---
name: YouTube CLI
slug: youtube-cli
category: Automation
description: YouTube CLI searches YouTube, fetches video and channel details, and returns transcripts or captions from the command line. Use it when you need video search, trending lists, subscriber counts, or timestamped transcript text without opening YouTube.
github: "https://github.com/ItamarZand88/CLI-Anything-WEB/tree/main/.claude/skills/youtube-cli"
language: Python
stars: 215
forks: 45
install: "npx degit https://github.com/ItamarZand88/CLI-Anything-WEB/tree/main/.claude/skills/youtube-cli ~/.claude/skills/youtube-cli"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/youtube-cli
source_path: .claude/skills/youtube-cli/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 1860
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/ItamarZand88/CLI-Anything-WEB"
added: 2026-09-04T05:25:50.933Z
last_synced: 2026-09-04T05:25:50.933Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/youtube-cli"
---

# YouTube CLI

YouTube CLI searches YouTube, fetches video and channel details, and returns transcripts or captions from the command line. Use it when you need video search, trending lists, subscriber counts, or timestamped transcript text without opening YouTube.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/ItamarZand88/CLI-Anything-WEB/tree/main/.claude/skills/youtube-cli ~/.claude/skills/youtube-cli
```

## README

# cli-web-youtube

Search and explore YouTube from the terminal (read-only, no auth, InnerTube API).
Install: `pip install cli-web-youtube`

## Commands

| Command | Purpose | Key options |
|---------|---------|-------------|
| `search videos QUERY` | Search videos | `-l/--limit N` (default 10) |
| `video get VIDEO_ID` | Video details (views, duration, description, keywords) | accepts 11-char ID or full URL |
| `trending list` | Trending/popular videos | `-c/--category now\|music\|gaming\|movies`, `-l/--limit N` |
| `channel get HANDLE` | Channel info + recent videos | accepts `@handle`, `UC...` ID, or URL |
| `transcript get VIDEO` | Timestamped transcript + full text | `-l/--lang CODE` (repeatable, priority order), `-t/--translate CODE`, `--text-only`; accepts ID or URL |
| `transcript list VIDEO` | Available caption languages | accepts ID or URL |

## Examples

```bash
# Search (returns id, title, channel, views, duration, published, url per video)
cli-web-youtube search videos "python tutorial" --limit 5 --json

# Video details by ID or URL
cli-web-youtube video get dQw4w9WgXcQ --json

# Trending music videos
cli-web-youtube trending list --category music --limit 10 --json

# Channel info and subscriber count
cli-web-youtube channel get @mkbhd --json | jq '{title, subscriber_count}'

# Plain-text transcript (ideal for feeding to an LLM)
cli-web-youtube transcript get dQw4w9WgXcQ --text-only

# Transcript in a preferred language, or translated, as JSON
cli-web-youtube transcript get dQw4w9WgXcQ --lang en --json
cli-web-youtube transcript get dQw4w9WgXcQ --translate en --json | jq -r '.segments[].text'

# What caption languages exist?
cli-web-youtube transcript list dQw4w9WgXcQ --json
```

## JSON output

Every command accepts `--json`. Success returns the data object directly, e.g. search: `{"query", "estimated_results", "videos": [...]}`; video get: `{"id", "title", "channel", "views", "duration_seconds", ...}`; transcript get: `{"video_id", "title", "language_code", "kind", "is_translated", "segment_count", "segments": [{"text", "start", "duration"}], "text"}`. Errors return `{"error": true, "code": "...", "message": "..."}`.

## Utilities

`cli-web-youtube doctor [--json]` self-diagnoses the local setup (install, auth, dependencies). `cli-web-youtube mcp-serve` serves the commands as MCP tools over stdio.

## Agent tips

- Video IDs are 11 characters; channel handles start with `@`.
- Running with no subcommand opens an interactive REPL.