How to Install claude-video: Marketplace, npx, and Manual Symlink Methods

You can install the claude-video skill via the Claude Code Marketplace, the universal npx skills CLI, a manual symbolic link for development, or by uploading a pre-built bundle to Claude.ai, with each method copying the atomic skills/watch/ folder to ensure script resolution works correctly.

The bradautomates/claude-video repository distributes the watch skill as a self-contained unit within the skills/watch/ directory. Because SKILL.md resolves its helper scripts using relative paths from its own location, every installation method simply copies or links this entire folder—including the sibling scripts/ directory—to the host's skill path. This atomic structure guarantees compatibility across Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, and other Agent Skills hosts.

Understanding the Self-Contained Skill Structure

The watch skill is designed as a portable, self-contained package. According to the repository's AGENTS.md, SKILL.md defines the skill contract and references its runtime scripts relative to its own directory. This means the skills/watch/ folder must remain intact; moving SKILL.md or its scripts out of this directory breaks path resolution for non-Claude Code installations.

Key components within skills/watch/ include:

• SKILL.md – The entry point that registers the /watch command and defines parameters.
• scripts/watch.py – Orchestrates the video download, frame extraction, and transcription pipeline.
• scripts/setup.py – Performs pre-flight checks for ffmpeg and yt-dlp, or scaffolds a .env file for Whisper API keys.
• scripts/build-skill.sh – Bundles the skill into a .skill file for Claude.ai web uploads.

Installation Method 1: Claude Code Marketplace Plugin

The native plugin manager in Claude Code provides the simplest installation path for users already working in that environment. This method adds the repository to your local marketplace and installs the skill globally.

Execute the following commands in Claude Code:

/plugin marketplace add bradautomates/claude-video
/plugin install watch@claude-video

After installation, the /watch command becomes available immediately. To update to the latest version later, run:

/plugin update watch@claude-video

Installation Method 2: Agent Skills npx CLI

For users working with Codex, Cursor, or other Agent Skills-compatible hosts, the universal npx skills command line tool provides a host-agnostic installation method. This CLI copies the entire skills/watch/ folder into the appropriate host-specific directory (such as ~/.codex/skills or ~/.cursor/skills).

Run this command to install globally:

npx skills add bradautomates/claude-video -g

Omit the -g flag to install the skill into the current project's local skills directory instead. The tool automatically detects the host environment and places the files in the correct location.

Installation Method 3: Manual Symlink for Development

Developers who want to modify the skill or keep their install synchronized with a local Git clone should use the manual symlink method. This approach creates a symbolic link from the host's skill directory to the local repository, allowing changes to skills/watch/scripts/ to reflect immediately without reinstallation.

First, clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/bradautomates/claude-video.git

Then create a symlink to the appropriate skills directory for your host:

# For Claude Code

ln -s "$(pwd)/claude-video/skills/watch" ~/.claude/skills/watch

# For Codex

ln -s "$(pwd)/claude-video/skills/watch" ~/.codex/skills/watch

# For Cursor

ln -s "$(pwd)/claude-video/skills/watch" ~/.cursor/skills/watch

This method preserves the atomic folder structure required by SKILL.md while keeping your installation in sync with the source code.

Installation Method 4: Claude.ai Web Upload

For the Claude.ai web interface, you must install a pre-built .skill bundle rather than the raw folder. This method requires building the bundle first using the provided script.

Generate the bundle:

bash skills/watch/scripts/build-skill.sh

This creates dist/watch.skill. Then complete the installation:

1. Download the watch.skill file from the GitHub releases page (or use the locally built version).
2. Navigate to Claude.ai Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
3. Click the + button and upload the .skill file.
4. Enable "Code execution and file creation" in settings before using the skill.

Key Files and Architecture

Understanding these files helps when troubleshooting installations or customizing the skill:

• skills/watch/SKILL.md – The skill contract that defines the /watch command interface. All installers reference this file as the entry point.
• skills/watch/scripts/watch.py – The runtime orchestrator that handles video downloads, frame extraction, and transcription workflows.
• skills/watch/scripts/build-skill.sh – Generates the distributable .skill bundle required for Claude.ai web uploads.
• skills/watch/scripts/setup.py – Validates system dependencies (ffmpeg, yt-dlp) and manages API key configuration.

Summary

• Claude Code Marketplace uses /plugin marketplace add and /plugin install for native integration.
• npx CLI provides universal installation across Codex, Cursor, and other hosts via npx skills add -g.
• Manual symlink creates a live link from ~/.claude/skills/watch to your local Git clone for development.
• Claude.ai Web Upload requires building a .skill bundle with build-skill.sh and uploading via the web UI.
• All methods preserve the atomic skills/watch/ folder structure required for SKILL.md to resolve its helper scripts correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What agent hosts are compatible with claude-video?

The skill works on any host that implements the Agent Skills specification, including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, and Gemini CLI. The npx skills installer automatically detects the host environment and copies files to the correct directory (such as ~/.codex/skills or ~/.cursor/skills).

How do I update claude-video after installation?

Update methods vary by installation type. For Claude Code Marketplace installs, run /plugin update watch@claude-video. For npx or manual installations, pull the latest Git changes and re-run npx skills add or update your symlinked clone. Claude.ai web uploads require downloading the latest release bundle and re-uploading via the Settings UI.

Why does the manual installation method use a symbolic link instead of copying files?

A symbolic link keeps your active skill synchronized with the source repository, so modifications to skills/watch/scripts/ or SKILL.md take effect immediately without reinstallation. This is essential for development and debugging, though production users should use the Marketplace or npx methods for stability.

What system dependencies does claude-video require?

The skill requires ffmpeg for video processing, yt-dlp for downloading videos, and optionally API keys for Whisper transcription. The scripts/setup.py file checks for these dependencies on first run and can scaffold a .env file for API authentication, but you must install ffmpeg and yt-dlp separately beforehand.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}