I used to spend 30 minutes every morning manually saving links.
Twitter would surface interesting threads. RSS feeds would deliver new articles. Email newsletters would drop valuable resources. Slack messages would contain references I wanted to remember. Each required opening, evaluating, and manually saving to the appropriate collection.
By the time I finished this ritual, I was mentally exhausted before my actual work even started. And I knew I was still missing things because I couldn’t possibly monitor every source constantly.
Then I discovered API-driven workflows. Within a weekend, I’d built automation that:
- Saved every link I starred in my RSS reader
- Archived Twitter bookmarks automatically
- Pulled references from saved Slack messages
- Captured links from specific email labels
Suddenly, my link curation happened in the background. I just tagged or starred things in tools I already used, and they flowed into my organized collections automatically.
My morning ritual dropped from 30 minutes to 5. I wasn’t doing less curation—I was just doing it through systems instead of manual labor.
This transformation shaped how I built stashed.in. From day one, I knew an API was essential because manual link management doesn’t scale. Power users need automation to maintain quality collections without burning out.
If you’re drowning in manual link management, API workflows are your escape. Here’s how to build them, even if you’re not a developer.
Why API-Driven Link Archiving Matters#
Before we dive into implementation, let’s understand why this approach is transformative.
The Problem With Manual Curation#
Manual link saving has a fatal flaw: it’s exhausting at scale.
When you encounter 5 valuable links per week, manual saving is fine. When you encounter 50, it becomes a part-time job. You start cutting corners. Saving fewer things. Adding less context. Organizing poorly. Eventually, you stop altogether.
The quality/quantity tradeoff kills manual curation. You can maintain quality by being selective, but then you miss valuable content. Or you save everything but sacrifice organization and context.
API workflows break this tradeoff. Systems handle volume while you focus on curation decisions.
What APIs Actually Enable#
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) let applications talk to each other programmatically. Instead of manually copying information between tools, you create automated connections.
For link archiving, this means:
Trigger-based saving: When you star something in Feedly, it automatically saves to your link manager. When you bookmark a tweet, it archives. When you add a label in Gmail, the links extract and save.
Batch processing: Instead of saving links one at a time, process hundreds automatically while maintaining consistent organization and context.
Cross-platform aggregation: Pull from RSS, email, social media, read-later services, and more into one unified archive. No switching between apps.
Scheduled routines: Run workflows nightly or weekly. Wake up to organized collections without manual effort.
Smart tagging and organization: Apply rules that automatically categorize links based on source, keywords, or other metadata.
The result: you make high-level curation decisions (what sources to follow, what to star or tag), and systems handle the execution.
The Sustainability Factor#
Manual link management is like manual dishwashing. It works for a while, then you burn out or lower your standards.
API-driven workflows are like having a dishwasher. You still need to load it (make curation decisions), but the system handles the actual work. This sustainability lets you maintain quality long-term.
I’ve been running my automated link workflows for three years now. My collections have grown from hundreds to thousands of links while improving in organization. This would be impossible with pure manual curation.
Understanding API Workflow Components#
Before building, understand the three components of any API workflow:
1. Trigger Sources#
These are the tools where you naturally encounter and tag content. Your existing workflow, not new apps.
Common trigger sources:
- RSS readers (Feedly, Inoreader, NewsBlur) where you star articles
- Twitter/X where you bookmark tweets or like from specific lists
- Pocket, Instapaper where you save for later reading
- Email where you star or label messages containing links
- Slack where you react to messages with specific emoji
- Browser history filtered by time spent or manual tags
The key: use tools you’re already using. Don’t add new steps. Piggyback on existing behaviors.
2. Middleware/Automation Platforms#
These connect your trigger sources to your archive destination. They handle the “when this, then that” logic.
Zapier is the most popular, with thousands of integrations. Paid but powerful and user-friendly.
Make (formerly Integromat) offers more complex workflows with visual builders. Good for advanced use cases.
IFTTT is simpler and cheaper but less flexible. Good for basic workflows.
n8n is open-source and self-hostable. Technical but powerful and free.
Custom scripts (Python, Node.js, etc.) offer maximum control but require programming skills.
Most people should start with Zapier or Make. They handle authentication, error handling, and provide templates. Once you understand workflows, you can move to code if needed.
3. Archive Destination#
Where your links end up, organized and searchable.
If you’re using stashed.in, our API lets you programmatically create stashes, add links with metadata, and organize automatically.
