youtube-downloader
Download YouTube videos with customizable quality and format options. Use this skill when the user asks to download, save, or grab YouTube videos. Supports various quality settings (best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p), multiple formats (mp4, webm, mkv), and audio-only downloads as MP3.
Best use case
youtube-downloader is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Download YouTube videos with customizable quality and format options. Use this skill when the user asks to download, save, or grab YouTube videos. Supports various quality settings (best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p), multiple formats (mp4, webm, mkv), and audio-only downloads as MP3.
Teams using youtube-downloader should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/video-downloader/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How youtube-downloader Compares
| Feature / Agent | youtube-downloader | 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?
Download YouTube videos with customizable quality and format options. Use this skill when the user asks to download, save, or grab YouTube videos. Supports various quality settings (best, 1080p, 720p, 480p, 360p), multiple formats (mp4, webm, mkv), and audio-only downloads as MP3.
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.
Related Guides
SKILL.md Source
# YouTube Video Downloader Download YouTube videos with full control over quality and format settings. ## Quick Start The simplest way to download a video: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID" ``` This downloads the video in best available quality as MP4 to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/`. ## Options ### Quality Settings Use `-q` or `--quality` to specify video quality: - `best` (default): Highest quality available - `1080p`: Full HD - `720p`: HD - `480p`: Standard definition - `360p`: Lower quality - `worst`: Lowest quality available Example: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -q 720p ``` ### Format Options Use `-f` or `--format` to specify output format (video downloads only): - `mp4` (default): Most compatible - `webm`: Modern format - `mkv`: Matroska container Example: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -f webm ``` ### Audio Only Use `-a` or `--audio-only` to download only audio as MP3: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -a ``` ### Custom Output Directory Use `-o` or `--output` to specify a different output directory: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "URL" -o /path/to/directory ``` ## Complete Examples 1. Download video in 1080p as MP4: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -q 1080p ``` 2. Download audio only as MP3: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -a ``` 3. Download in 720p as WebM to custom directory: ```bash python scripts/download_video.py "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" -q 720p -f webm -o /custom/path ``` ## How It Works The skill uses `yt-dlp`, a robust YouTube downloader that: - Automatically installs itself if not present - Fetches video information before downloading - Selects the best available streams matching your criteria - Merges video and audio streams when needed - Supports a wide range of YouTube video formats ## Important Notes - Downloads are saved to `/mnt/user-data/outputs/` by default - Video filename is automatically generated from the video title - The script handles installation of yt-dlp automatically - Only single videos are downloaded (playlists are skipped by default) - Higher quality videos may take longer to download and use more disk space
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