summarize

name	summarize
description	Use summarize.sh to summarize or transcribe URLs, YouTube/videos, podcasts, articles, transcripts, PDFs, and local files. Use for markdownified YouTube transcripts with summarize --extract --format md --markdown-mode llm.

Summarize

Use the summarize CLI from summarize.sh for URL, file, article, podcast, and YouTube work.

When To Use

Use this skill when the user says:

• "use summarize.sh"
• "summarize this URL/article/video"
• "transcribe this YouTube/video"
• "get proper markdown from this YouTube video"
• "markdownify this transcript"

Quick Start

summarize "https://example.com"
summarize "/path/to/file.pdf"
summarize "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=..." --youtube auto

If summarize is not on PATH but Nix is available, use the packaged tool:

nix run github:openclaw/nix-openclaw-tools#summarize -- "https://example.com"

YouTube Markdown Notes

For tweet-style markdownified YouTube transcripts, use the LLM markdown path:

summarize "$YOUTUBE_URL" \
  --extract \
  --format md \
  --markdown-mode llm \
  --model google/gemini-3.5-flash \
  --plain \
  --timeout 10m

Do not add --video-mode transcript for this path. That forces raw transcript extraction and can skip markdownification.

Raw Transcript

For a raw transcript, use:

summarize "$YOUTUBE_URL" --youtube auto --extract --plain

Add --timestamps when timestamps matter.

Models

Prefer an explicit current model. Do not trust auto if debug output shows a stale model. Google direct model IDs and Ollama Cloud model IDs are different surfaces; verify the Ollama Cloud model name when the user asks for Ollama.

• Google direct: --model google/gemini-3.5-flash
• Ollama Cloud through summarize's OpenAI-compatible route:

OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://ollama.com/v1 \
OPENAI_API_KEY="$OLLAMA_API_KEY" \
summarize "$YOUTUBE_URL" \
  --extract \
  --format md \
  --markdown-mode llm \
  --model openai/gemini-3-flash-preview:cloud \
  --plain \
  --timeout 10m

As of 2026-06-02, Ollama Cloud exposes gemini-3-flash-preview:cloud; Google direct exposes gemini-3.5-flash.

Debugging

Use --debug --metrics detailed when the output is raw or empty. In debug output, confirm:

• markdownMode=llm
• transcriptRequested=true
• a real provider/model is selected
• the command is not using --video-mode transcript for markdown notes