How do I install the Linux Webcam skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/linux-webcam 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 Linux Webcam safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Linux Webcam?

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 Linux Webcam free to use?

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

Who published Linux Webcam?

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

Linux Webcam by tomevault-io — Agent Skill

Name: Linux Webcam
Author: tomevault-io

Linux Webcam

Capture images and video from webcam on Linux using fswebcam or ffmpeg. Take snapshots, record video clips, and stream from camera. Use when a user asks FRIDAY to take a photo, capture webcam, or record video on Linux. Use when this capability is needed.

tomevault-io Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Linux Webcam CLI

Use fswebcam or ffmpeg to capture images and video from webcam. This is a Linux alternative to macOS camsnap.

Setup

Install fswebcam:

sudo apt-get install -y fswebcam

Install ffmpeg (for video):

sudo apt-get install -y ffmpeg

Check available cameras:

ls -la /dev/video*

Capture Photos with fswebcam

Basic snapshot

fswebcam ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Specify device

fswebcam -d /dev/video0 ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Set resolution

fswebcam -r 1280x720 ~/Pictures/webcam-hd.jpg

High resolution

fswebcam -r 1920x1080 ~/Pictures/webcam-fhd.jpg

No banner (clean image)

fswebcam --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

With delay (let camera adjust)

fswebcam -D 2 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Skip initial frames (better exposure)

fswebcam -S 10 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Multiple frames averaged (reduces noise)

fswebcam -F 5 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Best quality shot

fswebcam -r 1920x1080 -D 2 -S 20 -F 5 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

PNG format

fswebcam --png 9 ~/Pictures/webcam.png

With timestamp

fswebcam --timestamp "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S" ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg

Record Video with ffmpeg

Record 10 seconds of video

ffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 -t 10 ~/Videos/webcam.mp4

Record with audio

ffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 \
       -f pulse -i default \
       -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -c:a aac \
       -t 10 ~/Videos/webcam-audio.mp4

Record until stopped (Ctrl+C)

ffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast ~/Videos/webcam.mp4

Preview webcam (without recording)

ffplay -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 640x480 /dev/video0

Lower quality for smaller file

ffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 640x480 -i /dev/video0 -c:v libx264 -crf 28 -t 30 ~/Videos/webcam.mp4

Timelapse

Capture timelapse frames

mkdir -p ~/Pictures/timelapse
for i in $(seq 1 100); do
  fswebcam -r 1280x720 --no-banner ~/Pictures/timelapse/frame-$(printf "%04d" $i).jpg
  sleep 5
done

Convert frames to video

ffmpeg -framerate 10 -pattern_type glob -i '~/Pictures/timelapse/*.jpg' -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p ~/Videos/timelapse.mp4

Advanced

List camera capabilities

v4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext -d /dev/video0

Adjust camera settings

v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl brightness=128
v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl contrast=128

List available controls

v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-ctrls

Cheese (GUI Alternative)

Install Cheese

sudo apt-get install -y cheese

Launch

cheese

Notes

Linux-only (alternative to macOS camsnap).
Default camera is usually /dev/video0.
Use v4l2-ctl for advanced camera control.
fswebcam skips first few frames by default for better exposure.
Add user to video group if permission denied: sudo usermod -aG video $USER

Converted and distributed by TomeVault — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

---name: linux-webcamdescription: Capture images and video from webcam on Linux using fswebcam or ffmpeg. Take snapshots, record video clips, and stream from camera. Use when a user asks FRIDAY to take a photo, capture webcam, or record video on Linux. Use when this capability is needed.---# Linux Webcam CLIUse `fswebcam` or `ffmpeg` to capture images and video from webcam. This is a Linux alternative to macOS camsnap.## SetupInstall fswebcam:```bashsudo apt-get install -y fswebcam```Install ffmpeg (for video):```bashsudo apt-get install -y ffmpeg```Check available cameras:```bashls -la /dev/video*```## Capture Photos with fswebcam### Basic snapshot```bashfswebcam ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### Specify device```bashfswebcam -d /dev/video0 ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### Set resolution```bashfswebcam -r 1280x720 ~/Pictures/webcam-hd.jpg```### High resolution```bashfswebcam -r 1920x1080 ~/Pictures/webcam-fhd.jpg```### No banner (clean image)```bashfswebcam --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### With delay (let camera adjust)```bashfswebcam -D 2 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### Skip initial frames (better exposure)```bashfswebcam -S 10 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### Multiple frames averaged (reduces noise)```bashfswebcam -F 5 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### Best quality shot```bashfswebcam -r 1920x1080 -D 2 -S 20 -F 5 --no-banner ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```### PNG format```bashfswebcam --png 9 ~/Pictures/webcam.png```### With timestamp```bashfswebcam --timestamp "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S" ~/Pictures/webcam.jpg```## Record Video with ffmpeg### Record 10 seconds of video```bashffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 -t 10 ~/Videos/webcam.mp4```### Record with audio```bashffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 \ -f pulse -i default \ -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -c:a aac \ -t 10 ~/Videos/webcam-audio.mp4```### Record until stopped (Ctrl+C)```bashffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 1280x720 -i /dev/video0 -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast ~/Videos/webcam.mp4```### Preview webcam (without recording)```bashffplay -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 640x480 /dev/video0```### Lower quality for smaller file```bashffmpeg -f v4l2 -framerate 30 -video_size 640x480 -i /dev/video0 -c:v libx264 -crf 28 -t 30 ~/Videos/webcam.mp4```## Timelapse### Capture timelapse frames```bashmkdir -p ~/Pictures/timelapsefor i in $(seq 1 100); do fswebcam -r 1280x720 --no-banner ~/Pictures/timelapse/frame-$(printf "%04d" $i).jpg sleep 5done```### Convert frames to video```bashffmpeg -framerate 10 -pattern_type glob -i '~/Pictures/timelapse/*.jpg' -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p ~/Videos/timelapse.mp4```## Advanced### List camera capabilities```bashv4l2-ctl --list-formats-ext -d /dev/video0```### Adjust camera settings```bashv4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl brightness=128v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl contrast=128```### List available controls```bashv4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-ctrls```## Cheese (GUI Alternative)### Install Cheese```bashsudo apt-get install -y cheese```### Launch```bashcheese```## Notes- Linux-only (alternative to macOS camsnap).- Default camera is usually `/dev/video0`.- Use `v4l2-ctl` for advanced camera control.- `fswebcam` skips first few frames by default for better exposure.- Add user to `video` group if permission denied: `sudo usermod -aG video $USER`---> Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/balaraj74) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.

Frequently asked questions