged into Reddit in your browser

  3. In Claude, say:

    Write one comment on r/YourSubreddit using the reddit-commenter skill

  4. Claude will:

    • Check your tracking file
    • Navigate to the subreddit
    • Find a suitable post
    • Analyze the post
    • Write a comment in your style
    • Review it against the checklist
    • Post it
    • Update tracking

Verify Results

  1. Check that comment was posted on Reddit
  2. Review the tracking file: tracking/reddit/[today's-date].md
  3. Verify the comment sounds like you

If Something Goes Wrong

  • Check that you're logged into Reddit
  • Verify Playwright MCP is installed: npx @playwright/mcp@latest --version
  • Make sure personalization file exists
  • Check Claude's error messages

Batch Mode Setup

Once single comments work:

Step 1: Review Quotas

Check .claude/skills/reddit-commenter/resources/subreddits.md daily limits:

| Subreddit | Daily Limit |
|-----------|-------------|
| r/SubredditA | 3 |
| r/SubredditB | 3 |

Recommendation: Start with 2-3 subreddits, 3 comments each

Step 2: Run Batch Mode

Fill today's quota using the reddit-commenter skill

Step 3: Monitor Progress

Claude will:

  • Report progress after each subreddit
  • Wait 5-15 minutes between subreddits
  • Skip subreddits with no suitable posts
  • Provide a completion report

Expected duration: 1-2 hours per subreddit (with wait times)

Troubleshooting

"Can't find personalization file"

Solution:

  • Make sure file exists at: .claude/skills/reddit-commenter/resources/personalization_reddit.md
  • Check file name spelling (including .md extension)

"Page loading failed"

Possible causes:

  1. Internet connection issue
  2. Reddit is down
  3. MCP server not running

Solutions:

  • Check internet connection
  • Visit Reddit manually to verify it's up
  • Restart Claude Desktop
  • Reinstall MCP: npm install

"Comment posting failed"

Possible causes:

  1. Not logged into Reddit
  2. Account rate limited
  3. Comment violates subreddit rules

Solutions:

  • Log into Reddit in your browser
  • Wait 30 minutes if rate limited
  • Review subreddit rules in subreddits.md

"Comments don't sound like me"

Solution:

  • Review your personalization file
  • Add more examples of your actual comments
  • Be more specific in the "Expressions to Use/Avoid" sections
  • Test with single comments and refine

"Rate limit detected"

This is normal. Reddit has rate limits to prevent spam.

Solutions:

  • Wait 30 minutes
  • Reduce daily quota
  • Increase wait time between subreddits (in BATCH.md)

Best Practices

Start Small

  • Begin with 1-2 subreddits
  • Post 2-3 comments per day
  • Gradually increase as you get comfortable

Monitor Quality

  • Regularly review your comments on Reddit
  • Check if they sound natural
  • Refine personalization file based on feedback
  • Don't sacrifice quality for quantity

Respect Communities

  • Read subreddit rules carefully
  • Don't spam
  • Provide genuine value
  • Be authentic

Maintain Activity

  • Consistent activity is better than bursts
  • Space out comments throughout the day
  • Don't max out quotas every day
  • Mix in manual comments too

Next Steps

After setup is complete:

  1. ✅ Test single comment workflow
  2. ✅ Review and refine personalization
  3. ✅ Configure target subreddits
  4. ✅ Set up product information
  5. ✅ Test batch mode
  6. ✅ Monitor and adjust

Remember: This is a tool to enhance your Reddit engagement, not replace genuine interaction. Always prioritize authenticity and value.

Support

  • Check CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines
  • Open an issue for bugs or questions
  • Review existing issues for common problems

Happy commenting!