video-idea-to-context

name	video-idea-to-context
description	Transforms a video idea into comprehensive production context by deeply analyzing the codebase, planning demo scenarios, and gathering user input. Creates video-context.md that contains everything needed for script generation. Use when building context for YouTube tutorial videos, analyzing projects for demos, or preparing technical documentation for video production.

Video Idea to Context Builder

This skill transforms a video idea into comprehensive production context by analyzing your codebase, planning concrete demo scenarios, and gathering essential user input. It creates demo-video/video-context.md that provides everything a script writer needs without re-scanning the repo.

Core Capabilities

• Works with or without existing video-ideas.md file
• Deep codebase analysis to understand application workflows
• Identifies features, integrations, and code paths
• Plans specific, executable demo scenarios with test data
• Maps external dependencies with pricing information
• Gathers user context (target audience, pain points, CTAs)
• Generates comprehensive context file ready for script generation

Workflow Overview

The skill follows this sequence:

1. Tool Availability Check → Verify required tools, check for optional MCPs
2. Input Discovery → Look for video-ideas.md or ask basic questions
3. Project Detection → Identify tech stack and project type
4. Deep Analysis → Trace code paths, map workflows, identify features
5. Demo Planning → Design concrete scenarios with specific test data
6. Tool Inventory → Document dependencies with pricing (using WebSearch if available)
7. User Context → Ask targeted questions about audience, pain points, CTAs
8. Generate Output → Create video-context.md with all gathered information

Phase 0: Tool Availability Check

CRITICAL: No Hallucination Policy

This skill NEVER makes up information it doesn't have access to. If a tool is needed but unavailable, it will stop and tell you how to configure it.

Required Tools (Must Have)

Check for these built-in tools first:

✅ Read - Read files from codebase
✅ Write - Create video-context.md output
✅ Glob - Find files by pattern
✅ Grep - Search code for patterns
✅ SemanticSearch - Understand code concepts
✅ LS - Explore directory structures

If ANY are missing → Abort with error message:

❌ Required tool [TOOL_NAME] is not available.
This skill cannot proceed without core tools.

Project-Specific MCP Tools

1. n8n-mcp (HIGH priority for n8n workflows)

Check when: If workflow.json detected in project

Server name: user-n8n-mcp

Key tools:

• n8n_get_workflow - Parse workflow structure
• n8n_validate_workflow - Validate workflow
• get_node - Get node information

If missing:

⚠️  n8n workflow detected but n8n-mcp is not configured.

Install: npx @n8n/mcp-server
Configure in Cursor: Add to .cursor/mcp.json
Configure in Claude: Add to claude_desktop_config.json

Options:
A) I'll configure n8n-mcp now (recommended for accurate analysis)
B) Proceed with basic JSON parsing (less accurate)

Your choice: [A/B]

2. WebSearch (MEDIUM priority for API pricing)

Check when: External APIs detected in code

Tool name: WebSearch (built-in in Cursor/Claude)

Purpose: Research tool pricing, free tiers, and setup requirements

If missing:

⚠️  External APIs detected: [List of APIs found]

I need web search to look up:
- Pricing and free tier limits
- Setup requirements
- API documentation

WebSearch tool is not available.

Options:
A) You'll provide pricing info manually (I'll ask later)
B) I'll mark pricing as "❓ Research required" (not recommended - incomplete context)

Your choice: [A/B]

No Hallucination Rule: If WebSearch unavailable and user doesn't provide info:

• Mark pricing as "Unknown - research required"
• Never guess or make up pricing information

3. user-github (LOW priority - optional)

Server name: user-github

Purpose: Enhanced README/documentation context

Fallback: Read files directly with Read tool (no warning needed)

Display Tool Status

After checking, display a clear status report:

🔍 Tool Availability Check

Required Tools:
✅ Read, Write, Glob, Grep, SemanticSearch, LS - Available

Project-Specific Tools:
✅ n8n-mcp - Available
⚠️  WebSearch - Not available (will ask you for pricing info)

Optional Enhancers:
ℹ️  user-github - Not available (will read files directly)

Proceeding with analysis...

Phase 1: Input Discovery

Check if demo-video/video-ideas.md exists:

If YES:

1. Read the file
2. Display ideas to user
3. Ask user to select one idea
4. Extract idea details (title, type, features)
5. Note: Will still need user context later

If NO:

1. Ask minimal questions:
   • What type of video? (Tutorial / Feature Demo / Workflow / Integration)
   • Any specific features to highlight? (optional)
2. Continue to repo analysis
3. Will ask detailed questions after understanding the project

Phase 2: Project Type Detection

Analyze the project structure to understand what we're working with.

