Check the API Rate Limiting

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 56 views

Introduction

CircleCI is a popular continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) platform that helps developers automate their testing and deployment processes. However, like any other tool, it's not immune to errors. In this article, we'll delve into the common causes of CircleCI build errors, with a focus on the specific error message provided.

Understanding the Error Message

The error message we're dealing with is:

Error: Command failed with exit code 1: yarn run data:incremental
error Command failed with exit code 1.
$ ./scripts/data-incremental
✘ https://api.pushshift.io/reddit/search/submission/?subreddit=terrainbuilding&sort=asc&sort_type=created_utc&after=1670202423&before=1741568825&size=1000: 403 Forbidden
info Visit https://yarnpkg.com/en/docs/cli/run for documentation about this command.

This error message indicates that the yarn run data:incremental command failed with an exit code of 1. The command is attempting to execute the ./scripts/data-incremental script, which is likely responsible for fetching data from the Pushshift API.

Common Causes of CircleCI Build Errors

There are several reasons why a CircleCI build might fail. Here are some common causes:

API Rate Limiting: The Pushshift API has rate limits in place to prevent abuse. If the API is being queried too frequently, it may return a 403 Forbidden error.
Invalid API Credentials: If the API credentials used in the script are invalid or expired, the API may return a 403 Forbidden error.
Network Issues: Network connectivity issues or proxy problems can prevent the script from fetching data from the API.
Script Errors: The ./scripts/data-incremental script may contain errors or bugs that prevent it from executing correctly.

Troubleshooting the Error

To troubleshoot the error, we can follow these steps:

Check the API Credentials: Verify that the API credentials used in the script are valid and up-to-date.
Check the API Rate Limiting: Check the Pushshift API documentation to see if there are any rate limits in place. If so, consider implementing a retry mechanism or using a more efficient API.
Check Network Connectivity: Verify that the CircleCI environment has stable network connectivity and that any proxies or firewalls are configured correctly.
Check the Script: Review the ./scripts/data-incremental script for any errors or bugs that may be preventing it from executing correctly.

Resolving the Error

To resolve the error, we can try the following:

Update the API Credentials: Update the API credentials used in the script to ensure they are valid and up-to-date.
Implement a Retry Mechanism: Implement a retry mechanism to handle API rate limiting or network connectivity issues.
Optimize the Script: Review the ./scripts/data-incremental script for any errors or bugs that may be preventing it from executing correctly.
Use a More Efficient API: Consider using a more efficient API or implementing a caching mechanism to reduce the load on the Pushshift API.

Conclusion

CircleCI build errors can be frustrating, but by understanding the common causes and following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, we can resolve the issue and get our builds running smoothly again. Remember to always check the API credentials, API rate limiting, network connectivity, and script errors before troubleshooting the issue.

Additional Resources

For more information on CircleCI and troubleshooting build errors, check out the following resources:

CircleCI Documentation: The official CircleCI documentation provides detailed information on setting up and troubleshooting CircleCI builds.
Pushshift API Documentation: The Pushshift API documentation provides detailed information on using the API and handling rate limiting.
Yarn Documentation: The Yarn documentation provides detailed information on using Yarn and troubleshooting common issues.

CircleCI Build Configuration: Learn how to configure CircleCI builds for your project.
Pushshift API Integration: Learn how to integrate the Pushshift API with your project.
Yarn Package Management: Learn how to use Yarn for package management in your project.
CircleCI Build Error: Q&A and Troubleshooting Guide =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the common causes of CircleCI build errors and provided a step-by-step guide to troubleshooting and resolving the issue. In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to CircleCI build errors and provide additional troubleshooting tips.

Q&A

Q: What is the most common cause of CircleCI build errors?

A: The most common cause of CircleCI build errors is API rate limiting. The Pushshift API has rate limits in place to prevent abuse, and if the API is being queried too frequently, it may return a 403 Forbidden error.

Q: How can I check if my API credentials are valid?

A: To check if your API credentials are valid, you can try using a tool like Postman or cURL to test the API endpoint. If the API returns a 403 Forbidden error, it may indicate that your credentials are invalid or expired.

Q: What is the best way to handle API rate limiting?

A: The best way to handle API rate limiting is to implement a retry mechanism. This can be done using a library like retry-axios or by writing custom code to retry the API request after a certain amount of time.

Q: How can I optimize my script to reduce the load on the Pushshift API?

A: To optimize your script, you can consider the following:

Use a more efficient API or implement a caching mechanism to reduce the load on the Pushshift API.
Use a library like axios to make API requests, which can help reduce the load on the API.
Implement a retry mechanism to handle API rate limiting.
Use a more efficient data storage solution, such as a database, to store the data fetched from the API.

Q: What is the best way to troubleshoot CircleCI build errors?

A: The best way to troubleshoot CircleCI build errors is to follow the steps outlined in our previous article:

Check the API credentials.
Check the API rate limiting.
Check network connectivity.
Check the script for errors or bugs.

Troubleshooting Tips

Check the CircleCI logs: The CircleCI logs can provide valuable information about the build error. Check the logs to see if there are any error messages or warnings that can help you troubleshoot the issue.
Use a debugger: A debugger can help you step through the code and identify the source of the error.
Test the API endpoint: Test the API endpoint using a tool like Postman or cURL to see if the issue is related to the API or the script.
Check the environment variables: Check the environment variables to see if they are set correctly and if they are being used in the script.

Conclusion

CircleCI build errors can be frustrating, but by following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article and using the Q&A guide, you can resolve the issue and get your builds running smoothly again. Remember to always check the API credentials, API rate limiting, network connectivity, and script errors before troubleshooting the issue.

Additional Resources

For more information on CircleCI and troubleshooting build errors, check out the following resources:

CircleCI Documentation: The official CircleCI documentation provides detailed information on setting up and troubleshooting CircleCI builds.
Pushshift API Documentation: The Pushshift API documentation provides detailed information on using the API and handling rate limiting.
Yarn Documentation: The Yarn documentation provides detailed information on using Yarn and troubleshooting common issues.

CircleCI Build Configuration: Learn how to configure CircleCI builds for your project.
Pushshift API Integration: Learn how to integrate the Pushshift API with your project.
Yarn Package Management: Learn how to use Yarn for package management in your project.