Install
openclaw skills install x-research-but-cheaperX/Twitter research skill powered by TwitterAPI.io. Agentic search, profile analysis, thread reading, watchlists, and sourced briefings. Use when asked to search X/Twitter, check what people are saying about a topic, monitor accounts, or research crypto/tech narratives on X.
openclaw skills install x-research-but-cheaperGeneral-purpose X/Twitter research agent powered by TwitterAPI.io. Search, filter, monitor — all from the terminal. No X Developer Portal account needed.
For API details: read references/twitterapi-io.md.
| X API Official | TwitterAPI.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $100+/mo (Basic plan) | ~$0.15/1k tweets (pay-per-use) |
| Setup | Developer Portal application | Just an API key |
| Rate limit | 10 req/15min | 200 QPS |
| Archive | 7 days (recent) | Full archive |
Get a TwitterAPI.io key from twitterapi.io
Set the env var:
export TWITTERAPI_KEY="your-key-here"
Or add to your .env file.
fetch). No npm install needed — zero dependencies.All commands run from the scripts directory:
cd <skill-dir>/scripts
npx tsx x-search.ts search "<query>" [options]
Options:
--sort likes|retweets|impressions|recent — sort order (default: likes)--since 1h|3h|12h|1d|7d — time filter--min-likes N — filter minimum likes--min-impressions N — filter minimum views--pages N — pages to fetch, 1-5 (default: 1)--limit N — max results to display (default: 15)--quick — fast mode: 1 page, max 10 results, noise filter, 1hr cache--from <username> — shorthand for from:username in query--quality — filter low-engagement tweets (≥10 likes)--no-replies — exclude replies--save — save results to file--type Top|Latest — search mode (default: Latest; Top returns algorithmic ranking)--json — raw JSON output--markdown — markdown formatted outputAuto-adds -is:retweet unless query already includes it. Cost estimate shown after each search.
Examples:
npx tsx x-search.ts search "AI agents Base chain" --sort likes --limit 10
npx tsx x-search.ts search "BNKR" --quick
npx tsx x-search.ts search "from:frankdegods" --sort recent
npx tsx x-search.ts search "(opus OR claude) trading" --pages 2 --save
npx tsx x-search.ts search "$SOL memecoin" --min-likes 50 --since 1d
Search operators (passed through to X):
| Operator | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| keyword | bun 2.0 | Implicit AND |
OR | bun OR deno | Must be uppercase |
- | -is:retweet | Negation |
() | (fast OR perf) | Grouping |
from: | from:elonmusk | Posts by user |
to: | to:elonmusk | Replies to user |
# | #buildinpublic | Hashtag |
$ | $AAPL | Cashtag |
lang: | lang:en | Language filter |
is:retweet | -is:retweet | Filter retweets |
is:reply | -is:reply | Filter replies |
has:media | has:media | Contains media |
has:links | has:links | Contains links |
min_faves: | min_faves:100 | Min likes (native) |
npx tsx x-search.ts profile <username> [--count N] [--replies] [--json]
Fetches user info and recent tweets. Excludes replies by default.
npx tsx x-search.ts tweet <tweet_id> [--json]
npx tsx x-search.ts thread <tweet_id>
Fetches root tweet, author thread continuations, and replies in chronological order.
npx tsx x-search.ts replies <tweet_id> [--sort likes|recent] [--limit N]
Get replies to a specific tweet, sorted by engagement.
npx tsx x-search.ts quotes <tweet_id> [--sort likes|recent] [--limit N]
See who quoted a tweet and what they said.
npx tsx x-search.ts mentions <username> [--since 1d|7d] [--sort recent|likes] [--limit N]
Get tweets that mention a user. Great for tracking what people are saying about someone.
npx tsx x-search.ts followers <username> [--limit N]
npx tsx x-search.ts following <username> [--limit N]
List a user's followers or who they follow. Shows name, follower count, and bio snippet.
npx tsx x-search.ts users "<query>" [--limit N]
Search for user accounts by keyword.
npx tsx x-search.ts trending [--woeid N] [--count N]
Get trending topics. Default: worldwide (woeid=1). Common WOEIDs: US=23424977, UK=23424975, Italy=23424853.
npx tsx x-search.ts community <id> # Community info
npx tsx x-search.ts community tweets <id> # Community tweets
Research X Communities by ID.
npx tsx x-search.ts watchlist # Show all
npx tsx x-search.ts watchlist add <user> [note] # Add account
npx tsx x-search.ts watchlist remove <user> # Remove account
npx tsx x-search.ts watchlist check # Check recent from all
Watchlist stored in data/watchlist.json. Use for periodic monitoring — check if key accounts posted anything notable.
npx tsx x-search.ts cache clear # Clear all cached results
Default 15-minute TTL. Quick mode uses 1-hour TTL. Avoids repeat API charges.
When doing deep research (not just a quick search), follow this loop:
Turn the research question into 3-5 keyword queries:
from: specific known experts(broken OR bug OR issue)(shipped OR love OR fast)has:links for resource-rich tweets-airdrop -giveaway -whitelist if neededRun each query via CLI. After each, assess:
from: specifically?thread command?When a tweet has high engagement or is a thread starter:
npx tsx x-search.ts thread <tweet_id>
Group findings by theme, not by query:
### [Theme/Finding Title]
[1-2 sentence summary]
- @username: "[key quote]" (♥ N, 👁 N) [Tweet](url)
- @username2: "[another perspective]" (♥ N, 👁 N) [Tweet](url)
Use --save flag or --markdown for research docs.
--no-replies, use --sort likes, narrow keywordsOR, remove restrictive operators-airdrop -giveaway -whitelist to queryfrom: or --min-likes 50has:linksOn heartbeat, run watchlist check to see if key accounts posted anything notable. Flag only if genuinely interesting/actionable.
TwitterAPI.io pay-per-use pricing:
skills/x-research/
├── SKILL.md # This file
├── package.json # Zero dependencies
├── scripts/
│ ├── x-search.ts # CLI entry point
│ └── lib/
│ ├── api.ts # TwitterAPI.io wrapper
│ ├── cache.ts # File-based cache (15min/1hr TTL)
│ └── format.ts # Terminal + markdown formatters
├── data/
│ ├── watchlist.json # Accounts to monitor
│ └── cache/ # Auto-managed
└── references/
└── twitterapi-io.md # API endpoint reference
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