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What you need before scheduling captures
- A Raspberry Pi model that can run your chosen browser automation stack. The available documentation does not establish a best model, minimum memory, or performance benchmark for this workload; check current package support for your board and OS.
- Boot storage, power, and network access. A case and Ethernet connection are optional depending on the installation. Raspberry Pi Imager can configure networking and remote access before first boot.
- A stable OS and browser environment. Raspberry Pi OS setup documents Chromium and Firefox as browser choices, but that does not guarantee every automation package release supports every browser binary or Pi architecture.
- A target URL you are authorized to access, a destination directory with sufficient storage, and a schedule appropriate to the page and your network.
For a Pi without a monitor or desktop, install Raspberry Pi OS Lite and enable SSH or Raspberry Pi Connect in Imager. Complete the first-boot setup, connect remotely, and update the system using the normal Raspberry Pi OS process. Record the OS, browser, automation package, and capture settings: browser rendering can change with the host OS, browser version, settings, hardware, power source, and headless mode. See Playwright’s visual comparison guidance.
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Install and verify the browser automation stack
Playwright provides a Page API for navigation and screenshots, but its package and browser installation requirements change. Follow its current installation instructions for your selected language and check that the browser binary launches on the Pi’s operating system and architecture. Do not assume that a browser installed for ordinary desktop use is automatically compatible with your Playwright version.
This example uses Node.js and assumes that Node.js, Playwright, and a compatible Playwright browser have already been installed in the project directory. Run it interactively before creating a scheduled job.
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Write a screenshot script
Save this as capture.js in your project directory. Replace the URL and output path. It creates the destination directory, navigates to the page, waits for the page load event, saves a full-page PNG, and closes the browser even if capture fails.
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
const fs = require('node:fs/promises');
const path = require('node:path');
async function main() {
const url = process.env.CAPTURE_URL || 'https://example.com';
const outputDir = '/home/pi/site-captures';
const outputPath = path.join(outputDir, 'latest.png');
await fs.mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
const browser = await chromium.launch({ headless: true });
try {
const page = await browser.newPage({ viewport: { width: 1365, height: 900 } });
await page.goto(url, { waitUntil: 'load', timeout: 60000 });
await page.screenshot({ path: outputPath, fullPage: true, timeout: 60000 });
console.log(`Saved ${outputPath}`);
} finally {
await browser.close();
}
}
main().catch((error) => {
console.error(error);
process.exitCode = 1;
});Use an absolute path rather than relying on the current working directory: schedulers often start jobs with a different working directory than an interactive shell. This script overwrites latest.png on each successful run. To keep a history, generate a unique filename per run, for example by adding an ISO timestamp, and arrange periodic cleanup so captures do not fill the storage device.
Choose the capture extent and output format
By default, a screenshot covers the visible viewport. Playwright’s Page API describes fullPage: true as taking “the full scrollable page, instead of the currently visible viewport.” Full-page captures are useful for archiving a long page, while viewport captures are often easier to compare at a fixed size and use less storage.
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The screenshot API supports PNG, JPEG, and WebP; the filename extension determines the image type when it is inferred. You can also use clipping, choose a scale, control animation handling, and set a timeout. Consider the intended use before changing formats: images with the same visual content can have different storage sizes and quality characteristics. Consult the Playwright Page API for the current option names and behavior.
Wait for the content you actually need
waitUntil: 'load' waits for the page load event, but that does not guarantee every page has finished rendering dynamic content. If the target page fills in important content after load, wait for a page-specific selector before taking the screenshot, or use a carefully chosen fixed delay. Avoid using an arbitrary long delay for every site: it makes runs slower without proving that the content is ready. Pages that require authentication, show consent prompts, block automation, or load content asynchronously may need site-specific handling. Respect the site’s access controls and terms.
Test the script as the scheduled user
- Run the script manually from its project directory with the same account that will own the scheduled job. Set
CAPTURE_URLif using the environment variable override. - Confirm that
/home/pi/site-captures/latest.pngexists, opens correctly, and contains the intended viewport or full page. - Run it again after a reboot and through the actual scheduler. A script that works in an interactive shell can fail unattended if it depends on a shell profile, relative paths, unavailable environment variables, or permissions.
- Inspect the log and the output file after each initial scheduled run. Ensure the Pi can reach the site and that the destination directory remains writable.
Schedule recurring runs with cron
On Raspberry Pi OS, cron can run the script at a selected minute/hour cadence. Edit the crontab for the same account that successfully ran the script:
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crontab -eFor example, to run at 06:30 every day, add one line, substituting the real project path, URL, and log path:
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30 6 * * * CAPTURE_URL='https://example.com' /usr/bin/node /home/pi/screenshot-job/capture.js >> /home/pi/site-captures/capture.log 2>&1Find the actual Node.js executable path with command -v node while logged into the scheduled account, and replace /usr/bin/node if needed. Cron uses the system’s configured local time; check the Pi’s time and timezone if the run is not occurring when expected. The example redirects standard output and errors into a log so failures are diagnosable.
Prevent overlaps and manage old files
If a capture sometimes takes longer than the interval between runs, avoid launching a second copy while the first is still running. On Raspberry Pi OS, you can wrap the command with flock if it is installed:
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30 6 * * * flock -n /tmp/site-capture.lock /usr/bin/node /home/pi/screenshot-job/capture.js >> /home/pi/site-captures/capture.log 2>&1The lock file prevents a concurrent invocation from starting while the prior invocation holds the lock; test this command on your installation. For timestamped captures, define a retention policy and remove only files matching the capture naming pattern after confirming the cleanup command targets the intended directory. Keep enough recent output to detect intermittent failures without allowing unbounded storage growth.
Troubleshoot failed or inconsistent captures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The browser will not launch | The installed browser binary, Playwright version, OS, or Pi architecture is incompatible, or a required dependency is missing. | Follow the current Playwright installation guide for the selected OS and verify the installed browser launches under the scheduled account. |
| The script works manually but cron produces no image | The job may use a different working directory, executable path, environment, or account permissions. | Use absolute paths, set required environment variables in the crontab line, confirm file permissions, and read the redirected log. |
| The image is blank or missing dynamic content | The screenshot may happen before the page’s content is ready, or navigation may have failed. | Check navigation errors and logs; wait for a meaningful selector or choose an appropriate readiness condition for that site. |
| The screenshot stops before the bottom | The capture is limited to the viewport, or the page changes as it scrolls. | Set fullPage: true and check the resulting image. For unusually dynamic pages, inspect whether content appears only after interaction or scrolling. |
| Images differ between runs | Page content or rendering conditions changed, including browser/OS version, settings, hardware, power source, or headless mode. | Keep the capture environment and viewport stable, record version changes, and compare captures made under the same conditions. |
| Captures stop after storage fills | Repeated files or logs have accumulated. | Use a deliberate naming and retention policy, check available storage, and verify cleanup targets before enabling it unattended. |
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. A GET request can return a screenshot or PDF without installing and maintaining a browser on the Pi. For example, save this cURL request to retrieve a WebP capture:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Chromium or Firefox on Raspberry Pi OS?
Raspberry Pi OS setup documents both as browser choices, but check that the specific browser and automation package versions support your board and operating system.
Can I keep a dated screenshot for every run?
Yes. Use a unique timestamp in the output filename and pair it with a retention policy so the archive does not grow without limit.
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