YouTube Video Transcript
PassAudited by ClawScan on May 1, 2026.
Overview
This skill matches its stated YouTube transcript purpose, with disclosed use of yt-dlp, local caching only with consent, and an optional cookies workflow users should handle carefully.
Before installing, be comfortable with yt-dlp being used to access YouTube, avoid large batch runs unless intended, enable local caching only if you want transcripts saved, and provide cookies only when you understand and accept the account-access implications.
Findings (4)
Artifact-based informational review of SKILL.md, metadata, install specs, static scan signals, and capability signals. ClawScan does not execute the skill or run runtime probes.
A large batch request could consume time, bandwidth, and create many local transcript files.
The skill documents shell-based batch use of yt-dlp. This is aligned with transcript extraction, but it can trigger many external requests and local outputs if the user chooses a large channel or playlist.
Download all transcripts from a channel: ... for id in $(cat video_ids.txt); do yt-dlp --write-auto-sub --sub-lang en --skip-download "https://youtube.com/watch?v=$id"
Use batch workflows only when intended, review the target channel or playlist first, and apply the provided rate-limiting guidance for large jobs.
Installing a command-line dependency adds trust in the package manager source and installed yt-dlp package.
The skill relies on an external command-line package. That dependency is central to the stated purpose and disclosed, but it is still an external install path.
Options: `brew install yt-dlp` (macOS) or `pip install yt-dlp`
Install yt-dlp only from trusted package managers or official project instructions, and keep it updated.
Providing cookies may allow yt-dlp to access YouTube as your logged-in account for that request.
The skill mentions optional cookie-based access for age-restricted videos. Browser cookies can represent account session access, but the artifact frames this as user-provided and says not to ask for or store credentials.
yt-dlp supports cookies: `--cookies cookies.txt`; User must provide their own browser cookies; Never ask for or store credentials
Only provide cookies if you understand what is in the file, use a narrowly scoped cookies export when possible, and do not share passwords or long-lived credential files.
Saved transcripts and preferences may be reused in later tasks and remain on disk until deleted.
The skill stores transcript caches and preferences in a persistent local directory. The artifacts disclose the location and require user consent before caching.
For each processed video (only with user consent), create `~/youtube-video-transcript/videos/{video_id}.md`Enable caching only if you want transcripts retained locally, and ask the agent to show or delete saved files when needed.