deepakkgupta

[deepakkgupta]

Building a Daily X/Twitter Bot as a Learning Experiment

What started as a casual vibe-coding experiment turned into a fun journey of tinkering with automation. I wanted to see if I could stitch together the OpenAI API and the X/Twitter API to create something lightweight but useful. Along the way, I learned the quirks of both platforms, and the result was a simple bot that now posts two short tweets a day. Even small projects can teach big lessons.

You can find the code here: tweet-bot-openai-api.

High-Level Steps

1. Get the keys I created API keys for OpenAI and X/Twitter. OpenAI API generates the text. X/Twitter API handles the posting.

OpenAI doesn’t offer a free API tier anymore, so you’ll need to add funds to your account. That said, the cost for a small project like this is minimal. X/Twitter, on the other hand, provides multiple API tiers, and the free tier is more than enough to support this project.

2. Write the script The Python script has three parts:

Ask OpenAI for a tweet.

Check the result: under 280 characters, no profanity, no personal data, and moderation approval.

Post it to Twitter (or just log it when testing).

3. Add secrets and variables Secrets store private keys. Variables store non-sensitive settings like topics, posting times, or log level.

4. Automate with GitHub Actions I set up a workflow to run twice a day at 09:15 and 17:15 IST. It can also run manually.

5. Test locally first With DRY_RUN=true, the bot only prints tweets instead of posting. Once it worked, I flipped it to live.

What I Learned

Vibe coding is powerful, but it comes with a learning curve. It opens the door for non-programmers to prototype and build, though having some programming background definitely helps. Getting things to work often takes several rounds of prompting, brainstorming with AI, and testing.

Environment setup matters. GitHub variables don’t become environment variables automatically. You have to map them in the workflow.

Models act differently. gpt-5-nano sometimes gave empty text. Adding a fallback model (gpt-4o-mini) fixed this.

Content moderation adds safety. Even if I trust the model, a second moderation check in the code keeps things cleaner.

Dry-run mode is a must. It let me test without spamming my feed.

Small project, big learnings. Even though this was a small project, it helped me get hands-on with the basics of Git, making API calls, and setting up GitHub workflows.

Future Ideas

Rotate tweet topics instead of picking them randomly from a list.

Keep track of past tweets to avoid repeats.

Send an alert if a run fails after retries.

Experiment with different prompts for more variety.

Closing Thoughts

In the end, this wasn’t about building the perfect bot. It was about experimenting through vibe coding: wiring APIs together, testing small pieces, and watching the system come alive. The bot now runs on its own, but the real takeaway is the clearer understanding I’ve gained of how these tools fit together. With that foundation, I’m excited to take on something more complex and impactful next.

Follow me (deepakgupta1) on X/Twitter to see the bot in action and catch whatever I end up building next.

If you’ve been tinkering with APIs or small automations, I’d love to hear what you’ve built.

[deepakkgupta]

Sunset hues & lake views!

📍Gangaur Ghat, Lake Pichola, Udaipur

[deepakkgupta]

Life does not have to perfect to be wonderful.

- Annette Funicello 

[deepakkgupta]

Nostalgia and the Magic of Home

The crystal-clear sky sprinkled with fluffy clouds, the Shivalik foothills, the crisp air, the sun-kissed winter days – all the beauty you cherish now.

But time was, you never saw it. Back then, your small-town life felt like a boring pit stop, just waiting to be escaped. Now, on your fleeting visits every few months, everything seems magical, and you kick yourself for not soaking it in during your younger days.

You yearn to linger longer, but the call of life and work pulls you back, until your next brief escape.

[deepakkgupta]

Experience the Journey Again: Reliving Memories Through AI

How do we keep memories alive? We capture them with photographs.

Today, thanks to our trusty smartphones, it's easier than ever to snap pictures and preserve those fleeting moments. But back in the 80s and 90s, things were different. Cameras, films, and photo processing were expensive and not readily available. So most of us relied on our minds to store precious memories instead of relying on a camera.

