> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://video2ctx-feat-polar-billing.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install agent skills

> Add the video2ctx skills to a compatible agent and configure hosted access only when needed.

The video2ctx collection contains two skills. Run the installer, then follow its interactive guide to choose the skills and supported agents you want to configure.

| Skill                | Use it for                                                                                                                                                                       | Needs                                                                             |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `youtube-ctx`        | Personal, low-to-moderate public YouTube search, extraction, and visual inspection on the user's device                                                                          | Node.js 18.17+; optional FFmpeg for exact frames                                  |
| `video2ctx-platform` | Production and cloud-backed YouTube search, transcripts, metadata, comments, channels, playlists, account and usage details, direct-access fallback, monitors, and notifications | A video2ctx account, the `video2ctx` CLI, and browser login or a personal API key |

## Add the skills

Start the installation wizard:

```bash theme={null}
npx skills add devhims/video2ctx
```

Follow the prompts to select the skills you need and where to install them. The wizard handles the individual skill and agent-specific options.

<Note>
  The local `youtube-ctx` skill carries its own direct and visual executables. It does not require a video2ctx account, API key, hosted service, or npm package.
</Note>

<Warning>
  When upgrading from an earlier collection, remove installed copies of `youtube-direct`, `youtube-watch`, `video2ctx-api`, and `video2ctx-monitoring` after adding the two consolidated skills. Keeping legacy skills beside them can create ambiguous routing.
</Warning>

## Configure hosted access

Only `video2ctx-platform` requires the hosted CLI. Install it once, then authorize the machine in your browser:

```bash theme={null}
npm i -g @video2ctx/cli
video2ctx auth login
video2ctx whoami --json
```

The login flow stores a revocable session in private local configuration. End the session at any time with:

```bash theme={null}
video2ctx auth logout
```

For unattended environments, configure `VIDEO2CTX_API_KEY` in the process environment. Create a personal key in the [developer dashboard](https://video2ctx.dev/dashboard/developer). Never paste a CLI session or API key into an agent conversation.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use local YouTube context" icon="eye" href="/skills/youtube-ctx">Search, read, or inspect video imagery on-device and verify exact frames only when needed.</Card>
  <Card title="Use the hosted platform" icon="cloud" href="/skills/video2ctx-platform">Use managed YouTube data, identity, usage, fallback, monitoring, and notifications in production or cloud-backed workflows.</Card>
</CardGroup>