Link to view: https://truckfinder.mchlshkr.me
Please note: This app requests a PIN code to view, which I can provide if you are interested in hiring me. Contact me on LinkedIn if you would like to view this app.
Project Overview
A comprehensive web scraping and data visualization application that aggregates vehicle listings from Cars.com, processes the data through advanced analytics, and presents it through both interactive web dashboards and static HTML reports. The system demonstrates expertise in web automation, data engineering, and modern web development.
Key Features & Capabilities
Specialized Cars.com Scraping Engine
- Focused Data Collection: Specialized scraper targeting Cars.com’s vehicle listings
- Anti-Detection Technology: Implements sophisticated evasion techniques including random user agent rotation, request delays, and browser fingerprint masking
- Cross-Browser Support: Automated browser detection and driver management for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari
- Geographic Filtering: ZIP code and radius-based search with intelligent location mapping
- Rate Limiting & Ethics: Respectful crawling with configurable delays and retry logic
Data Processing & Analytics
- Real-Time Statistics: Calculates average prices, mileage, and identifies “good deal” opportunities
- Data Validation: Robust error handling and data sanitization for price, mileage, and location data
- Deduplication Engine: Advanced algorithms to prevent duplicate listings
- Data Persistence: CSV and JSON export with timestamp tracking and discovery date logging
Interactive Web Dashboard
- Responsive Design: Mobile-first approach with modern CSS Grid and Flexbox layouts
- Real-Time Filtering: Dynamic sorting by price, year, mileage with ascending/descending options
- Interactive Statistics: Live-updating metrics and visual data representations
- Truck Type Navigation: Categorized browsing with visual icons and count badges
- Copy-to-Clipboard: One-click URL sharing functionality
Static Site Generation
- Standalone HTML Reports: Self-contained files requiring no server infrastructure
- Professional Styling: Custom CSS matching modern dashboard aesthetics
- Data Export Ready: Optimized for sharing, hosting, or further analysis
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works on any device with a web browser
Technical Stack & Skills Demonstrated
Backend Development
- Python 3.13: Modern Python with type hints and advanced features
- Web Scraping: Selenium WebDriver, BeautifulSoup4, Requests library
- Data Processing: Pandas for data manipulation and analysis
- HTTP Servers: Custom Python HTTP server with request handling
- Configuration Management: YAML/JSON configuration with environment variables
Frontend Development
- HTML5/CSS3: Semantic markup with modern CSS features
- JavaScript (ES6+): Interactive functionality and DOM manipulation
- Responsive Design: Mobile-first approach with CSS Grid and Flexbox
- Progressive Enhancement: Graceful degradation for older browsers
Data Engineering
- ETL Pipelines: Extract, Transform, Load processes for Cars.com data
- Data Validation: Input sanitization and error handling
- File I/O: CSV/JSON processing with pandas
- Logging: Comprehensive logging system for debugging and monitoring
DevOps & Automation
- Browser Automation: Cross-platform browser driver management
- Error Handling: Robust exception handling and retry mechanisms
- Performance Optimization: Memory management and resource cleanup
- Configuration: Environment-based configuration management
Advanced Technical Features
Security & Anti-Detection
- User Agent Rotation: Dynamic browser fingerprinting evasion
- Request Headers: Custom HTTP headers to mimic legitimate traffic
- Session Management: Persistent sessions with cookie handling
- Rate Limiting: Intelligent delays to avoid IP blocking
Data Quality Assurance
- Input Validation: Comprehensive data type checking and sanitization
- Error Recovery: Graceful handling of malformed data and network failures
- Data Consistency: Standardized formatting for Cars.com data
- Duplicate Detection: Advanced algorithms to identify and remove duplicate listings
Performance Optimization
- Headless Browsing: Resource-efficient browser automation
- Memory Management: Efficient data structures and garbage collection
- Caching: Intelligent data caching to reduce redundant requests
- Resource Cleanup: Automatic cleanup of browser sessions and temporary files
Business Value & Use Cases
Market Research
- Price Analysis: Track vehicle pricing trends on Cars.com
- Inventory Monitoring: Real-time tracking of available vehicles
- Deal Identification: Automated detection of “good deal” opportunities
Personal Use
- Vehicle Shopping: Streamlined search through Cars.com listings
- Location-Based Search: Find vehicles within specific geographic areas
- Price Comparison: Compare similar vehicles across different listings
Data Analytics
- Trend Analysis: Historical data for market trend identification
- Statistical Reporting: Comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities
- Export Capabilities: Data export for further analysis in external tools