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Use a browser automation script to open each homepage, wait for the content you want to record, and save a dated screenshot; then have a scheduler run the script at the intended local morning time. The script controls what is captured, while the scheduler controls when it runs. This guide uses Playwright and leaves the news sites, capture time, and storage location configurable.
Choose what to capture
Decide which Indian news homepages to record and whether each image should show only the visible browser viewport or the entire scrollable page. A viewport capture is easier to compare consistently from one morning to another. A full-page capture also includes below-the-fold content, but the image can be very tall. Playwright documents viewport, element, and full-page screenshots; its description of a full-page capture is “a screenshot of a full scrollable page, as if you had a very tall screen and the page could fit it entirely.” Playwright screenshot documentation.
- Use a viewport screenshot to record the first screen at a fixed window size.
- Use a full-page screenshot when content farther down the homepage matters.
- Use an element screenshot if you have a stable locator for a specific region, such as a headline panel. Site redesigns may change that locator, so check it periodically.
The example below records a full-page image. Change the screenshot option to fullPage: false to capture only the viewport.
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Set up Playwright and write the capture script
Install Node.js, create a project directory, and install Playwright. The command below installs Playwright and its Chromium browser. Run the script from this project directory so the output path is predictable.
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npm init -ynpm install playwrightnpx playwright install chromium
Save the following as capture.mjs. Replace the sample URLs with the homepages you want to capture. The script makes one dated directory per run, uses a consistent viewport, records a timestamp and settings in a manifest, and logs failures per site rather than abandoning the remaining pages.
import { chromium } from 'playwright';
import { mkdir, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
import path from 'node:path';
const sites = [
{ name: 'site-one', url: 'https://example.com' },
{ name: 'site-two', url: 'https://example.org' },
];
// Use an explicit timezone for folder names and the manifest.
const timeZone = 'Asia/Kolkata';
const timestamp = new Intl.DateTimeFormat('sv-SE', {
timeZone,
dateStyle: 'short',
timeStyle: 'medium',
}).format(new Date()).replace(' ', 'T').replaceAll(':', '-');
const outputDir = path.join('captures', timestamp.replace('T', '_'));
await mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
const browser = await chromium.launch({ headless: true });
const page = await browser.newPage({
viewport: { width: 1440, height: 1000 },
deviceScaleFactor: 1,
});
const results = [];
for (const site of sites) {
const file = path.join(outputDir, `${site.name}.png`);
try {
await page.goto(site.url, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 60000 });
// Replace this with a site-specific locator when a particular module
// must appear before the screenshot. Avoid assuming one selector fits all sites.
await page.waitForTimeout(3000);
await page.screenshot({ path: file, fullPage: true });
results.push({ site: site.name, url: site.url, file, status: 'saved' });
console.log(`Saved ${file}`);
} catch (error) {
results.push({ site: site.name, url: site.url, status: 'failed', error: String(error) });
console.error(`Failed ${site.url}:`, error);
}
}
await writeFile(
path.join(outputDir, 'manifest.json'),
JSON.stringify({ capturedAt: new Date().toISOString(), timeZone, viewport: { width: 1440, height: 1000 }, fullPage: true, results }, null, 2),
);
await browser.close();
if (results.some((result) => result.status === 'failed')) process.exitCode = 1;In a production script, replace the fixed three-second pause with a condition tied to the content you need when the site exposes a reliable locator. For example, await page.locator('YOUR_SELECTOR').waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 15000 });. Choose and maintain a separate selector for each site. A fixed delay is simple, but network conditions and page behavior vary, so it cannot guarantee that a particular module has finished loading.
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Run it manually and verify the files
- From the project directory, run
node capture.mjs. - Check
captures/for a timestamped directory containing one PNG per site andmanifest.json. - Open a recent image to confirm it shows the intended framing and content. Check the manifest and console output for failed pages.
Keep the browser, viewport, device scale, and capture type fixed if you plan to compare images across days. The manifest is a practical record of the URLs, time, and settings; adapt it if you change the script.
