nlm

# NotebookLM CLI (nlm)

Manage Google NotebookLM notebooks, sources, notes, and audio overviews via the `nlm` command-line tool.

**Requires:** `nlm` on PATH (`~/.local/bin/nlm` → `~/projects/nlm/nlm`)

**Check:** `command -v nlm || echo "MISSING: nlm CLI not installed"`

## Authentication

Before first use, authenticate with Google:

```bash
nlm auth login -all
```

This connects to Chrome via CDP (Chrome DevTools Protocol) to extract cookies from an active NotebookLM session. Credentials are stored in `~/.nlm/env`.

### Troubleshooting Authentication

If `nlm auth` fails with "no valid profiles found" or "SESSION_COOKIE_INVALID":

1. **Verify Chrome is running with remote debugging**:
   ```bash
   ps aux | grep -E "chrome.*remote-debugging-port=9400"
   ```

   If not running, Chrome needs to be started with `--remote-debugging-port=9400` flag.

2. **Test CDP connection**:
   ```bash
   curl http://localhost:9400/json/version
   ```

   Should return JSON with Chrome version info.

3. **Re-authenticate**:
   ```bash
   nlm auth login -debug -all
   ```

   This will show which profiles are checked and why authentication succeeds or fails.

4. **Verify authentication works**:
   ```bash
   nlm list
   ```

   Should list notebooks without errors.

**If authentication still fails**, you may need to:
- Log into notebooklm.google.com in Chrome manually
- Ensure Chrome profile has an active NotebookLM session
- Check `~/.nlm/env` file permissions

## Core Commands

### Notebook Management

```bash
# List all notebooks
nlm list

# Create a new notebook
nlm create “Research Notes”

# Delete a notebook
nlm rm <notebook-id>

# Get notebook analytics
nlm analytics <notebook-id>
```

### Source Management

Add sources from URLs, files, or stdin:

```bash
# Add URL source
nlm add <notebook-id> https://example.com/article

# Add PDF file
nlm add <notebook-id> document.pdf

# Add from stdin
echo “Some text content” | nlm add <notebook-id> -

# Add with specific MIME type
cat data.json | nlm add <notebook-id> - -mime=”application/json”

# Add YouTube video
nlm add <notebook-id> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

# List sources in notebook
nlm sources <notebook-id>

# Rename a source
nlm rename-source <source-id> “New Title”

# Remove a source
nlm rm-source <notebook-id> <source-id>

# Refresh source content
nlm refresh-source <source-id>
```

### Note Management

```bash
# List notes in notebook
nlm notes <notebook-id>

# Create new note
nlm new-note <notebook-id> “Note Title”

# Update note content
nlm update-note <notebook-id> <note-id> “New content” “New Title”

# Remove note
nlm rm-note <note-id>
```

### Audio Overviews

Generate AI podcast-style audio summaries:

```bash
# Create audio overview with instructions
nlm audio-create <notebook-id> “Focus on key themes and provide a professional summary”

# List audio overviews
nlm audio-list <notebook-id>

# Get audio overview status/content
nlm audio-get <notebook-id>

# Download audio file (requires --direct-rpc)
nlm audio-download <notebook-id> output.mp3 --direct-rpc

# Share audio (private)
nlm audio-share <notebook-id>

# Share audio (public)
nlm audio-share <notebook-id> --public

# Delete audio
nlm audio-rm <notebook-id>
```

### Video Overviews

| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `video-create` | Create video overview |
| `video-list` | List video overviews |
| `video-download` | Download video (requires `--direct-rpc`) |

See `references/commands.md` for full syntax.

### Generation Commands

```bash
# Generate notebook guide (short summary)
nlm generate-guide <notebook-id>

# Generate comprehensive content outline
nlm generate-outline <notebook-id>

# Generate new content section
nlm generate-section <notebook-id>

# Free-form chat generation
nlm generate-chat <notebook-id> "What are the main themes?"

# Interactive chat session
nlm chat <notebook-id>

# Generate magic view synthesis from specific sources
nlm generate-magic <notebook-id> <source-id-1> <source-id-2>
```

### Content Transformation Commands

Transform sources into different formats. All commands take `<notebook-id> <source-id> [source-id...]`:

| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `summarize` | Summarize content |
| `study-guide` | Key concepts + review questions |
| `faq` | Generate FAQ |
| `briefing-doc` | Professional briefing |
| `rephrase` / `expand` | Reword or elaborate |
| `critique` / `verify` | Critique or fact-check |
| `brainstorm` / `explain` | Ideate or simplify |
| `outline` / `toc` | Structured outline or TOC |
| `mindmap` / `timeline` | Visual mindmap or timeline |

See `references/commands.md` for full syntax and examples.

### Research Commands

Research topics and automatically import sources into a notebook:

```bash
# Research a topic and import sources to a notebook
nlm research "quantum computing advances" --notebook <notebook-id>

# Deep research mode for comprehensive investigation
nlm research "climate policy impacts" --notebook <notebook-id> --deep
```

The research command:
- Searches for relevant sources on the topic
- Automatically imports found sources into the specified notebook
- `--deep` mode performs more comprehensive research

### Batch Operations

Execute multiple commands in a single request: `nlm batch "cmd1" "cmd2" "cmd3"`

See `references/commands.md` for full syntax.

## Workflows

For detailed workflow recipes (research, study materials, content analysis, executive briefing, Readwise→NLM import), read `references/workflows.md`.

Quick start — automated research:

```bash
id=$(nlm create "Topic Research" | grep -o 'notebook [^ ]*' | cut -d' ' -f2)
nlm research "your topic" --notebook $id
nlm generate-chat $id "What are the key findings?"
```

## Troubleshooting

- **Auth errors**: Run `nlm auth` to re-authenticate
- **Debug mode**: Add `-debug` flag for detailed API interactions
- **Browser profile**: Use `--profile “Profile Name”` to specify browser profile

## Environment Variables

- `NLM_AUTH_TOKEN`: Authentication token (managed by auth command)
- `NLM_COOKIES`: Authentication cookies (managed by auth command)
- `NLM_BROWSER_PROFILE`: Chrome/Brave profile to use (default: “Default”)