But looking back, there are so many moments we wish we had captured. Thankfully, with the help of generative AI, we can now try to recreate the images associated with those memories. As long as we can provide enough details, an image generation model can give us pictures that come close to reality.

They may not be exact replicas, but they're a wonderful way to relive those moments and preserve them before our memories fade away.

In this picture, I've attempted to capture the beauty of a village nestled in the hills. This place holds a special memory for me as I visited it with my dad during one of his monthly business trips. I remember how he arranged for the watermill operator to give me a tour of how the mill works.

Location: Mandakwas, Tehsil Khari, District Banihal, Jammu and Kashmir.

Image generated with Bing AI powered by DALL-E 3.

Post drafted with editorial help from Lex.Page word processor.

It was a magical experience for me as a child, and even though I couldn't capture it with a camera back then, I've always carried this cherished memory of the trip with my dad and the serenity of that pristine village.

[deepakkgupta]

Life is like riding a bicycle, to stay balanced you must keep moving and find joy in the journey.

[deepakkgupta]

You will not see the light at the end of the tunnel until you walk through the darkness.

-Leon Brown

Tunnel on NH-44 Jammu Udhampur National Highway

Picture made on 21st Sep 2018 with iPhone 6S Plus and edited with Snapseed

[deepakkgupta]

Yash Pal Gupta (6th Nov 1952 - 5th Nov 2017)

May your soul travel in peace, daddy. Your presence will always be missed.

ॐ

[deepakkgupta]

“Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more.”  ― Robin Hobb, Fool's Fate

Clicked on 16th April 2016 at Ramnagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India

[deepakkgupta]

Learning Python

After tinkering around with some java code, to automate a manual and lengthy task at work, I posted my thoughts on twitter:

Oddly satisfied after tinkering with some code today. Need to bring my programming mojo back.👊 https://t.co/lghrkoixu6

— Deepak Gupta (@deepakgupta1) June 14, 2016

With an hour of effort, something that could’ve taken a whole day was now completed in seconds.

It’s been a while that I learned something new. So I picked up Python as a new language to learn. Now question was where to start? There are numerous resources on internet to learn python.

I found Automate the Boring Stuff with Python as a good learning resource. If you already know coding in another language the initial chapters would be a cake walk.

For any questions that you need answers or inspiration on projects you could work on there are always subreddits like /r/learnpython and /r/python.

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” ― Aristotle

The best way to learn any new programming language is by programming in that language. After going through the basics, I plan to find some interesting project to do.

Till then back to the command line...

[deepakkgupta]

Kasauli

If you google for places to visit around Chandigarh, a name that pops-up everywhere is the hill station of Kasauli. This quaint town is just over 60 kms from Chandigarh and is a favorite weekend getaway for day trips or weekends.

Kasauli can be reached from Chandigarh from two different routes. The first one goes via Dharampur. You take the Himalayan Expressway, then continue on Shimla highway, passing Timber Trail and Jabli, till Dharampur. From there you turn left and drive for 11 kms to reach Kasauli.

The second route goes from Parwanoo town to Kasauli. You turn left into Pinjore from Himalayan Expressway, cross the town of Kalka and then take road to Kasauli from Parwanoo. You’ll find minimal traffic on this route though the road is quite steep and in bad shape. But this route offers some scenic back drops and seasonal waterfalls.

On reaching Kasauli, the first point of attraction is Christ Church just a few meters away from Bus Stand. The church was inaugurated on 24 July 1853 and gives a glimpse of colonial gothic architecture. The courtyard has a sun dial installed and is surrounded by chestnut and fir trees.

From the church you can take a walk on Lower Mall Road towards Sunset Point and observe the flora of the place.

