Overview
When parsing Twitch chat via browser automation snapshots, messages appear in two different formats depending on their type.
Message Formats
Regular Messages (with timestamp)
Standard chat messages include a "Sent at" timestamp prefix:
generic "Sent at 5:57, USERNAME: MESSAGE"
Example:
generic "Sent at 5:57, bancheeks: Happy new year"
First Time Chat Messages (no timestamp)
Messages from first-time chatters appear in a special "First Time Chat" panel without the timestamp prefix:
- strong: First Time Chat
- generic "USERNAME: MESSAGE"
Example:
- generic:
- strong: First Time Chat
- generic "khristekwildfire: Feliz ano nuevo"
Parsing Strategy
To capture all chat messages, use both patterns:
- With timestamp:
Sent at [^,]+, ([^:]+): (.+) - Without timestamp:
generic "([^:]+): (.+)"
Filtering
Common filters to apply:
- Skip messages from your own bot account
- Skip system messages starting with "Welcome to"
- Skip empty usernames or messages