Bluesky Social Network Downloader

Overview

This Python script provides a comprehensive tool to download and backup your Bluesky social network data. It offers a user-friendly way to archive your digital presence on Bluesky.

Features

• Download complete profile information
• Retrieve full followers list
• Export following list
• Archive recent posts and interactions
• Save data in organized JSON format
• Timestamp-based backup directories
• Rate-limit compliant
• Secure authentication handling

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8+
• Bluesky account

Installation

1. Clone this repository to your local machine
2. Create a virtual environment (recommended):

   python -m venv venv
   # On Windows:
   venv\Scripts\activate
   # On Unix or MacOS:
   source venv/bin/activate

3. Install required dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

Required packages:

• atproto (v0.8.1)

Usage

1. Ensure your virtual environment is activated
2. Run the script:

   python bluesky_download.py

3. When prompted:
   • Enter your Bluesky handle (e.g., user.bsky.social)
   • Provide your password
   • Wait while the script downloads your data
4. Find your downloaded data in the timestamped directory created in the script's location

Data Structure

The downloaded data is organized in the data folder with the following structure:

Files

• followers.json : List of accounts following you
• following.json : List of accounts you follow
• posts.json : Archive of your recent posts
• profile.json : Your profile information
• following_network.json : Extended network data

Directories

• following_network/: Contains individual JSON files, one for each account that the user is following, with detailed information about that account's network

Data Format Example

The following data (stored in example_following.json) follows this structure:

{
  "did": "unique-identifier",
  "handle": "username.bsky.social",
  "associated": {
    "chat": {
      "allow_incoming": "all",
      "py_type": "app.bsky.actor.defs#profileAssociatedChat"
    }
  },
  "avatar": "profile-image-url",
  "created_at": "timestamp",
  "description": "user bio",
  "display_name": "User Display Name",
  "indexed_at": "timestamp",
  "labels": []
}

Security Notes

• Your login credentials are only used for authentication and are never stored
• Consider using environment variables for credentials in automated scenarios
• The script uses official Bluesky API endpoints through the atproto library
• All data is stored locally in your specified directory

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

• Authentication errors: Verify your handle and password
• Connection timeouts: Check your internet connection
• Rate limiting: The script handles rate limits automatically
• Package conflicts: Ensure you're using the correct atproto version (0.8.1)

Disclaimer

This tool is designed for personal use and data backup purposes. Please:

• Respect Bluesky's terms of service
• Be mindful of API rate limits
• Do not use the downloaded data for unauthorized purposes
• Consider the privacy implications of storing social network data

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues or pull requests.