# Baoyu Youtube Transcript

Downloads YouTube video transcripts/subtitles and cover images by URL or video ID.

- Repository: https://github.com/JimLiu/baoyu-skills (27159 stars)
- Category: Media
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add JimLiu/baoyu-skills --skill baoyu-youtube-transcript -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add JimLiu/baoyu-skills --skill baoyu-youtube-transcript -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add JimLiu/baoyu-skills --skill baoyu-youtube-transcript -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add JimLiu/baoyu-skills --skill baoyu-youtube-transcript -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add JimLiu/baoyu-skills`

## Description

Downloads YouTube video transcripts/subtitles and cover images by URL or video ID. Supports multiple languages, translation, chapters, and speaker identification. Caches raw data for fast re-formatting. Use when user asks to "get YouTube transcript", "download subtitles", "get captions", "YouTube字幕", "YouTube封面", "视频封面", "video thumbnail", "video cover image", or provides a YouTube URL and wants the transcript/subtitle text or cover image extracted.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# YouTube Transcript

Downloads transcripts (subtitles/captions) from YouTube videos. Works with both manually created and auto-generated transcripts. No API key or browser required, uses YouTube's InnerTube API directly and automatically falls back to `yt-dlp` when YouTube blocks the direct API path.

Fetches video metadata and cover image on first run, caches raw data for fast re-formatting.

## Script Directory

Scripts in `scripts/` subdirectory. `{baseDir}` = this SKILL.md's directory path. Resolve `${BUN_X}` runtime: if `bun` installed → `bun`; if `npx` available → `npx -y bun`; else suggest installing bun. Replace `{baseDir}` and `${BUN_X}` with actual values.

| Script | Purpose |
|--------|---------|
| `scripts/main.ts` | Transcript download CLI |

## Usage

```bash
# Default: markdown with timestamps (English)
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <youtube-url-or-id>

# Specify languages (priority order)
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --languages zh,en,ja

# Without timestamps
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --no-timestamps

# With chapter segmentation
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --chapters

# With speaker identification (requires AI post-processing)
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --speakers

# SRT subtitle file
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --format srt

# Translate transcript
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --translate zh-Hans

# List available transcripts
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --list

# Force re-fetch (ignore cache)
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --refresh
```

## Options

The rest: https://github.com/JimLiu/baoyu-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/baoyu-youtube-transcript/SKILL.md