You’ll also get to see some fauna in terms of langoors and monkeys on the Lower Mall Road. The road leads to Manki Point which is the highest point in Kasauli. There is a Hanuman Temple at the top of hillock and it’s believed that Lord Hanuman had set his feet here while on his way to look for the Sanjeevani Buti. You reach the temple after a steep hike of 500 meters. The point lies inside an Indian Air Force base and there are few restrictions in place. You’ve to park your vehicle outside the base and are not allowed to carry any mobile phones, electronic devices, cameras and bags. So no pictures of or from the Manki Point. On a clear day you can see City of Chandigarh and Sukhna Lake clearly from the top.

After coming back from Lower Mall you can stroll on Upper Mall Road which has a small Tibetan Market and food vendors.

At the end of Upper Mall Road you’ll reach the Heritage Market. This market has shops selling souvenirs, daily necessity items and traditional and fast food.

No trip is complete without food. There are lot of options for that. You could eat in one of the fancy restaurants just outside Kasauli. For cheaper options, there are street vendors selling spicy kulcha channa/chaat etc. The momos at shop # 19 at Upper Mall Road are real tasty. Or you can try Indian snacks at Heritage Market. If fast food is your thing then head to shop # 31 on the Heritage Market. In case you’re looking for an overnight stay there are many resort hotels and cheaper guest houses. You can choose one according to your budget.

And when you’re in this town breathe in some fresh air, have long leisurely walks, eat nice food, rewind yourself and always remember:

Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.

Till next time!

[deepakkgupta]

"It is better to travel well than to arrive." - Buddha

[deepakkgupta]

This is Nishant. His parents runs a tea stall close to my office. After coming back from school he plays around the tea stall till evening. He is a mischief maker but a shy kid. The thing he enjoys most is taking rides on a bicycle with his older brother.

[deepakkgupta]

Vanakkam Chennai

Few months back, I landed up in Chennai for a short work related trip. I figured apart from work I could squeeze out some time to look around the city. After going through tripadvisor and lot of blogs, I made a list of few places to see based on time and my distance from them.

Here’s my list of things to do/places to visit in Chennai if you’re there for a short time.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

This is an ancient temple in Mylapore neighborhood of Chennai. It’s believed to be built in the 7th century CE by the Pallava dynasty. There’s a main temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and few smaller temples in the complex. The main temple makes you feel the old times when it was built. Once inside the temple make sure you pay attention to the architecture and design of the temple and absorb the history.

San Thome Basilica

It’s a minor basilica in the Santhome neighborhood of Chennai and is about 1 km from Kapaleeshwarar Temple. It was rebuild in late 19th century by the British in Neo-Gothic style. If you, like me, don’t know what Neo-Gothic style means no need to worry. The facade of church will give you a good idea of that.

The main prayer hall is designed beautifully from the floor to the roof. There is a small museum and tomb of St. Thomas under the basilica that can be visited as well.

Gandhi Beach

No Chennai trip can be complete without a visit to beach. If you’re in Santhome neighborhood you’re at a walking distance to Gandhi Beach. Though the beach is empty during the day, it gets quite crowded in the evenings. The Madras Light House is also located at this beach and can be visited during the day.

St. Thomas Mount

Close to Chennai airport, there is small hillock in the neighborhood of Guindy. A flight of 160 steep steps takes you to the top. On the top is a 400 hundred years old shrine dedicated to “Our Lady of Expectation” (Mother Mary) built in 1523.

A small prayer room provides a peaceful place for praying & self reflection. Outside the shrine, you can observe planes taking off and landing into the airport. The hillock provides a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

Do read about St. Thomas before you visit to understand the significance of the shrine at St. Thomas Mount and the San Thome Basilica.

Ranganathan Street

Did you say shopping? I say Ranganathan Street. It’s a major commercial street in T. Nagar. If you’re looking to take quintessential Chennai souvenirs then this is the place to go. You’ll find shops for sarees, jewelry, clothing, handlooms etc here. But the place is damn crowded at all times. So be prepared for that.

