Scientific Computing with Python: Using Twitter APIs

[igorgetmeabrain]

I’m working through the Scientific Computing with Python course and trying to get example code (video linked below) working with a Twitter API.

Here’s my repl: https://replit.com/@igorgetmeabrain/API-Testing

All of this code is taken from the video and from related resources at https://www.py4e.com/code3/.

I managed to get the previous example (Google Maps API) to work, using an API key (i.e. the code I commented out in main.py). When I try to access the Twitter API though, I get a 403 (Forbidden) error. I believe this means that my request is properly formed but just denied for some reason?

I have no experience of working with APIs like this and only a rudimentary knowledge of Python, so this is pretty advanced stuff in the context of a beginner Python course. I could put a pin in it and move on, but if anyone can shed any light on this, I’d be most grateful, thanks.

freeCodeCamp.org

[pkdvalis]

Do you have real Twitter authorization tokens (API Key) to work with? https://developer.twitter.com/en/docs/twitter-api/getting-started/getting-access-to-the-twitter-api

[igorgetmeabrain]

Yes, and they’re stored in environment variables. The 403 (forbidden) error suggests to me that my request is valid and signed but just denied for some reason, though I don’t really have much idea what I’m doing to be fair.

[pkdvalis]

If you change the token to something invalid, do you get a different error? Just to test it

[igorgetmeabrain]

Yes, I get a 401 (Unauthorised) error.