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Install in OpenClaw
/install youtube-api
Description
Use when YouTube data is needed without Google API quotas or OAuth setup: transcripts, video metadata, channel info, search results, playlists. Triggers on p...
Usage Guidance
Install only if you trust TranscriptAPI and are comfortable with an agent sending YouTube-related queries, URLs, handles, and account setup data to that service. Prefer creating the account yourself, providing a dedicated key through a proper secret manager, confirming exactly where it will be stored, and revoking or rotating the key when you stop using the skill.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: youtube-api
Version: 1.5.0
The skill contains instructions in `references/auth-setup.md` that explicitly guide the AI agent to bypass security redaction mechanisms (specifically mentioning Hermes and Claude Code) by writing sensitive tokens to temporary files to avoid detection by the runtime's output filters. It also directs the agent to persist environment variables in shell configuration files and defines broad triggers in `SKILL.md` that allow it to activate even when not explicitly requested. While these behaviors are presented as necessary for the `transcriptapi.com` setup, the deliberate guidance on evading platform security controls is a high-risk indicator.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
The main capability, fetching YouTube transcripts, metadata, channels, search results, and playlists through TranscriptAPI, matches the stated purpose; the credential setup flow is related but high-impact.
Instruction Scope
The trigger text allows use when YouTube content would help even if YouTube is not explicitly mentioned, which can send loosely related queries, links, handles, or creator names to a third-party API and consume credits without a clear confirmation boundary.
Install Mechanism
The artifact contains markdown instructions only and no executable scripts, package install steps, background workers, or hidden code files.
Credentials
Network access and a TranscriptAPI key are expected, but the setup guide also has the agent collect an email address and OTP, perform account registration, and handle raw auth responses; the user-facing disclosure of third-party data flow is incomplete.
Persistence & Privilege
The guide instructs persistent storage of the API key for future and non-interactive sessions, and it tells the agent to use temporary files to avoid runtime redaction of token values before cleaning them up.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install youtube-api - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/youtube-api - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.5.0
Replace auth.js with agent-native auth-setup.md; fix YAML frontmatter (quote descriptions); add version field; move homepage into metadata.openclaw.
v1.4.1
ClawHub variant: minimal tapi-auth.js v3.0.0, only writes to ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
v1.4.0
**File write and environment setup improvements for autonomous/background agent use.**
- Adds persistent API key writing to multiple shell/user config files for seamless skill authentication across sessions and shells.
- Backs up existing config files to `.bak` before modification for safety.
- Expands documentation with a new "File Writes" section detailing all config file paths and update logic.
- Updates environment and config requirements in metadata for enhanced compatibility.
- No changes to API endpoints or user-facing commands.
v1.3.4
- SKILL.md metadata formatting simplified to a more compact JSON structure.
- No changes to API usage instructions, examples, or endpoint details.
- Documentation and functionality remain unchanged.
v1.3.3
Major authentication and endpoint improvements.
- Simplified signup: registration now requires only email, no password; verification handles token/OTP, and API key is auto-saved.
- Authentication script updated for improved UX and direct shell profile integration.
- Endpoint reference now describes `channel` and `playlist` parameters, accepting handles, URLs, or IDs for flexibility.
- Added link to official OpenAPI spec for the full, up-to-date API reference.
- Env/binary requirements updated in metadata; skill is now explicitly user-invocable.
v1.3.2
Fix: markdown formatting + blank line between password warning and Step 2
v1.3.1
Fix: register response now echoes password + pre-filled next_command to prevent agents losing the password between register and verify steps
v1.3.0
Bundled auth script for agent-driven signup flow
v1.2.2
Fixed code block widths for proper rendering
v1.2.1
Removed separators
v1.2.0
Cleaned docs — removed internal implementation details
v1.1.0
Full v2 API support: search, channels, playlists. Accurate schemas, validation, cache TTLs.
v1.0.0
Initial release — YouTube transcripts via TranscriptAPI.com
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is youtube-api?
Use when YouTube data is needed without Google API quotas or OAuth setup: transcripts, video metadata, channel info, search results, playlists. Triggers on p... It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 4553 downloads so far.
How do I install youtube-api?
Run "/install youtube-api" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is youtube-api free?
Yes, youtube-api is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does youtube-api support?
youtube-api is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created youtube-api?
It is built and maintained by Rohit Das (@therohitdas); the current version is v1.5.0.
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