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YouTube Transcript Extractor
by
Alti-Systems
· GitHub ↗
· v1.0.0
1192
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1
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1
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1
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Install in OpenClaw
/install yt-transcript
Description
Extract clean, plain-text transcripts from YouTube videos using a dual fallback system with Supadata API and yt-dlp for fast, accurate results.
Usage Guidance
This skill appears to implement YouTube transcript extraction, but the documentation and shipped code disagree in several places. Before installing or providing any credentials: 1) ask the author which method is intended (Supadata API + yt-dlp, or the included node/curl scripts), 2) do not put any SUPADATA_API_KEY or other secret into an .env unless you confirm the code actually uses it, 3) if you intend to run the Node scripts, run npm install in an isolated environment and review package-lock.json (and consider npm audit), 4) be aware the shell script uses curl to fetch YouTube pages and parses captionTracks (network activity is normal for this task), and 5) if you need stronger assurance, request a corrected SKILL.md that matches the shipped scripts or a provenance link (repo/homepage) so you can verify origin and intent.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: yt-transcript
Version: 1.0.0
The skill bundle is designed to extract YouTube video transcripts, which aligns with its stated purpose. All scripts (`yt-transcript.sh`, `transcript.js`, `transcript.mjs`) and their dependencies are focused on this functionality, making network calls only to YouTube-related domains. There is no evidence of data exfiltration, malicious execution (e.g., `curl|bash`), persistence mechanisms, or prompt injection attempts in the `SKILL.md` that would instruct an agent to perform harmful actions or access unrelated sensitive data. The mention of `SUPADATA_API_KEY` in `SKILL.md` is informational about the skill's internal workings, not an instruction for the agent to retrieve or exfiltrate it.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
SKILL.md claims the primary method is a Supadata API (SUPADATA_API_KEY in .env) with a yt-dlp fallback and exposes a command at /root/clawd/yt-transcript. None of the three shipped scripts reference Supadata or yt-dlp, and the files are named transcript.js/.mjs/yt-transcript.sh rather than an installed binary at the documented path. The actual code uses youtube-captions-scraper, youtubei.js, and direct curl parsing of the YouTube page — which is a plausible way to extract transcripts, but it contradicts the documentation and advertised dependencies.
Instruction Scope
SKILL.md instructs callers to run /root/clawd/yt-transcript and references an external API key and yt-dlp fallback. The runtime instructions are inconsistent with the included scripts: the scripts output timestamps (contradicting the claim 'timestamps removed'), fetch YouTube pages with curl, and call Node libraries. The README is vague/incorrect about what will be run and where, giving the agent broad/ambiguous discretion (e.g., 'Primary: Supadata API' but no code).
Install Mechanism
There is no install spec (instruction-only), which reduces install-time risk. However package.json and package-lock.json are included, implying Node dependencies must be installed for the .js/.mjs scripts to work; SKILL.md does not document this. No external downloads, shorteners, or obscure URLs are present in the provided files. The lack of an installation step is an inconsistency to be aware of (user or runtime may need to run npm install).
Credentials
SKILL.md says an API key SUPADATA_API_KEY should be stored in .env, but requires.env lists no environment variables and none of the shipped scripts reference SUPADATA_API_KEY or any other secret. The documentation asks for a credential that the code does not use — this is misleading and could cause users to expose a key unnecessarily if they follow the docs.
Persistence & Privilege
The skill does not request always:true, does not declare system-wide config changes, and does not require binaries or config paths. It will perform network requests (curl and library HTTP calls) to fetch YouTube pages, which is expected for its purpose.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install yt-transcript - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/yt-transcript - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.0.0
YouTube Transcript Extraction skill v1.0.0
- Extracts plain text transcripts from YouTube links or video IDs.
- Uses a dual fallback system: Supadata API (primary), yt-dlp tool (fallback).
- Works with both manual and auto-generated captions.
- Strips timestamps for easy reading and analysis.
- Fast extraction, suitable for content research and summarization.
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is YouTube Transcript Extractor?
Extract clean, plain-text transcripts from YouTube videos using a dual fallback system with Supadata API and yt-dlp for fast, accurate results. It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 1192 downloads so far.
How do I install YouTube Transcript Extractor?
Run "/install yt-transcript" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is YouTube Transcript Extractor free?
Yes, YouTube Transcript Extractor is completely free (open-source). You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does YouTube Transcript Extractor support?
YouTube Transcript Extractor is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created YouTube Transcript Extractor?
It is built and maintained by Alti-Systems (@alti-systems); the current version is v1.0.0.
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