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Scheduling is separate from browser capture. Configure the scheduler itself with the intended timezone: setting a process timezone or labeling a filename does not necessarily change when the scheduler launches the job. For India, use the scheduler’s named Asia/Kolkata timezone where supported, and confirm the next scheduled run in that platform’s own interface or logs.
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Google Cloud Scheduler
Google Cloud Scheduler evaluates schedules in a selected timezone and documents UTC as its default. Select the timezone in the job configuration rather than assuming the default matches Indian local time. Its documentation also warns that wall-clock scheduling around daylight-saving transitions can lead to a missed or repeated run; this is a platform caveat to consider when choosing any timezone and schedule. See Google Cloud Scheduler cron schedules.
Linux systemd timers
Systemd calendar expressions use the machine’s current timezone unless a timezone is specified. Its time-expression documentation describes named timezone forms. If running this script on Linux, configure the timer with the supported timezone syntax and verify the machine and timer configuration rather than relying on an assumed local setting. See systemd.time.
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Kubernetes CronJobs
Kubernetes describes CronJob scheduling as approximate. Use the CronJob timeZone field rather than embedding TZ or CRON_TZ in the schedule expression, as the Kubernetes documentation directs. See Kubernetes CronJobs.
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Keep the archive usable
- Use site identifiers that are safe as filenames and make the capture timestamp unambiguous.
- Keep a manifest with the URL, capture time, viewport, and whether the capture was full-page or viewport-only.
- Choose a dated directory or object-storage prefix and a retention period that matches your documentation purpose.
- Preserve original files if later visual comparison matters; derived crops or resized versions should not replace the originals.
- Inspect new captures periodically. Consent dialogs, lazy-loaded modules, redesigns, network problems, or bot checks can change the image or prevent a useful capture.
The appropriate retention period and permissions depend on the publisher, jurisdiction, and intended use. The workflow alone does not establish a legal retention rule or permission for archiving any particular site.
Troubleshoot missed or poor captures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| No image for a site; script reports a navigation timeout | The page did not reach the selected navigation condition within the timeout, or a network or site response problem occurred. | Check the URL and network access, inspect the error in the run log, and adjust the timeout only if the site needs longer. Keep failures in the manifest instead of treating an absent image as a successful run. |
| Image is blank or misses a headline module | The screenshot ran before the relevant content appeared, or the page rendered content asynchronously. | Wait for a site-specific visible locator where possible. If no stable locator is available, use a delay as a best-effort fallback and inspect captures to detect changes. |
| Consent banner, popup, or chat widget covers the page | The site presented an overlay during the browser session. | Inspect the page and decide whether the overlay belongs in the record. If it does not, use a compliant, site-appropriate interaction or a capture service that supports removing known overlays; do not assume every site can be handled identically. |
| Page shows a bot check or CAPTCHA | The site challenged the automated browser. | Record the run as blocked and review the site’s access requirements. Do not treat a challenge screen as a valid homepage capture or try to bypass access controls. |
| Timer runs at the wrong local hour | The scheduler may be using UTC or another timezone, independent of the script’s display timezone. | Inspect the scheduler’s timezone field or supported timezone syntax, then verify the next scheduled execution time and run logs. |
| Two files overwrite each other or the archive is hard to compare | Output names lack a unique run timestamp or site identifier, or capture settings changed. | Use a timestamped directory and stable site names; preserve the viewport and capture mode in the manifest. |
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its API can capture a homepage without maintaining a local Playwright browser. For a recurring workflow, call the API from a scheduled task and save each response to your dated archive. This example uses stripe.com as a sample target; substitute a homepage URL you are authorized to capture. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo accepts and removes known cookie or consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 screenshots. These options do not remove the need to set a scheduler’s timezone or verify that the captured page is the one you need.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I capture just one part of a news homepage?
Yes. Playwright supports element screenshots; use a stable locator for the target region and revisit it when the site layout changes.
Should the time in the filename be UTC or India time?
Choose a convention and record it consistently. The sample uses an India-time folder label and also records an ISO timestamp in the manifest; the scheduler timezone remains a separate configuration.
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