ShotWolf Python SDK

Official Python client for the ShotWolf API - capture screenshots, render device mockups, generate Open Graph cards, convert HTML to PDF, and run pixel-level visual regression diffs through a single JSON HTTP API.

• Zero dependencies (standard-library only, Python 3.8+)
• Typed (ships py.typed, TypedDict params and Literal enums)
• Built-in retries with backoff, idempotency keys, and an async polling helper

Install

pip install shotwolf

Quick start

Get an API key at shotwolf.com/dashboard/api_keys.

from shotwolf import ShotWolf

sw = ShotWolf()  # reads SHOTWOLF_API_KEY, or pass ShotWolf("sw_live_...")

shot = sw.capture(url="https://example.com", full_page=True, dismiss_cookies=True)
print(shot["image_url"])

Usage

Screenshots

# Sync - returns the image URL inline (~1-4s)
shot = sw.capture(url="https://stripe.com", device="iphone_15_pro")

# Async - queue and poll (or pass webhook_url for a callback)
queued = sw.capture_async(url="https://stripe.com")
done = sw.wait_for(queued["id"])  # polls until status is done

# Batch - one page, many viewports (cheaper than N calls)
batch = sw.batch(url="https://stripe.com", devices=["default", "iphone_15_pro", "ipad_pro_12_9"])

Device & social mockups

mockup = sw.mockup(url="https://stripe.com", frame="macbook_air", bg="gradient")

Open Graph cards

og = sw.og(template="blog_card", variables={"title": "Ship faster", "author": "Jane Doe"})

HTML / URL to PDF

pdf = sw.pdf(html="<h1>Invoice #42</h1>", page_format="A4", print_background=True)

Visual regression diff

diff = sw.diff(
    before_url="https://staging.example.com",
    after_url="https://example.com",
    ignore_regions=[{"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 1280, "height": 80}],  # mask a dynamic header
)
if not diff["passed"]:
    print(f"{diff['diff_ratio'] * 100:.2f}% changed", diff["diff_image_url"])

Account balance

account = sw.account()
print(account["balance_cr"], account["tier"]["name"])

Idempotency

Pass idempotency_key to make money-charging POSTs safe to retry. A repeat with the same key and body within 24h replays the original response instead of charging again.

import uuid
sw.capture(url="https://example.com", idempotency_key=str(uuid.uuid4()))

Error handling

Any non-2xx response raises ShotWolfError carrying the API error type, HTTP status, and message.

from shotwolf import ShotWolfError

try:
    sw.capture(url="https://example.com")
except ShotWolfError as err:
    if err.type == "insufficient_credits":
        ...  # top up at https://shotwolf.com/pricing
    print(err.status, err.type, err.message, err.request_id)

Configuration

sw = ShotWolf(
    "sw_live_xxx",
    base_url="https://shotwolf.com",  # override for self-host / testing
    timeout=60.0,                     # per-request timeout in seconds
    max_retries=2,                    # retries on 429 / 5xx
    retry_backoff=0.5,                # base backoff, doubled per attempt
)

Retries honor the Retry-After header on 429 responses. 4xx responses other than 429 are never retried.

API coverage

Full parameter reference: shotwolf.com/docs.

License

MIT