How do I install the Screen Describe skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add iansteitz1-eng/screen-describe in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Screen Describe safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Screen Describe?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Screen Describe free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Screen Describe?

iansteitz1-eng (@iansteitz1-eng) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Screen Describe by iansteitz1-eng — Agent Skill

Name: Screen Describe
Author: iansteitz1-eng

Screen Describe

Ask your local Claude what's on your screen. Captures the macOS screen, hands the image to your own `claude` CLI (your Pro/Max, no API key — BYOK), prints a short description, and deletes the screenshot immediately. Read-only — it looks, never controls. Use when the user says "what's on my screen", "describe my screen", "what am I looking at", or wants an AI second pair of eyes on their display.

iansteitz1-eng d7434b1 8 files · 9.3 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

screen-describe

Your local Claude, as eyes on your screen. BYOK, read-only, screenshot deleted after.

python3 screen_describe.py            # dry pre-flight (checks deps, captures nothing)
python3 screen_describe.py --apply    # capture + describe what's on screen
python3 screen_describe.py --apply --question "is there an error visible anywhere?"

Why

Sometimes you want an AI to actually see your screen — "what's this error", "what am I looking at" — without screenshotting + uploading anywhere. This runs entirely on your machine: screencapture → your local claude (your own plan) → a 2-3 sentence read. The screenshot is deleted the moment it's read; nothing leaves your box except the model call you already pay for.

Behavior

Default: dry pre-flight — confirms screencapture + claude are present, exits 0.
--apply: capture, describe, delete the shot.
Missing deps / no Screen Recording permission → clear FATAL + exit 2.

Requires

macOS (screencapture) + Screen Recording permission for the running app.
The claude CLI, logged in to your Anthropic plan. No API key, no Python packages.

Frequently asked questions