How to Install Claude Video on Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor

Claude Video can be installed as a portable Agent Skill via marketplace commands in Claude Code, global CLI installation for Codex and Cursor, or manual upload to the Claude web interface, with all methods deploying the same skills/watch/ directory structure.

Claude Video is an open-source video analysis tool distributed as an Agent Skill in the bradautomates/claude-video repository. Because it follows the Agent Skills specification, you can install it across multiple AI-powered development environments using host-specific commands or standard CLI tooling.

Installing on Claude Code via Marketplace

In Claude Code (the official Claude IDE), install Claude Video through the built-in marketplace system. This method registers the skill using the repository identifier and activates the watch capability.

Run these commands sequentially in your Claude Code terminal:

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

The first command registers the repository in your local marketplace index. The second command installs the specific watch skill defined in skills/watch/SKILL.md, copying the entire skill folder—including scripts like watch.py, download.py, and frames.py—into Claude Code's skill directory.

Installing on Codex and Cursor via Agent Skills CLI

For Codex (GitHub Copilot Chat) and Cursor, use the global Agent Skills CLI installer. Both environments share the same installation command because they implement the Agent Skills protocol.

Execute the following in your system terminal:

npx skills add bradautomates/claude-video -g

The -g flag installs the skill globally, making it available across all your projects in that host. This command downloads the repository and copies the skills/watch/ directory to your host's skill folder (e.g., ~/.cursor/skills/watch for Cursor).

Optionally, target specific hosts with the -a flag:

npx skills add bradautomates/claude-video -a codex -a cursor

Web Interface and Manual Installation Methods

Beyond the automated CLI options, you can install Claude Video through the Claude web interface or set up a development environment.

Upload via Claude.ai (Web)

For the web version of Claude at claude.ai:

1. Download the pre-built .skill bundle from the latest release
2. Navigate to Settings → Capabilities → Skills
3. Click + and upload the watch.skill file

Manual Development Installation

For local development or to keep your edits in sync with the installed skill:

1. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/bradautomates/claude-video.git

2. Create a symbolic link from skills/watch to your host's skill directory:

   ln -s /path/to/claude-video/skills/watch ~/.cursor/skills/watch

This symlink approach ensures changes to skills/watch/scripts/watch.py or SKILL.md reflect immediately without reinstallation.

How Installation Works Under the Hood

Understanding the installation mechanics helps troubleshoot issues across different hosts.

The skill contract lives in skills/watch/SKILL.md, which defines the entry points and version. When installed, the entire skills/watch/ folder—including scripts/setup.py, scripts/download.py, and scripts/frames.py—is copied to the host's skill directory. The SKILL.md resolves script paths relative to its own directory using ${SKILL_DIR}, making the installation portable across Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor without host-specific environment variables.

Host-specific manifests in .codex-plugin/plugin.json and .claude-plugin/plugin.json act as lightweight pointers that tell each IDE where to find the canonical skill definition in skills/watch/.

Summary

• Claude Code uses /plugin marketplace add followed by /plugin install watch@claude-video
• Codex and Cursor use npx skills add bradautomates/claude-video -g for global installation
• Web users can download the .skill bundle from releases and upload via Settings → Capabilities → Skills
• Developers can symlink skills/watch/ to their host's skill directory for live editing
• All methods deploy the same skills/watch/ directory structure, with SKILL.md serving as the source of truth

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same installation command for both Codex and Cursor?

Yes. Both environments support the Agent Skills CLI, so npx skills add bradautomates/claude-video -g works identically in each. The CLI detects the host environment and copies the skills/watch/ folder to the appropriate location (e.g., ~/.codex/ or ~/.cursor/).

Why does Claude Code use a different installation method than Codex and Cursor?

Claude Code implements a proprietary marketplace system with namespaced plugin commands (/plugin), whereas Codex and Cursor follow the open Agent Skills specification. Despite the different entry points, both methods ultimately deploy the same files from the skills/watch/ directory defined in SKILL.md.

Do I need to reinstall Claude Video after updating the repository?

If installed via npx skills add or the marketplace, you must run the installation command again to pull updates. However, if you used the manual symlink method for development, changes to skills/watch/scripts/watch.py or other files reflect immediately without reinstallation.

What dependencies are required after installation?

The skill includes a setup routine in skills/watch/scripts/setup.py that runs automatically on first use. This script checks for and installs ffmpeg, yt-dlp, and validates Whisper API keys, ensuring all video processing capabilities work regardless of which installation method you chose.

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