Other options with APIs:
- Airtable (flexible databases)
- Notion (with their API)
- Raindrop.io (dedicated bookmark manager)
- Your own database or spreadsheet
The destination should support:
- Creating entries programmatically
- Adding metadata (tags, notes, source info)
- Organizing into collections or categories
- Searching and retrieving later
Building Your First Automation: RSS to Archive#
Let’s walk through a practical example: automatically saving starred RSS articles to your link archive.
Step 1: Choose Your RSS Reader#
You need an RSS reader with API access or Zapier integration. Feedly, Inoreader, and NewsBlur all work well.
I use Inoreader because their API is robust and they support custom tags that become useful metadata later.
Set up your feeds if you haven’t already. Organize them into folders or tags. This organization will flow through to your archive.
Step 2: Set Up Your Automation Platform#
Create a Zapier account (free tier works for testing). We’ll build a “Zap” that triggers when you star an article in your RSS reader.
The workflow logic:
- Trigger: New starred item in RSS reader
- Filter: Only if item has a URL (some starred items might be just text)
- Action: Add to stashed.in (or your chosen archive)
Step 3: Configure the Trigger#
In Zapier, create a new Zap and select your RSS reader as the trigger app.
Choose “New Saved Article” or “New Starred Item” as the trigger event. Connect your RSS reader account when prompted.
Test the trigger. Zapier will pull a recent starred item. Verify it has the data you need: URL, title, description, source, date.
Step 4: Add Filtering (Optional)#
Maybe you only want to archive certain feeds, or articles with specific tags.
Add a filter step: “Only continue if…” and set your conditions. For example:
- Feed contains “Design”
- Has tag “Archive”
- Published date is within last 30 days
Filters prevent cluttering your archive with things you starred for other reasons.
Step 5: Configure the Archive Action#
Add an action step for your archive destination. If using stashed.in, you’d select “Stashed.in” (once we have Zapier integration - currently in development).
For now, you can use:
- Airtable as a temporary solution (excellent API support)
- Google Sheets for simplicity
- Webhooks to any custom endpoint
Configure the action by mapping fields:
- URL → from RSS feed URL
- Title → from RSS feed title
- Notes → from RSS feed description
- Collection → based on RSS feed name or tags
- Date saved → current timestamp
Step 6: Test and Refine#
Run a test. Star a new article in your RSS reader, wait 5-15 minutes (Zapier’s polling interval), and verify it appears in your archive correctly.
Check:
- URL is correct and working
- Title and notes captured properly
- Landed in the right collection
- Metadata preserved
Refine the mapping if anything’s off. Maybe you want to truncate long descriptions, or add a prefix to titles indicating the source.
Step 7: Turn It On#
Once testing works, turn on your Zap. Now every starred RSS article automatically archives.
This sounds simple, but it’s transformative. You’re no longer manually copying URLs, opening your archive tool, and filing things. Just star in your reader and move on.
Advanced Workflows for Power Users#
Once you have basic automation working, these advanced patterns multiply the value.
Multi-Source Aggregation#
Instead of one workflow per source, create a hub-and-spoke system where multiple sources feed into one organized archive.
Example hub-and-spoke setup:
Spoke 1: Twitter bookmarks → Archive with tag “social”
Spoke 2: Pocket saves → Archive with tag “read-later”
Spoke 3: Email starred links → Archive with tag “from-email”
Spoke 4: RSS starred → Archive with tag “feeds”
Spoke 5: Slack reactions → Archive with tag “team-shared”
All flow into the same archive but with source metadata preserved. You can filter by source or search across all.
The power: comprehensive capture without manually switching between tools.
Smart Tagging Based on Content#
Instead of manually tagging, use workflow rules to auto-tag based on content analysis.
Example tagging rules:
If URL contains “github.com” → tag: code
If title contains “tutorial” or “guide” → tag: learning
If source is “Design Feeds” folder → tag: design-inspiration
If article length > 10min → tag: long-form
Some automation platforms (Make, n8n) support more sophisticated text analysis. You can extract keywords, detect language, or even use AI to generate summaries and tags.
Scheduled Batch Processing#
Instead of real-time workflows (which can be expensive or hit rate limits), process in batches.
Example batch workflow:
- Throughout the day, items accumulate in a “staging” area (maybe a Google Sheet or Airtable base)
- Nightly at midnight, a workflow processes everything
- Deduplicates URLs
- Enriches with metadata (page titles, descriptions, preview images)
- Organizes into appropriate collections
- Archives to your link manager
This approach is more efficient and lets you apply sophisticated processing that would be too slow for real-time.
