extract-transcripts
Extract readable transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files
Best use case
extract-transcripts is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt. It is especially useful for teams working in multi. Extract readable transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files
Extract readable transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files
Users should expect a more consistent workflow output, faster repeated execution, and less time spent rewriting prompts from scratch.
Practical example
Example input
Use the "extract-transcripts" skill to help with this workflow task. Context: Extract readable transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files
Example output
A structured workflow result with clearer steps, more consistent formatting, and an output that is easier to reuse in the next run.
When to use this skill
- Use this skill when you want a reusable workflow rather than writing the same prompt again and again.
When not to use this skill
- Do not use this when you only need a one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- Do not use it if you cannot install or maintain the related files, repository context, or supporting tools.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How extract-transcripts Compares
| Feature / Agent | extract-transcripts | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Extract readable transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Extract Transcripts Extracts readable markdown transcripts from Claude Code and Codex CLI session JSONL files. ## Scripts ### Claude Code Sessions ```bash # Extract a single session python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <session.jsonl> # With tool calls and thinking blocks python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <session.jsonl> --include-tools --include-thinking # Extract all sessions from a directory python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <directory> --all # Output to file python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <session.jsonl> -o output.md # Summary only (quick overview) python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <session.jsonl> --summary # Skip empty/warmup-only sessions python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_transcript.py <directory> --all --skip-empty ``` **Options:** - `--include-tools`: Include tool calls and results - `--include-thinking`: Include Claude's thinking blocks - `--all`: Process all .jsonl files in directory - `-o, --output`: Output file path (default: stdout) - `--summary`: Only output brief summary - `--skip-empty`: Skip empty and warmup-only sessions - `--min-messages N`: Minimum messages for --skip-empty (default: 2) ### Codex CLI Sessions ```bash # Extract a Codex session python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_codex_transcript.py <session.jsonl> # Extract from Codex history file python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/extract_codex_transcript.py ~/.codex/history.jsonl --history ``` ## Session File Locations ### Claude Code - Sessions: `~/.claude/projects/<project-path>/<session-id>.jsonl` ### Codex CLI - Sessions: `~/.codex/sessions/<session_id>/rollout.jsonl` - History: `~/.codex/history.jsonl` ## DuckDB-Based Transcript Index For querying across many sessions, use the DuckDB-based indexer: ```bash # Index all sessions (incremental - only new/changed files) python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py index # Force full reindex python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py index --full # Limit number of files to process python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py index --limit 10 # List recent sessions python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py recent python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py recent --limit 20 python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py recent --project myapp python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py recent --since 7d # Search across sessions python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py search "error handling" python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py search "query" --cwd ~/myproject # Show a session transcript python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py show <file_path> python3 ~/.claude/skills/extract-transcripts/transcript_index.py show <file_path> --summary ``` **Requirements:** DuckDB (`pip install duckdb`) **Database location:** `~/.claude/transcript-index/sessions.duckdb` ## Output Format Transcripts are formatted as markdown with: - Session metadata (date, duration, model, working directory, git branch) - User messages prefixed with `## User` - Assistant responses prefixed with `## Assistant` - Tool calls in code blocks (if --include-tools) - Thinking in blockquotes (if --include-thinking) - Tool usage summary for Codex sessions
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