> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://tbd-6fc993ce-mason-add-copy-page-to-context-menu.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Scrapybara [Scrapybara](https://scrapybara.com/) is shutting down their virtual desktop and browser service on **October 15, 2025**. If you're currently using Scrapybara for browser automation, Kernel is here to help you migrate seamlessly. ## Key Concepts | Feature | Scrapybara | Kernel | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Start Browser** | `client.start_browser()` | `client.browsers.create()` | | **Standby Mode** | `instance.pause()` / `instance.resume()` | Automatic standby mode | | **CDP URL** | `instance.get_cdp_url().cdp_url` | Returns `cdp_ws_url` in create response | | **Live View** | `instance.get_stream_url().stream_url` | Returns `browser_live_view_url` in create response | | **Stealth Mode** | ❌ Not available | Create browser with `stealth: true` | | **Replays** | ❌ Not available | `client.browsers.replays.start()` and `client.browsers.replays.stop()` | | **Save Auth** | `instance.browser.save_auth(name="default")` | Create [Profile](/browsers/profiles). Then create browser with `kernel.browsers.create(profile={"name": "profile1", "save_changes": True})` | ## How to migrate ### Basic Browser Creation **Scrapybara** ```python theme={null} from scrapybara import Scrapybara from playwright.async_api import async_playwright client = Scrapybara(api_key="your_api_key") instance = client.start_browser(timeout_hours=1) cdp_url = instance.get_cdp_url().cdp_url async with async_playwright() as p: browser = await p.chromium.connect_over_cdp(cdp_url) page = browser.contexts[0].pages[0] await page.goto("https://example.com") await browser.close() instance.stop() ``` **Kernel** ```python theme={null} from kernel import Kernel from playwright.async_api import async_playwright client = Kernel(api_key="your_api_key") kernel_browser = client.browsers.create(timeout_seconds=3600) cdp_url = kernel_browser.cdp_ws_url async with async_playwright() as p: browser = await p.chromium.connect_over_cdp(cdp_url) page = browser.contexts[0].pages[0] await page.goto("https://example.com") await browser.close() await client.browsers.delete_by_id(kernel_browser.session_id) ``` ### Save & Reuse Authentication **Scrapybara** ```python theme={null} # First session - save auth instance = client.start_browser() # ... login to website via Playwright ... auth_state = instance.browser.save_auth(name="my-login") instance.stop() # Second session - load auth instance2 = client.start_browser() instance2.browser.authenticate(auth_state_id=auth_state.auth_state_id) # ... browser now has saved cookies ... ``` **Kernel** ```python theme={null} # First session - save auth profile = await client.profiles.create(name="my-login") browser1 = await client.browsers.create( profile={"name": "my-login", "save_changes": True} ) # ... login to website via Playwright ... await client.browsers.delete_by_id(browser1.session_id) # Second session - load auth browser2 = await client.browsers.create( profile={"name": "my-login"} ) # ... browser now has saved cookies ... ``` ### File Download **Scrapybara** ```python theme={null} instance = client.start_browser() # ... trigger download in browser ... # Then use file operations downloaded_file = instance.file(command="read", path="/download/path") ``` **Kernel** ```python theme={null} browser = await client.browsers.create() # ... trigger download in browser via Playwright ... # Then read from filesystem file_response = await client.browsers.fs.read_file( browser.session_id, path="/tmp/downloads/file.pdf" ) await file_response.write_to_file("local-file.pdf") ``` ### Long-Running Sessions **Scrapybara** ```python theme={null} # Pause/resume for long-running sessions instance = client.start_browser(timeout_hours=24) # ... do some work ... instance.pause() # Pause to save costs # ... later ... instance.resume() # Resume work ``` **Kernel** ```python theme={null} # Automatic standby mode + persistence browser = await client.browsers.create( persistence={"id": "my-long-session"} ) # ... do some work ... # Browser enters standby mode between connections # Later - reuse the exact browser instance with full state browser2 = await client.browsers.create( persistence={"id": "my-long-session"} ) ``` ## Full API Comparison | Feature | Scrapybara | Kernel | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Create Browser** | `client.start_browser()` | `client.browsers.create()` | | **Get CDP URL** | `instance.get_cdp_url().cdp_url` | Returns `cdp_ws_url` in create response | | **Get Live View** | `instance.get_stream_url().stream_url` | Returns `browser_live_view_url` in create response | | **Delete Browser** | `instance.stop()` | `client.browsers.delete_by_id(session_id)` | | **List Browsers** | `client.get_instances()` | `client.browsers.list()` | | **Save Auth State** | `instance.browser.save_auth(name="default")` | Create [Profile](/browsers/profiles). Then create browser with `kernel.browsers.create(profile={"name": "profile1", "save_changes": True})` | | **Load Auth State** | `instance.browser.authenticate(auth_state_id="xyz")` | `kernel.browsers.create(profile={"name": "profile1"})` | | **Pause/Resume** | `instance.pause()` / `instance.resume()` | Automatic standby mode | | **Screenshot** | `instance.screenshot()` | Use Playwright or Puppeteer | | **Timeout Config** | `timeout_hours` parameter | `timeout_seconds` parameter | | **Stealth Mode** | ❌ Not available | Create browser with `stealth: true` | | **Headless Mode** | ❌ Not available | Create browser with `headless: true` | | **Session Persistence** | Auth state only | Full browser state via creating browser with `persistence={"id": "persist-id"}` | | **Video Replays** | ❌ Not available | `client.browsers.replays.start()` and `client.browsers.replays.stop()` | | **File Upload** | `instance.upload()` | `client.browsers.fs.upload()` or Playwright | | **File Download** | Via browser, then `instance.file()` | `client.browsers.fs.read_file()` | | **Process Control** | `instance.bash()` | `client.browsers.process.*` | | **Proxy Support** | ❌ Not available | Create [Proxy](/proxies/overview#1-create-a-proxy). Then create browser with `client.browsers.create(proxy_id=proxy.id)` | *** ## Need Help? * **Contact Us** on [Discord](https://discord.gg/FBrveQRcud) * **Sign-Up** [here](https://dashboard.onkernel.com/sign-up) * **Check out** our open source repos [here](https://github.com/onkernel/kernel-images)