changedetection.io

changedetection.io is an open-source, self-hosted application that monitors websites for content updates and sends notifications when changes are detected. It tracks web pages, PDF files, and JSON API responses to alert users of modifications in real time. The software is deployed as a server and accessed via a web browser, with installation options including Docker, Python pip, and a native Windows version.

Users can configure specific triggers to filter noise, such as ignoring certain text or targeting specific elements. The application supports various notification channels including Discord, Email, Slack, Telegram, and webhooks. It also includes a Chrome extension to quickly add pages to the monitoring list from a browser, allowing for rapid setup of new watches without leaving the current webpage.

Key features

• Support for xPath, CSS Selectors, JSONPath, and jq for targeting specific content
• Integration with LLMs via LiteLLM for AI-powered change summaries and filtering
• Browser automation using Playwright and WebDriver for JavaScript-heavy sites
• PDF monitoring for text changes, file size, and checksums
• Custom request headers and support for POST and GET methods
• Scheduling tools to limit checks by timezone, day of week, or business hours
• Visual Selector tool for pinpointing elements on a webpage
• Ability to execute JavaScript steps for logging into websites before detection

The system architecture allows for different fetchers, ranging from fast non-JS requests to full Chrome-based rendering. It is designed for users who need to track price drops, restock alerts, regulatory changes, or website defacement. The AI integration allows users to write plain-English intents to suppress irrelevant updates, such as ignoring navigation or footer changes. Advanced users can use the JSON filter and notifications to glue different APIs together or generate RSS feeds based on web content changes.

Additional capabilities include the ability to send screenshots with notifications and the use of configurable proxies per watch to avoid detection or bypass regional restrictions. This makes the software suitable for professional monitoring of governmental updates, security advisories, and competitive pricing analysis.

This tool serves as a utility for automated web monitoring and data tracking.