CLI reference (scripts/sora.py)

CLI reference (scripts/sora.py)

This file contains the command catalog for the bundled video generation CLI. Keep SKILL.md overview-first; put verbose CLI details here.

What this CLI does

• create: create a new video job (async)
• create-and-poll: create a job, poll until complete, optionally download
• poll: wait for an existing job to finish
• status: retrieve job status/details
• download: download video/thumbnail/spritesheet
• list: list recent jobs
• delete: delete a job
• remix: remix a completed video
• create-batch: create multiple jobs from a JSONL file

Real API calls require network access + OPENAI_API_KEY. --dry-run does not.

Quick start (works from any repo)

Set a stable path to the skill CLI (default CODEX_HOME is ~/.codex):

export CODEX_HOME="${CODEX_HOME:-$HOME/.codex}"
export SORA_CLI="$CODEX_HOME/skills/sora/scripts/sora.py"

If you're in this repo, you can set the path directly:

# Use repo root (tests run from output/* so $PWD is not the root)
export SORA_CLI="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)/<path-to-skill>/scripts/sora.py"

If git isn't available, set SORA_CLI to the absolute path to <path-to-skill>/scripts/sora.py.

If uv cache fails with permission errors, set a writable cache:

export UV_CACHE_DIR="/tmp/uv-cache"

Dry-run (no API call; no network required; does not require the openai package):

python "$SORA_CLI" create --prompt "Test" --dry-run

Preflight a full prompt without running the API:

python "$SORA_CLI" create --prompt-file prompt.txt --dry-run --json-out out/request.json

Create a job (requires OPENAI_API_KEY + network):

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create \
  --model sora-2 \
  --prompt "Wide tracking shot of a teal coupe on a desert highway" \
  --size 1280x720 \
  --seconds 8

Create from a prompt file (avoids shell-escaping issues for multi-line prompts):

cat > prompt.txt << 'EOF'
Use case: landing page hero
Primary request: a matte black camera on a pedestal
Action: slow 30-degree orbit over 4 seconds
Camera: 85mm, shallow depth of field
Lighting/mood: soft key light, subtle rim
Constraints: no logos, no text
EOF

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create \
  --prompt-file prompt.txt \
  --size 1280x720 \
  --seconds 4

If your prompt file is already structured (Use case/Scene/Camera/etc), disable tool augmentation:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create \
  --prompt-file prompt.txt \
  --no-augment \
  --size 1280x720 \
  --seconds 4

Create + poll + download:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create-and-poll \
  --model sora-2-pro \
  --prompt "Close-up of a steaming coffee cup on a wooden table" \
  --size 1280x720 \
  --seconds 8 \
  --download \
  --variant video \
  --out coffee.mp4

Create + poll + write JSON bundle:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create-and-poll \
  --prompt "Minimal product teaser of a matte black camera" \
  --json-out out/coffee-job.json

Remix a completed video:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" remix \
  --id video_abc123 \
  --prompt "Same shot, shift palette to teal/sand/rust with warm backlight."

Download a thumbnail or spritesheet:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" download --id video_abc123 --variant thumbnail --out thumb.webp
uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" download --id video_abc123 --variant spritesheet --out sheet.jpg

Guardrails (important)

• Use python "$SORA_CLI" ... (or equivalent full path) for all video work.
• For API calls, prefer uv run --with openai ... to avoid missing SDK errors.
• Do not create one-off runners unless the user explicitly asks.
• Never modify scripts/sora.py unless the user asks.

Defaults (unless overridden by flags)

• Model: sora-2
• Size: 1280x720
• Seconds: 4 (API expects a string enum: "4", "8", "12")
• Variant: video
• Poll interval: 10 seconds

JSON output (--json-out)

• For create, status, list, delete, poll, and remix, --json-out writes the JSON response to a file.
• For create-and-poll, --json-out writes a bundle: { "create": ..., "final": ... }.
• If the path has no extension, .json is added automatically.
• In --dry-run, --json-out writes the request preview instead of a response.

Input reference images

• Must be jpg/png/webp; they should match the target size.
• Provide the path with --input-reference.

Optional deps

Prefer uv run --with ... for an out-of-the-box run without changing the current project env; otherwise install into your active env:

uv pip install openai

JSONL schema for create-batch

Each line is a JSON object (or a raw prompt string). Required key: prompt.

Top-level override keys:

• model, size, seconds
• input_reference (path)
• out (optional output filename for the job JSON)

Prompt augmentation keys (top-level or under fields):

• use_case, scene, subject, action, camera, style, lighting, palette, audio, dialogue, text, timing, constraints, negative

Notes:

• fields merges into the prompt augmentation inputs.
• Top-level keys override CLI defaults.
• seconds must be one of: "4", "8", "12".

Common recipes

Create with prompt augmentation fields:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create \
  --prompt "A minimal product teaser shot of a matte black camera" \
  --use-case "landing page hero" \
  --camera "85mm, slow orbit" \
  --lighting "soft key, subtle rim" \
  --constraints "no logos, no text"

Two-variant workflow (base + remix):

# 1) Base clip
uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create-and-poll \
  --prompt "Ceramic mug on a sunlit wooden table in a cozy cafe" \
  --size 1280x720 --seconds 4 --download --out output.mp4

# 2) Remix with invariant (same shot, change only the drink)
uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" remix \
  --id video_abc123 \
  --prompt "Same shot and framing; replace the mug with an iced americano in a glass, visible ice and condensation."

# 3) Poll and download the remix
uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" poll \
  --id video_def456 --download --out remix.mp4

Poll and download after a job finishes:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" poll --id video_abc123 --download --variant video --out out.mp4

Write JSON response to a file:

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" status --id video_abc123 --json-out out/status.json

Batch create (JSONL input):

mkdir -p tmp/sora
cat > tmp/sora/prompts.jsonl << 'EOB'
{"prompt":"A neon-lit rainy alley, slow dolly-in","seconds":"4"}
{"prompt":"A warm sunrise over a misty lake, gentle pan","seconds":"8",
 "fields":{"camera":"35mm, slow pan","lighting":"soft dawn light"}}
EOB

uv run --with openai python "$SORA_CLI" create-batch --input tmp/sora/prompts.jsonl --out-dir out --concurrency 3

# Cleanup (recommended)
rm -f tmp/sora/prompts.jsonl

Notes:

• create-batch writes one JSON response per job under --out-dir.
• Output names default to NNN-<prompt-slug>.json.
• Use --concurrency to control parallelism (default 3). Higher concurrency can hit rate limits.
• Treat the JSONL file as temporary: write it under tmp/ and delete it after the run (do not commit it). If rm is blocked in your sandbox, skip cleanup or truncate the file.

CLI notes

• Supported sizes depend on model (see references/video-api.md).
• Seconds are limited to 4, 8, or 12.
• Download URLs expire after about 1 hour; copy assets to your own storage.
• In CI/sandboxes where long-running commands time out, prefer create + poll (or add --timeout).

See also

• API parameter quick reference: references/video-api.md
• Prompt structure and examples: references/prompting.md
• Sample prompts: references/sample-prompts.md
• Troubleshooting: references/troubleshooting.md