How do I install the Youtube To Transcript skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tikhomirovv/youtube-to-transcript 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 Youtube To Transcript 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 Youtube To Transcript?

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 Youtube To Transcript free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free. This skill is licensed under MIT.

Who published Youtube To Transcript?

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

Youtube To Transcript by tikhomirovv

Name: Youtube To Transcript
Author: tikhomirovv

Youtube To Transcript

Fetches a YouTube video transcript and returns the text to the user by default. Present the answer like a simple UI — short and substantive; avoid flags, paths, and stack talk unless something breaks or the user asks. Use when the user provides a YouTube link or video ID and wants the transcript; optional save-to-file or Add Knowledge. Triggers on "get transcript", "download transcript", "YouTube transcript", or a YouTube URL plus transcript intent.

tikhomirovv dd639b8 4 files · 9.0 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

YouTube to Transcript

Default: transcript in the reply; run without --file (stdout = plain text for the user). Do not assume a project folder or transcripts/ unless the user asked.

Save to disk only if the user asked: then --file <path>. No path for a save they want → ask once. Unclear request → default chat only; no extra "reply or file" question.

Optional: --lang xx (default en). Add Knowledge only if they want that next.

How you talk to the user — §6. Do not ask which package to use: always youtube-transcript-plus (see §4).

Workflow

1. URL / ID

Missing → ask once.

2. Output intent

Chat (default) — no --file.
Save — user asked for a file: --file <path> (ask for path once if needed).
Unclear — chat only, no --file.

3. Runtime (Bun only)

bun must be on PATH. If not → stop with error (the user must install Bun; you do not install it here).

Run the script with bun run only, never with node on the .ts file.

4. Dependency (`youtube-transcript-plus`)

Check (exit 0 = ok): bun -e "import('youtube-transcript-plus').then(()=>process.exit(0)).catch(()=>process.exit(1))"
If the check fails → install only with bun install -g youtube-transcript-plus. Do not: bun add youtube-transcript-plus in the skill, this repo, or any project; bun install (without -g) to pull this package into a folder. Do not use npm install -g (or pnpm/yarn global) for it. Re-run the check. Do not add a package.json to the skill.

npm / npx / node / NODE_PATH are not used for this skill.

If the import still fails after a successful global install, report the error to the user.

5. Run script

<path> = this skill’s scripts/fetch-transcript.ts — anchor the path to the directory containing this SKILL.md.

Chat: bun run <path> "<id-or-url>" [--lang xx]
Save: add --file "<path>"

Read stdout = transcript; stderr = progress/errors.

6. Reply (user-facing)

Short, plain language. Do not surface script paths, --lang/--file, or Bun by default. Technical detail when something failed or the user asked.

Normalize HTML entities in text if they appear in the source.

Saved file: one line, human path, if applicable.

Edge cases

No bun on PATH — error; do not run.
No URL — do not run.
Fetch errors — report; try another lang / video.
Relative --file — resolved vs shell cwd; use an absolute path if the user needs a specific place.

Summary

Bun on PATH, else error → URL/ID (ask if missing) → default chat (or --file if the user wanted a save) → bun -e import check → if needed, bun install -g youtube-transcript-plus (not npm -g) → bun run <script> → answer. One runtime only; no local package files inside the skill.

---name: youtube-to-transcriptdescription: Fetches a YouTube video transcript and returns the text to the user by default. Present the answer like a simple UI — short and substantive; avoid flags, paths, and stack talk unless something breaks or the user asks. Use when the user provides a YouTube link or video ID and wants the transcript; optional save-to-file or Add Knowledge. Triggers on "get transcript", "download transcript", "YouTube transcript", or a YouTube URL plus transcript intent.license: MIT---# YouTube to Transcript**Default:** transcript in the reply; run **without** `--file` (stdout = plain text for the user). **Do not** assume a project folder or `transcripts/` unless the user asked.**Save to disk** only if the user asked: then `--file <path>`. No path for a save they want → **ask once**. Unclear request → default **chat only**; no extra "reply or file" question.**Optional:** `--lang xx` (default `en`). **Add Knowledge** only if they want that next.**How you talk to the user** — §6. **Do not** ask which package to use: always `youtube-transcript-plus` (see §4).## Workflow### 1. URL / IDMissing → ask once.### 2. Output intent- **Chat** (default) — no `--file`.- **Save** — user asked for a file: `--file <path>` (ask for `path` once if needed).- **Unclear** — chat only, no `--file`.### 3. Runtime (Bun only)`bun` must be on PATH. If not → **stop with error** (the user must install Bun; you do not install it here).Run the script with **`bun run`** only, never with `node` on the `.ts` file.### 4. Dependency (`youtube-transcript-plus`)1. **Check (exit 0 = ok):** `bun -e "import('youtube-transcript-plus').then(()=>process.exit(0)).catch(()=>process.exit(1))"`2. If the check **fails** → install only with **`bun install -g youtube-transcript-plus`**. Do **not**: `bun add youtube-transcript-plus` in the skill, this repo, or any project; `bun install` (without `-g`) to pull this package into a folder. Do **not** use `npm install -g` (or pnpm/yarn global) for it. Re-run the check. Do **not** add a `package.json` to the skill.`npm` / `npx` / `node` / `NODE_PATH` are not used for this skill.If the import still fails after a successful global install, report the error to the user.### 5. Run script`<path>` = this skill’s `scripts/fetch-transcript.ts` — **anchor the path to the directory containing this `SKILL.md`**.- **Chat:** `bun run <path> "<id-or-url>" [--lang xx]`- **Save:** add `--file "<path>"`Read **stdout** = transcript; stderr = progress/errors.### 6. Reply (user-facing)Short, plain language. **Do not** surface script paths, `--lang`/`--file`, or Bun by default. Technical detail when something failed or the user asked.Normalize HTML entities in text if they appear in the source.**Saved file:** one line, human path, if applicable.## Edge cases- **No `bun` on PATH** — error; do not run.- **No URL** — do not run.- **Fetch errors** — report; try another `lang` / video.- **Relative `--file`** — resolved vs shell cwd; use an absolute path if the user needs a specific place.## Summary**Bun** on PATH, else error → URL/ID (ask if missing) → default chat (or `--file` if the user wanted a save) → `bun -e` import check → if needed, **`bun install -g youtube-transcript-plus` (not `npm -g`)** → `bun run <script>` → answer. One runtime only; no local package files inside the skill.

Frequently asked questions