Bidirectional Sync#
Advanced users might want bidirectional sync: changes in one system reflect in another.
Example use case: You maintain both a public Stashed.in collection and a private Notion database. When you add links to either, they sync to the other.
This requires webhook listeners and more complex logic, but it’s powerful for maintaining multiple views of the same data.
Custom Enrichment Pipeline#
Before archiving, enrich links with additional data:
- Extract full page content
- Generate AI summary
- Extract key quotes or images
- Check if URL is archived on Internet Archive
- Fetch social metrics (shares, likes)
- Identify related links you’ve already saved
This creates a much richer archive than just URL + title. Tools like Apify or custom Python scripts can handle these enrichments.
Building API Workflows Without Code#
Not a developer? You can still build sophisticated workflows using no-code tools.
Using Zapier Templates#
Zapier offers pre-built templates for common workflows. Search for “bookmark automation” or “link saving” to find starting points.
Templates handle most configuration. You just connect your accounts and customize field mappings.
Popular templates for link archiving:
- “Add RSS items to Airtable”
- “Save Twitter likes to Google Sheets”
- “Star Pocket articles to Notion”
Start with templates, then modify them as you learn the platform.
Make’s Visual Builder#
Make (formerly Integromat) has an excellent visual workflow builder. You see your automation as a flowchart and configure each step visually.
This makes complex workflows more understandable than text-based configuration. You can see branching logic, filters, and data transformations at a glance.
Make advantages for non-developers:
- Visual debugging (see exactly where workflows fail)
- Built-in data transformation (parse dates, extract domains, modify text)
- Free tier is generous (1000 operations/month)
- Excellent documentation with screenshots
Airtable as a No-Code Hub#
Airtable can act as both your archive destination and your automation hub.
Why Airtable works well:
Automation built in: Airtable has native automation. When a record is created, trigger actions like sending notifications or updating related records.
Forms for manual entry: Sometimes you want to manually add links. Airtable forms make this easy while maintaining structure.
Views and filters: Create different views of your archive (by date, by source, by tag) without additional tools.
API access: When you’re ready to level up, Airtable’s API is well-documented and easy to use.
Many people use Airtable as their archive initially, then migrate to dedicated tools later while keeping Airtable as a staging area.
IFTTT for Simple Workflows#
If you just want basic automation without complexity, IFTTT works great.
Example IFTTT workflows:
- “When I like a tweet, save to Google Sheet”
- “When I star in Feedly, add to Pocket”
- “When I add bookmark in browser, send to Telegram bot”
IFTTT lacks advanced features but is incredibly simple. Good for testing whether automation helps before investing in more powerful tools.
How Stashed.in Fits Into API Workflows#
When I built stashed.in, API integration was a priority because I knew power users need automation.
Current API Capabilities#
Our API (currently in beta) supports:
Creating stashes programmatically: Set up collections automatically based on your workflow logic.
Adding links with full metadata: Title, URL, notes, tags, collection assignment—all via API.
Batch operations: Add hundreds of links in one request without rate limit issues.
Webhook support: Get notified when certain actions occur in your stashed.in account.
Authentication via API keys: Secure access without exposing passwords.
Example Stashed.in Workflow#
Here’s how I personally use the API:
Morning routine automation:
- My RSS reader (Inoreader) flags articles I’ve starred overnight
- A Python script runs at 6 AM via cron
- It fetches starred articles from Inoreader API
- For each article:
- Extracts URL, title, feed name
- Maps feed name to appropriate stash in stashed.in
- Adds a note: “From [feed name] - [date]”
- Posts to stashed.in API
- Sends me a summary email: “Added 12 links to your stashes today”
This takes zero manual effort. I wake up to organized collections ready to browse.
Integration with Telegram:
I have a private Telegram channel where I send interesting links throughout the day (easy on mobile).
A bot watches this channel. When I post a link, it:
- Extracts the URL
- Checks if it’s already in my stashed.in
- If new, asks which stash via inline keyboard
- Adds to stashed.in with note “Added via Telegram”
This solves mobile capture elegantly. No app switching, just send to my private channel.
Building Your Stashed.in API Workflow#
Once our Zapier integration launches (expected Q1 2026), you’ll be able to build workflows without code:
Example workflow setup:
- Trigger: New starred item in Pocket
- Action: Create link in Stashed.in
- Stash: “Read Later Archive”
- Title: from Pocket title
- URL: from Pocket URL
- Notes: “Via Pocket - [date]”
- Tags: from Pocket tags
Until then, use our REST API directly with webhooks or custom scripts. Documentation is at docs.stashed.in (coming soon).
