Overcoming the 9,999 Close Friends Limit in Instagram's Private API

Resolving the "Max Besties Exceeded" Error with Modular Backend Solutions

This solution demonstrates a modular backend approach in TypeScript to handle the "Max Besties Exceeded" issue by creating batches and managing limits effectively.

// Import required modules
import { IgApiClient } from 'instagram-private-api';

// Define a function to check and handle the limit dynamically
async function manageCloseFriendsLimit(ig: IgApiClient, followerIds: string[], batchSize: number, delay: number): Promise<void> {
    let totalAdded = 0;
    console.log(\`Processing \${followerIds.length} followers...\`);

    for (let i = 0; i < followerIds.length; i += batchSize) {
        const batch = followerIds.slice(i, i + batchSize);
        try {
            await ig.friendship.setBesties({ add: batch, remove: [] });
            totalAdded += batch.length;
            console.log(\`Batch added. Total followers added: \${totalAdded}\`);
        } catch (error) {
            if (error.response && error.response.status === 400 && error.response.body.message.includes('max besties exceeded')) {
                console.error('Instagram has capped the close friends limit.');
                break;
            } else {
                console.error('An unexpected error occurred:', error);
            }
        }

        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));
    }

    console.log('Processing complete.');
}

Handling API Limits with Batch Size Adjustments in TypeScript

This script implements dynamic batch size adjustments to avoid hitting Instagram's undocumented limits.

// Import required modules
import { IgApiClient } from 'instagram-private-api';

// Function to add close friends with batch size adaptation
async function dynamicBatchHandler(ig: IgApiClient, followerIds: string[], maxBatchSize: number, delay: number): Promise<void> {
    let batchSize = maxBatchSize;

    for (let i = 0; i < followerIds.length;) {
        const batch = followerIds.slice(i, i + batchSize);
        try {
            await ig.friendship.setBesties({ add: batch, remove: [] });
            console.log(\`Added batch of size \${batch.length}\`);
            i += batch.length;
        } catch (error) {
            if (batchSize > 1) {
                console.warn('Reducing batch size due to error...');
                batchSize = Math.floor(batchSize / 2);
            } else {
                console.error('Minimum batch size reached. Stopping process.');
                break;
            }
        }

        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay));
    }
}

Unit Tests for the Above Solutions

Here is a Jest test suite to validate the functionality of the above scripts.

// Import necessary modules
import { manageCloseFriendsLimit, dynamicBatchHandler } from './closeFriendsHandler';
import { IgApiClient } from 'instagram-private-api';

describe('Close Friends Manager', () => {
    let igMock: IgApiClient;

    beforeEach(() => {
        igMock = new IgApiClient();
        jest.spyOn(igMock.friendship, 'setBesties').mockResolvedValue(true);
    });

    test('manageCloseFriendsLimit processes all followers', async () => {
        const followers = Array(100).fill('user_id');
        await expect(manageCloseFriendsLimit(igMock, followers, 10, 100)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
    });

    test('dynamicBatchHandler adjusts batch size on error', async () => {
        jest.spyOn(igMock.friendship, 'setBesties').mockImplementationOnce(() => {
            throw new Error('API Limit');
        });

        const followers = Array(50).fill('user_id');
        await expect(dynamicBatchHandler(igMock, followers, 10, 100)).resolves.toBeUndefined();
    });
});

Common Questions About Instagram API and Close Friends List Management

1. What is the "Max Besties Exceeded" error?
2. The "Max Besties Exceeded" error occurs when attempting to add more than Instagram’s undocumented limit of followers to the Close Friends list using ig.friendship.setBesties. This typically happens around the 10,000-user mark.
3. Can I bypass the 9,999-follower limit?
4. While Instagram doesn’t officially allow exceeding the limit, dynamic batching and multiple sessions can help manage large follower lists effectively without triggering errors.
5. How can I delay API requests to avoid rate limiting?
6. Use a delay mechanism like await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delay)) to introduce pauses between API calls, reducing the risk of being flagged for excessive requests.
7. Are there documented guidelines for Instagram's Close Friends list API?
8. No, Instagram doesn’t explicitly document these limits. Developers often learn through trial, error, and observing community-shared insights.
9. What are some best practices for managing large-scale Close Friends lists?
10. Best practices include using slice to create smaller batches, dynamically adjusting batch sizes, and employing robust error-handling logic to respond to API constraints gracefully.

Key Takeaways from Instagram API Limitations

Managing Instagram’s Close Friends list efficiently requires innovative solutions when faced with undocumented API constraints. The "Max Besties Exceeded" error challenges developers to rethink automation strategies and implement adaptive tools like batching to stay within limits. These practices enhance scalability and reduce risk. 💡

With a thoughtful approach, this issue transforms from a roadblock into an opportunity to refine automation techniques. Understanding Instagram’s backend quirks and leveraging robust error handling ensures a seamless process. For developers managing extensive user bases, these lessons are invaluable for creating reliable, high-performance scripts. 🚀