And what about food? You can enjoy delicious South Indian food all throughout the city. But you’ll never go wrong with Murugan Idli Shop and Saravana Bhavan. If you’re looking for a fine dining experience then go to Madras restaurant in The Raintree Hotel, Teynampet. The place provides authentic South Indian cuisine with a wonderful ambience and live classical music.

With work done and experiencing a little bit of Chennai, it was time to head back home. I was not carrying my camera and as they say:

The best camera is the one you have with you.

All pictures were taken and edited using Google Camera, Snapseed and VSCO Cam apps on an Alcatel Idol X+ phone.

Au revoir, Chennai! See you when I see you.

[deepakkgupta]

Siesta Time

[deepakkgupta]

Haunted Ruins of Bhangarh

Bhangarh Fort, considered to be the most haunted place in India, lies between Jaipur and Alwar in the state of Rajasthan. It’s located on the border of the Sariska Reserve in the Aravali range of hills in Alwar district of Rajasthan.

The fort was built in 17th century by order of King Sawai Madho Singh in Rajasthan, India. Once a magnificent fort city, today only the ruins are left. You can read the stories behind abandonment of this fort city on wikipedia or elsewhere. Now famous as a haunted place, this place is treat to eyes and offer great views for photography enthusiasts.

The main gates of the fort is open between sunrise and sunset. The gate is locked at sunset to keep the mythical ghosts inside and humans outside.

Upon entering the fort through its main gate, you can observe the remains of what would’ve once been a sprawling city. A pathway, surrounded by remains of an apparent fallen market place on both sides, leads to main grounds.

Crossing over the ground, you head towards the palace complex which stands just at the foot of Aravalis.

A steep, curvy ramp leads to another gate for entering the palace. You can observe the fort ground on your way up to the palace.

The palace gate opens into a resting place, then dark stairs which has corridors leading to residential quarters. Currently there is a mosque in one such corridor. On reaching the roof there are few broken stairs that lead to no where.

You can climb few more set of stairs to reach the top of palace complex. There are remains of pillars & walls decorated with, now faded, intricate designs.

From top you can have a panoramic view of whole fort complex and surrounding Aravali hills. The palace is marked by its own boundary wall, separating it from rest of fort city.

Spend some time of the palace to view the ruins and whole hilly panorama from different perspectives. Now in shambles, the fort city must have been beaming with life at its peak. Among these ruins there is a small shrine dedicated to Princess Ratnavati.

The odd dry trees in the complex add to the mystery as well. Current residents of fort are mostly southern planes gray langurs. You can find them minding their own business, oblivious of the haunted city or humans observing them. There are few temples within the complex with no idols in them. Apparently the residents took the idols with them when they left this place.

The fort is now maintained by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is closed to visitors after sunset till sunrise. Many attribute this to the haunted nature of the fort. People have reported hearing human cries and sounds of sword fights in night. But the lack of electricity at the fort could be one of the reason for its closure at night. Also wild life from nearby Sariska Reserve pose threat visitors in the night time. And in deserts there is always a risk of snakes and scorpions. There is no definite proof of this place being rum amok by ghosts in night. The locals we spoke to denied experiencing anything paranormal.

When you visit this place, make sure you carry enough water and eatables with you. The fort is approached by a unpaved road from the nearest village. There are just a couple of vendors outside fort who sell water, soft drinks etc.

Though all that stands today at this place are ruins, but they leave you intrigued. The narrow passage ways, dark stairs, broken pillars, half walls, all carry a history. The reason for decline and abandonment of this fort city is lost somewhere in time leaving only folklores behind. We may never know if there are ghosts or lost souls here.

Whatever be the case, this  place must be on your must list if you happen to visit Rajasthan. There is something eerily beautiful about this place you won’t experience elsewhere.

[deepakkgupta]

The Chicago L - Harlem/Lake Station

"Even if you're on a right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers