video-watch

# Video Watch Prepare video artifacts that GitHub Copilot can inspect: captions, frame contact sheets, a frame index, a manifest, and a prompt packet. This skill is inspired by `bradautomates/claude-video`, but it targets GitHub Copilot workflows. Do not assume Claude Code `Read` parallelism. Generate files first, then inspect only the artifacts needed for the user's question. ## When to Use - The user asks to watch, inspect, summarize, compare, or diagnose a video. - The input is a video URL supported by `yt-dlp`, or a local `.mp4`, `.mov`, `.mkv`, or `.webm` file. - The task depends on both what is said and what appears on screen, such as bug reproductions, product demos, launch videos, tutorials, webinars, ads, or screen recordings. ## Not the Best Fit - Do not bypass DRM, paywalls, authentication, or site terms. - Do not request or store cookies, bearer tokens, signed URLs, or private media credentials. - If an official API or existing transcript answers the task without video processing, prefer that lighter path. ## Core Workflow 1. Run preflight if dependencies are uncertain: `python .github/skills/video-watch/scripts/preflight.py` Use `python .github/skills/video-watch/scripts/preflight.py --url-mode` for URL inputs. 2. Produce artifacts: `python .github/skills/video-watch/scripts/video_watch.py <url-or-path> --question "<what to answer>"` Use `--transcript-file <path>` when another tool, Azure Speech, or Speech Translator Desktop Plus already produced a transcript. For private or authenticated media, prefer `--detail transcript --metadata-only --transcript-file <path>` and do not pass cookies, bearer tokens, or signed URL credentials. 3. Read artifacts in this order: `manifest.json` → `prompt.md` → `transcript.md` → `frame-index.md` → `contact-sheet.jpg` → selected files in `frames/` only if needed. `manifest.json` records SHA-256 for local source bytes, or for downloaded URL video bytes when a download occurred. Metadata-only URL runs leave the hash null rather than fetching media. 4. Answer from the artifacts. State when the answer is transcript-only, frame-only, or limited by sparse sampling. 5. For named moments, rerun with `--start` / `--end` to focus the frame budget. ## Detail Modes | Mode | Use | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `transcript` | Captions or sidecar transcript only. Fastest. | | `efficient` | Small visual pass for quick triage. | | `balanced` | Default contact sheet for most screen recordings and demos. | | `token-burner` | Larger visual pass when the user explicitly needs broad visual coverage. | ## Rubber Duck Checkpoints - Before changing this skill's workflow, review the plan for primitive choice, hidden dependencies, safety boundaries, and Copilot artifact order. - After editing, review `SKILL.md`, scripts, and references for self-contained behavior, trigger quality, line count, and executable validation. - Treat the critic as read-only. The producer applies changes and reruns validation. ## References | Need | Reference | | -------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | Detailed workflow | [references/workflow.md](references/workflow.md) | | Dependencies and setup | [references/dependencies.md](references/dependencies.md) | | Frame budget and contact sheets | [references/frame-budget.md](references/frame-budget.md) | | Optional Scout/Whisper/Azure Speech backends | [references/backends.md](references/backends.md) |