youtube-channel-api-skill

This skill helps users automatically extract structured channel data from YouTube search results via BrowserAct API. Agent should proactively apply this skil...

Security Scan

The skill's code and instructions are internally consistent with its stated purpose (calling BrowserAct's workflow API to extract YouTube channel data); the only notable issues are a small typo in the declared required binary and a missing explicit declaration of the Python 'requests' dependency.

Purpose & Capability

The skill's name, description, SKILL.md, and the included script all focus on calling BrowserAct's workflow API to extract YouTube channel data. The required environment variable (BROWSERACT_API_KEY) matches the code's Authorization Bearer usage. The only mismatch is a probable typo in the declared required binary ('pyhon' instead of 'python'), and the SKILL metadata does not declare the Python 'requests' package dependency even though the script imports it.

Instruction Scope

SKILL.md instructs the agent to check for the BrowserAct API key, run the provided script with keywords and optional upload_date, monitor terminal logs, and apply a simple retry policy. The instructions do not ask the agent to read unrelated files, other environment variables, or to send data to endpoints beyond api.browseract.com. Error-handling behavior described in SKILL.md matches the script.

Install Mechanism

There is no install specification (instruction-only with an included script), which is low-risk. Note: the script requires Python and the 'requests' library, but the manifest incorrectly lists 'pyhon' and does not declare the requests dependency; this could cause runtime failures if the environment lacks requests or if an automated pre-check looks for 'python' and fails on the typo.

Credentials

Only BROWSERACT_API_KEY is requested and used; the script uses it solely to authorize calls to BrowserAct endpoints. No other credentials, secrets, or unrelated environment variables are required or accessed.

Persistence & Privilege

The skill does not request permanent platform presence (always is false), does not modify other skill or system configs, and does not elevate privileges. Autonomous invocation is allowed by default but not combined with other concerning factors.

Assessment

This skill appears to do what it says: it calls BrowserAct's workflow API to extract YouTube channel data and prints the results. Before installing, verify you are comfortable giving BrowserAct an API key (BROWSERACT_API_KEY) because the script will send that key to api.browseract.com as a Bearer token. Fix the manifest typo ('pyhon' -> 'python') or ensure a Python runtime is available, and make sure the Python 'requests' package is installed in the environment. Only provide the BrowserAct key (do not reuse other sensitive credentials). If you need stronger assurance, confirm the BrowserAct template ID/endpoint and review BrowserAct's privacy/usage policies; rotate the API key after testing and avoid granting broader credentials to this skill. If you see the skill requesting additional unrelated credentials or endpoints later, treat that as a red flag.

📖 Introduction

This skill provides users with a one-stop channel data extraction service through BrowserAct's YouTube Channel API template. It can directly extract structured channel results from YouTube search. By simply entering search keywords and optional upload date filters, you can get clean, usable channel data directly.

✨ Features

1. No hallucinations, ensuring stable and accurate data extraction: Pre-set workflows to avoid AI generative hallucinations.
2. No CAPTCHA issues: No need to handle reCAPTCHA or other verification challenges.
3. No IP restrictions or geo-blocking: No need to handle regional IP restrictions.
4. Faster execution: Faster task execution compared to purely AI-driven browser automation solutions.
5. High cost-effectiveness: Significantly reduces data acquisition costs compared to AI solutions that consume a large number of tokens.

🔑 API Key Guide

Before running, you must first check the BROWSERACT_API_KEY environment variable. If it is not set, do not take any other actions; you should request and wait for the user to provide it. The Agent must inform the user at this point:

"Since you have not configured the BrowserAct API Key yet, please go to the BrowserAct Console to get your Key."

🛠️ Input Parameters

Agent should flexibly configure the following parameters according to user needs when calling the script:

1. KeyWords

   • Type: string
   • Description: Search keywords used to find YouTube channels.
   • Example: AI, automation, tech reviews

2. Upload_date

   • Type: string
   • Description: Filter channels that have published content within a defined time window.
   • Optional Values: This week, Any time, etc.
   • Default: Any time

🚀 Usage

Agent should execute the following standalone script to achieve "one command gets results":

# Example call
python -u ./scripts/youtube_channel_api.py "Search Keywords" "Upload date"

⏳ Running Status Monitoring

Since this task involves automated browser operations, it may take a long time (several minutes). The script will continuously output status logs with timestamps (e.g., [14:30:05] Task Status: running) while running. Agent Notes:

• While waiting for the script to return results, please keep an eye on the terminal output.
• As long as the terminal continues to output new status logs, it means the task is running normally. Do not misjudge it as a deadlock or unresponsiveness.
• If the status remains unchanged for a long time or the script stops outputting without returning a result, then consider triggering the retry mechanism.

📊 Data Output

After successful execution, the script will directly parse and print the results from the API response. The results include:

• channel_title: Channel name displayed on YouTube
• channel_link: Channel page URL
• verified: Whether the channel is verified
• handle: Channel handle
• subscribers: Subscriber count
• description: Channel description text
• thumbnail: Channel avatar or thumbnail image URL

⚠️ Error Handling & Retry

During the execution of the script, if an error occurs (such as network fluctuations or task failure), the Agent should follow this logic:

1. Check the output content:

   • If the output contains "Invalid authorization", it means the API Key is invalid or expired. At this point, do not retry; you should guide the user to recheck and provide the correct API Key.
   • If the output does not contain "Invalid authorization" but the task execution fails (for example, the output starts with Error: or returns empty results), the Agent should automatically try to execute the script one more time.

2. Retry limit:

   • Automatic retry is limited to once. If the second attempt still fails, stop retrying and report the specific error message to the user.

🌟 Typical Use Cases

1. Creator Discovery: Find channels related to specific topics for outreach.
2. Influencer Sourcing: Identify potential influencers in specific industries.
3. Competitive Landscape Mapping: Track competitors' channel growth and updates.
4. Channel Database Building: Extract structured data for building creator databases.
5. Content Trend Tracking: Monitor new channels popping up around a specific keyword.
6. Market Research: Collect data on leading YouTube channels in a target niche.
7. Brand Monitoring: Track unofficial or related channels discussing your brand.
8. Audience Analysis: Assess the size of audiences in specific fields via subscriber counts.
9. Partnership Campaigns: Find active channels that uploaded videos recently.
10. Automated Data Enrichment: Pipe YouTube channel details into CRMs or internal tools.