1. Find Project Indicators

Use Glob to find key files:

Package files: "package.json", "requirements.txt", "pyproject.toml", "go.mod"
Entry points: "main.py", "app.py", "index.js", "server.js", "workflow.json"
Config files: "config.*", ".env.example", "settings.*"

2. Identify Tech Stack

Use Grep to find frameworks:

Python: "from fastapi", "from flask", "from django", "import click"
Node.js: "express()", "require('koa')", "import { Hono }"
n8n: Check workflow.json structure
React/Vue: "import React", "import { createApp }"

3. Determine Demo Approach

Based on project type:

• Has UI → Screen recording required
• CLI only → Terminal recording approach
• API/Backend → Postman/curl demo approach
• n8n workflow → n8n interface demonstration

For detailed patterns, see references/project-type-detection-patterns.md

Phase 3: Deep Codebase Analysis

This is the most important phase. Use SemanticSearch extensively to understand how the application actually works.

1. Find Entry Points

Use Glob and Read:

• Main files (main.py, index.js, app.py, server.js)
• Route definitions (API endpoints)
• CLI commands
• n8n workflow nodes

2. Map Core Workflows

Use SemanticSearch with queries like:

• "How does user authentication flow work?"
• "What is the main data processing pipeline?"
• "How are external API calls handled?"
• "What is the workflow from input to output?"

Read the relevant files identified by search.

3. Identify Key Features

Use SemanticSearch:

• "What are the main user-facing features?"
• "How does [specific feature] work?"
• "What integrations exist with external services?"

Use Grep for specifics:

• API endpoints: "@app.route", "app.get", "app.post"
• Database models: "class.*Model", "Schema ="
• External APIs: "api_key", "requests.get", "fetch("

4. Trace Feature Implementations

For each key feature:

1. Find relevant code files (SemanticSearch + Grep)
2. Understand dependencies (Read key files)
3. Identify configuration needs
4. Note setup requirements
5. Check for existing tests/examples

5. Identify Integration Points

Find external services:

• API calls to third parties
• Database connections
• File storage (S3, Drive, etc.)
• Communication tools (Slack, email, etc.)
• Authentication services

For each integration, note:

• What service (Stripe, OpenAI, SendGrid, etc.)
• How it's used
• Configuration required
• Any API keys/credentials needed

Phase 4: Demo Scenario Planning

Design specific, concrete scenarios that demonstrate the value of the project.

1. Design Flagship Scenario

The main "happy path" demonstration:

• Primary use case (most common/valuable)
• Clear input → process → output
• Demonstrates core value proposition
• Should have a "wow" moment

2. Design Secondary Scenarios

Variations that show flexibility:

• Different input types
• Alternative configurations
• Integration demonstrations
• Different workflows

3. Consider Edge Cases

Show robust error handling:

• Validation examples
• Error handling demos
• Troubleshooting scenarios

4. For Each Scenario, Specify:

Setup Requirements:

• Configuration files needed
• Environment variables
• API keys/credentials (use mock/test values)
• Service dependencies

Test Data: Be SPECIFIC - don't just say "provide sample data". Instead:

✅ GOOD:
- users.csv (3 rows):
  - Row 1: admin user (email: [e-mail], role: admin)
  - Row 2: regular user (email: [e-mail], role: user)
  - Row 3: guest (email: [e-mail], role: guest)

❌ BAD:
- Provide sample user data

Execution Steps: Numbered, concrete steps:

1. Run: python main.py --input users.csv --config config.json
2. System reads CSV and validates users
3. Calls API endpoint for each user (src/api/client.py, line 45)
4. Processes responses and generates report
5. Outputs: report.html and summary.json

Expected Outcomes: Specific results:

- Success message: "Processed 3 users in 2.3s"
- HTML report with user cards and status badges
- JSON summary with statistics

For templates and examples, see references/demo-scenario-templates.md

Phase 5: Tool & Technology Inventory

Document all external dependencies with pricing information.

For Each External Tool/Service:

1. Tool Name

2. Purpose - What role it plays in the workflow

3. Pricing:

   • If WebSearch available → Research current pricing
   • If WebSearch NOT available → Mark as "User to provide" and ask later
   • Never guess or hallucinate pricing information

4. Setup Complexity - Easy / Medium / Hard

5. Alternatives - Any substitutes available

Pricing Research with WebSearch

If WebSearch is available, research each tool:

Search: "[Tool Name] pricing free tier 2026"
Search: "[Tool Name] API rate limits"
Search: "[Tool Name] setup requirements"

Extract:

• Free tier limits
• When payment is needed
• Approximate costs for typical usage

If WebSearch Unavailable

Add to your user questions list (Phase 7):

I detected these external services:
- n8n
- LlamaCloud
- Stripe
- [etc.]

For the video context, I need pricing information.
Please provide for each:
- Free tier limits (if any)
- When viewers need to pay
- Typical costs

OR

Would you like me to mark pricing as "Research required" and you'll add it later?

Phase 6: Gather User Context

IMPORTANT: Do this AFTER technical analysis, not before.

By now you understand the project technically, so you can ask smarter, context-aware questions.

Questions to Ask

Use the AskQuestion tool if available, otherwise ask conversationally.

See references/user-context-questions.md for the complete question set.

1. Target Audience (Required)

I analyzed your project and found it [brief summary of what it does].

