- name
- videodb-monitoring
- description
- Screen recording capabilities. Generate stream URLs, search recordings, get transcripts.
- metadata
- { "openclaw": { "emoji": "📹", "skillKey": "videodb-monitoring", "primaryEnv": "VIDEODB_API_KEY" } }
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:
openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_API_KEYIf not set or empty:
- Ask the user for their VideoDB API key
- If they provide it, set it for them:
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
openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_IS_RUNNINGIf not true, start the monitor:
cd {baseDir} && nohup npx tsx monitor.ts > ~/.videodb/logs/monitor.log 2>&1 & disown && sleep 3Verify it started:
openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_CAPTURE_SESSION_IDIf you get a session ID (e.g., cap-xxxxxxxx-...), the monitor is ready.
Commands
Get Current Timestamp
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts nowReturns current Unix timestamp (seconds since epoch).
Generate Stream URL
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:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-indexingThis starts:
- transcript capture for system audio
- audio indexing
- visual indexing
You can also control them individually:
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-indexStop Indexing
Stop indexing as soon as it is no longer needed to save cost:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-indexingIndividual stop commands:
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-indexSearch Recordings
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
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts summary # last 30 minutes
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts summary --hours 2 # last 2 hoursAudio Transcripts
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts transcript # last 30 minutes
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts transcript --hours 1 # last hourRecording Workflow
When user requests screen recording of a task:
- Capture start time:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts nowStore this as start_time.
- Do the work (browser actions, file editing, etc.)
- Capture end time:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts now- Generate stream URL:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_time> <end_time>Optional player metadata:
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stream <start_time> <end_time> --title "Task recording" --description "Captured during OpenClaw task execution"- Include URL in response:
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"
# 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-slugResponse:
Done! I opened example.com. Screen recording: https://rt.stream.videodb.io/abc123
When to Use
| User Request | Command |
|---|---|
| "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":
- Check if monitor is running:
openclaw config get skills.entries.videodb-monitoring.env.VIDEODB_IS_RUNNING - If not, start it (see Prerequisites above)
- If it shows running but still fails, restart the monitor
If summary/search/transcript say no index or no transcript:
- Start indexing with
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts start-indexing - Wait briefly for data to accumulate
- Retry the command
- Stop indexing with
cd {baseDir} && npx tsx videodb.ts stop-indexingwhen done