VideoDB Screen Recording Skill#

Screen recording capabilities powered by VideoDB. Use this when the user asks for screen recordings, wants to search past activity, or needs transcripts.

Run commands from {baseDir} using npx tsx videodb.ts.

Prerequisites#

1. Check API Key#

Before using any commands, verify the API key is configured:

bash

openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_API_KEY

If not set or empty:

• Ask the user for their VideoDB API key

• If they provide it, set it for them: bash

  openclaw config set skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_API_KEY 'sk-xxx'
  
  

• If they don't have one, direct them to: https://console.videodb.io

2. Check Monitor is Running#

bash

openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_IS_RUNNING

If not true, start the monitor:

bash

cd {baseDir} && nohup npx tsx monitor.ts > ~/.videodb/logs/monitor.log 2>&1 & disown && sleep 3

Verify it started:

bash

openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_CAPTURE_SESSION_ID

If you get a session ID (e.g., cap-xxxxxxxx-...), the monitor is ready.

Commands#

Get Current Timestamp#

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now

Returns current Unix timestamp (seconds since epoch).

Generate Stream URL#

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_timestamp> <end_timestamp>
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_timestamp> <end_timestamp> --title "Checkout flow" --description "OpenClaw browser run"

Creates a playable recording URL for the time range. If --title or --description is provided, the generated player share page uses that metadata.

Start Indexing#

Start indexing only when the user asks for search, summaries, or transcripts:

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-indexing

This starts:

• transcript capture for system audio
• audio indexing
• visual indexing

You can also control them individually:

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-visual-index
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-transcript
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-audio-index

Stop Indexing#

Stop indexing as soon as it is no longer needed to save cost:

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-indexing

Individual stop commands:

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-visual-index
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-transcript
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-audio-index

Search Recordings#

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts search "user opened Amazon"

Searches indexed screen activity for matching events. If no visual index exists yet, start indexing first.

Activity Summary#

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts summary              # last 30 minutes
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts summary --hours 2    # last 2 hours

Audio Transcripts#

bash

cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts transcript           # last 30 minutes
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts transcript --hours 1 # last hour

Recording Workflow#

When user requests screen recording of a task:

1. Capture start time: bash

   cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now
   
   

   Store this as start_time.

2. Do the work (browser actions, file editing, etc.)

3. Capture end time: bash

   cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now
   
   

4. Generate stream URL: bash

   cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_time> <end_time>
   
   

   Optional player metadata: bash

   cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_time> <end_time> --title "Task recording" --description "Captured during OpenClaw task execution"
   
   

5. Include URL in response: text

   Screen recording: https://rt.stream.videodb.io/...
   
   

   If the command prints a player page URL, prefer sharing that URL with the user.

Indexing is not started automatically by the monitor. If the user also wants search, summaries, or transcripts, start indexing explicitly before those commands and stop it afterwards.

Example#

User: "Open example.com and send me the recording"

bash

# Check prerequisites
openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_IS_RUNNING
# true

# Start time
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now
# 1709740800

# Do the work (open browser, navigate)
# ...

# End time
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now
# 1709740830

# Generate URL
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream 1709740800 1709740830 --title "example.com walkthrough" --description "OpenClaw browser automation"
# 📹 Screen recording (30s): https://rt.stream.videodb.io/abc123
# Player page: https://player.videodb.io/watch?v=example-slug

Response:

Done! I opened example.com.

Screen recording: https://rt.stream.videodb.io/abc123

When to Use#

User RequestCommand"Record my screen while you do X"Use workflow above"What did I do in the last hour?"start-indexing, then summary --hours 1, then stop-indexing"Find when I opened the spreadsheet"start-indexing, then search "opened spreadsheet""What was said in that meeting?"start-indexing, then transcript"Get the recording from 5 mins ago"stream with timestamps"Record this and set the title/description"stream with --title and --description

Troubleshooting#

If commands fail with "No capture session":

1. Check if monitor is running: openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_IS_RUNNING
2. If not, start it (see Prerequisites above)
3. If it shows running but still fails, restart the monitor

If summary/search/transcript say no index or no transcript:

1. Start indexing with cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-indexing
2. Wait briefly for data to accumulate
3. Retry the command
4. Stop indexing with cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-indexing when done