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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
This skill appears to do exactly what it says: call transcriptapi.com using a single API key. Before installing, decide whether you want the agent to: (a) create a TranscriptAPI account using your email (the agent will request an OTP you must paste), and (b) write the API key into a persistent place on your system (shell profile or the agent's secret store). If you prefer, create the account and obtain the sk_ key yourself and paste it when prompted, and prefer a secure secret storage mechanism rather than plain text in dotfiles. Also verify you trust transcriptapi.com and are comfortable with the key granting access to that service; avoid pasting keys in public chat or logs.
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 Tags
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
Name/description (YouTube via TranscriptAPI) match the single required credential (TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY) and the SKILL.md endpoints (transcriptapi.com). No unrelated credentials, binaries, or installs are requested.
Instruction Scope
The runtime instructions include an auth setup flow that may ask the agent to create an account using the user's email, accept an OTP, save raw HTTP responses to temporary files, and persist the API key so it survives sessions. These actions are within scope for acquiring and storing the key, but they do require the agent to write files or configuration on the host — the doc correctly tells the agent to determine the right persistence mechanism for the environment. Users should be aware the agent will be guided to modify persistent configuration (shell/profile or agent secret store) to make the key available across sessions.
Install Mechanism
Instruction-only skill with no install spec and no code files. No packages or remote downloads are performed by the skill itself.
Credentials
Only one credential (TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY) is required and declared as the primaryEnv. That single API key is reasonable for the described operations; no unrelated secrets or multiple credentials are requested.
Persistence & Privilege
The skill instructs persisting the API key so it is available in future sessions and non-interactive shells. The skill is not force-enabled (always:false). Persisting secrets is necessary for convenience but carries the usual risk of where/how the key is stored; the instructions note the agent should use the environment's proper mechanism.
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 3893 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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