Who is this video for? (select all that apply)
- [ ] Beginners learning [technology/automation/etc.]
- [ ] Experienced developers exploring [specific tools]
- [ ] Business owners wanting to automate processes
- [ ] Freelancers/agencies looking for client solutions
- [ ] Other: [specify]

What's their main goal from watching this video?
[Free text input]

2. Pain Point / Problem Statement (Required)

What frustrating manual process or problem does this solve?

Example: "Manual invoice data entry from PDFs takes hours and is error-prone"

Your answer:
[Free text input]

3. Value Proposition / Hook (Required)

In one sentence, what's the main benefit viewers get?

I noticed your project [technical observation]. How would you pitch this?

Example: "Automatically extract invoice data with AI and organize files without any manual work"

Your answer:
[Free text input]

4. Tool Pricing (If WebSearch was unavailable)

Ask about each external service detected.

5. Call-to-Action (Required)

What should viewers do after watching?

Custom build service:
- [ ] Yes, I offer custom builds
  - Contact method: [email/link]
  - Message to show: [e.g., "I can customize this for your needs"]
- [ ] No

Consultation:
- [ ] Yes, I offer consultations
  - Calendar link: [URL]
  - Details: [e.g., "Book a 30-min setup call"]
- [ ] No

Download/Resources:
- Workflow/code location: [GitHub/website/description]
- Setup guide available: [Yes/No, link if yes]

Contact Info:
- Email: [address]
- Discord: [link]
- Twitter: [@handle]
- Other: [links]

6. Video Preferences (Optional)

Video style preferences:

Tone: [ ] Casual [ ] Professional [ ] Friendly (default)
Technical depth: [ ] High [ ] Medium (default) [ ] Low
Target length: [ ] 5-10min [ ] 10-20min (default) [ ] 20+min

Phase 7: Generate video-context.md

Create demo-video/video-context.md using the template from references/video-context-output-template.md

The file has two main sections:

1. USER-PROVIDED CONTEXT (Top Section)

Fill this with all the answers from user questions:

• Problem statement / Pain point
• Target audience definition
• Value proposition / Hook
• Video preferences
• Call-to-action details

2. AUTO-GENERATED CONTEXT (Bottom Section)

Fill this with all your technical findings:

• Solution overview (how it works)
• Tools & technologies table
• Prerequisites and setup
• Workflow/process description
• Demo scenarios (detailed)
• Technical deep dive notes
• Key value propositions
• Assumptions and limitations
• Customization options

Output Location

Create the file at:

demo-video/video-context.md

If the demo-video/ folder doesn't exist, create it.

Success Criteria

Before finishing, verify:

• All sections of video-context.md are filled meaningfully
• At least 1 flagship demo scenario with specific test data
• External tools documented with pricing (or marked "Research required")
• User context gathered (audience, pain point, CTA)
• Code paths traced (specific file/function references included)
• Expected outcomes are concrete, not vague
• No hallucinated information (pricing, capabilities, etc.)

Example Usage

User: "Create video context for this n8n invoice processing workflow"

Skill:
1. ✅ Checks tools → All required available, n8n-mcp found, WebSearch available
2. 📋 Checks for video-ideas.md → Not found
3. 🔍 Analyzes workflow.json → Invoice processing automation with AI extraction
4. 🎯 Plans demos → Basic processing, high-value invoice, duplicate detection
5. 💰 Researches pricing → n8n (free tier), LlamaCloud (free with limits), etc.
6. 💬 Asks user:
   - Audience: "Business owners wanting to automate invoice processing"
   - Pain point: "Manual data entry takes 10+ hours/week"
   - CTA: Custom build offered, email provided
7. 📝 Generates video-context.md with all context
8. ✅ File ready at demo-video/video-context.md

Tips for Best Results

1. Use SemanticSearch liberally - It's your best tool for understanding code
2. Be specific in demo scenarios - Include actual commands, file names, data examples
3. Reference actual code - Include file paths and line numbers when relevant
4. Ask user questions AFTER analysis - Pre-fill with what you found
5. Never guess - If you don't know something (pricing, capability), say so
6. Verify tool availability - Don't assume MCPs are configured

Troubleshooting

"I can't find the main entry point"

• Use SemanticSearch: "What is the main entry point of this application?"
• Check common patterns: main.py, app.py, index.js, server.js
• Look for workflow.json (n8n projects)

"I'm not sure what this project does"

• Read README.md first
• Use SemanticSearch: "What does this project do?"
• Look at package.json "description" field

"The workflow is very complex"

• Focus on the main happy path first
• Use SemanticSearch to understand overall flow
• Break it into smaller chunks
• Trace one feature end-to-end as an example

"WebSearch not available and user doesn't provide pricing"

• Mark pricing as "❓ Research required"
• Add note: "User will research pricing before script generation"
• Never make up pricing information

Reference Files

• references/project-type-detection-patterns.md - How to detect project types
• references/demo-scenario-templates.md - Demo scenario examples
• references/user-context-questions.md - Complete question set
• references/video-context-output-template.md - Output file template