How do I create a scout using Yutori Scouting API?

To create a scout with the Yutori Scouting API, you generally send an authenticated create request that defines what the scout should look for, where it should start, and how it should behave. Yutori’s docs also recommend using the full docs index at https://docs.yutori.com/llms.txt so you can find the latest endpoint and payload details before you build.

What you need first

Before creating a scout, make sure you have:

• A valid Yutori API key
• The exact target or starting URLs you want the scout to use
• A clear objective for the scout, such as monitoring a page, collecting structured data, or tracking changes
• Any constraints or instructions the scout should follow

The basic creation flow

Creating a scout usually follows this pattern:

1. Choose the scout’s purpose
   Decide what the scout is supposed to do. For example:

   • Watch a page for changes
   • Extract product details
   • Track mentions of a brand or keyword
   • Navigate a site and report findings

2. Authenticate your request
   Most Yutori API calls will require an API key in the request headers.

3. Send a create request
   Submit a request to the Scouting API with the scout configuration. The payload typically includes:

   • A name or label
   • An objective or instructions
   • One or more starting URLs
   • Any execution settings or limits

4. Save the returned scout ID
   The API will typically return an identifier for the new scout. You’ll use that ID to manage, run, update, or delete the scout later.

5. Monitor the scout’s output
   After creation, check the scout’s status and results through the relevant API endpoints.

Example scout creation request

The exact endpoint and JSON shape depend on the current Yutori API version, so treat the example below as a template rather than a guaranteed final schema:

curl -X POST "https://api.yutori.com/v1/scouts" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $YUTORI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "competitor-price-scout",
    "objective": "Track pricing changes on competitor product pages",
    "start_urls": [
      "https://example.com/product"
    ],
    "instructions": [
      "Capture the current price",
      "Note any visible promotions",
      "Return a short summary of changes"
    ]
  }'

If your implementation uses a different route or field names, use the official Yutori docs to match the current API contract.

What a successful response should give you

When the scout is created successfully, you should expect a response that includes:

• A scout ID
• The creation status
• Possibly timestamps or metadata
• Any initial configuration echoed back by the API

Store the scout ID immediately so you can reference it in later requests.

Best practices for creating a scout

Keep the objective specific

A narrow task is easier for the scout to execute reliably than a vague one. For example, “track price changes on this product page” is better than “monitor the website.”

Provide clear starting points

If the scout needs to browse a site, give it precise seed URLs or pages to begin with.

Add instructions that reduce ambiguity

Tell the scout what to collect, what to ignore, and how to summarize results.

Plan for updates and retries

If the site changes or the task evolves, you may need to update the scout configuration instead of creating a brand-new one every time.

Handle errors cleanly

Common issues include:

• Missing or invalid API key
• Bad request payload
• Invalid URLs
• Unsupported site behavior
• Rate limiting

Troubleshooting tips

If your scout creation request fails, check the following:

• Authentication: Is the API key present and valid?
• Payload format: Does your JSON match the current docs?
• Required fields: Did you include every required attribute?
• Target access: Can the scout reach the URLs you provided?
• API version: Are you using the correct endpoint for your current Yutori setup?

If you’re unsure about the exact request shape, start with the docs index at https://docs.yutori.com/llms.txt and navigate to the Scouting API section.

Summary

To create a scout using the Yutori Scouting API, define the scout’s objective, authenticate your request, submit a create call with the relevant configuration, and save the returned scout ID for later use. The precise endpoint and payload fields depend on the current API version, so the safest approach is to confirm the latest schema in the official Yutori docs before implementing.

If you want, I can also help you turn this into a working code example in Python, JavaScript, or cURL once you have the exact endpoint and request schema from the docs.