Troubleshooting Common API Workflow Issues#
API workflows break in predictable ways. Here’s how to fix them:
Problem: Workflow Stops Running#
Causes:
- Authentication expired (API key changed or revoked)
- Source app changed their API
- Automation platform billing issue
- Rate limits exceeded
Solutions:
- Check automation platform error logs
- Reconnect accounts to refresh authentication
- Verify billing is current
- Add delays or batch processing to avoid rate limits
Problem: Links Saving Without Context#
Causes:
- Mapping fields incorrectly in workflow
- Source doesn’t provide metadata you expected
- Description/notes field not captured
Solutions:
- Test trigger to see what data is actually available
- Adjust field mappings to capture all available metadata
- Add static text to notes if source provides nothing (e.g., “From RSS - [date]”)
- Consider enrichment steps to fetch missing data
Problem: Duplicates Being Created#
Causes:
- No deduplication logic in workflow
- Same link saved from multiple sources
- Workflow running multiple times due to misconfiguration
Solutions:
- Add filter step: “Only continue if URL not already in archive”
- Use hash or unique identifier to track what’s been saved
- Enable deduplication in your automation platform settings
- For Zapier, use “Find or Create” actions instead of just “Create”
Problem: Links Going to Wrong Collections#
Causes:
- Mapping logic doesn’t account for all sources
- Tags or categories from source don’t match destination structure
- Conditional logic errors
Solutions:
- Add explicit mapping: “If source = X then collection = Y”
- Create a default/catch-all collection for uncategorized items
- Review and test conditional logic with various inputs
- Add logging to see exactly what values are being evaluated
Security and Privacy Considerations#
API workflows require sharing access between services. Do this safely:
API Key Management#
Best practices:
- Use read-only API keys when possible (for sources)
- Use limited-scope keys (only permissions needed)
- Rotate keys periodically (quarterly at minimum)
- Store keys in environment variables, not hard-coded
- Never commit API keys to version control
Data Privacy#
Your automated workflows might process sensitive information:
Questions to ask:
- What data am I sending to automation platforms?
- Does the automation platform log or store my data?
- Are my API keys stored securely by the platform?
- What happens if the platform is compromised?
Mitigations:
- Use self-hosted solutions (n8n) for sensitive workflows
- Encrypt sensitive fields before sending
- Avoid automating truly confidential information
- Review automation platform security policies
Rate Limits and Costs#
Avoid surprises:
- Check rate limits for all APIs involved
- Understand automation platform pricing (by tasks/operations)
- Monitor usage to avoid unexpected bills
- Add safeguards (max executions per day)
Zapier’s free tier is 100 tasks/month. If you’re processing 50 links daily, that’s 1500 tasks/month. You’ll need a paid plan (~$20/month) or a cheaper alternative.
Your API Workflow Action Plan#
Don’t try to automate everything at once. Start with one high-value workflow:
Week 1: Foundation
- Choose one link source you use daily (RSS, Twitter, email)
- Sign up for an automation platform (Zapier free trial)
- Build one simple workflow: source → archive
- Test thoroughly with 10+ items
Week 2: Refinement
- Add filtering to improve quality
- Improve metadata capture (better notes, tags)
- Fix any issues discovered during testing
- Run for a week, monitor for problems
Week 3: Expansion
- Add a second source
- Implement smart tagging rules
- Set up error notifications
- Document your workflow for future reference
Week 4: Advanced
- Add enrichment (summaries, metadata)
- Implement deduplication
- Create batch processing if needed
- Share your workflow with others who might benefit
The Future of Automated Curation#
API-driven link archiving is just the beginning. Coming soon:
AI-powered tagging: Links automatically categorized by content, not just metadata.
Smart scheduling: Workflows that adapt to your behavior (more active processing when you’re actively curating).
Cross-collection intelligence: Suggesting connections between items in different collections.
Collaborative automation: Team workflows where multiple people’s curation feeds into shared archives.
At stashed.in, we’re building toward this future. Our API is the foundation for a world where curation is augmented by automation, not replaced by it.
You make the curatorial decisions. Systems handle the execution. Together, you build knowledge archives that would be impossible manually.
Start your first automation this weekend. One source. One archive. One workflow.
In a month, you’ll wonder how you ever managed links manually.
Your automated workflow is waiting to be built.
