youtube-pipeline

The saved excerpt is a snapshot from review. The external source remains the complete and most current version.

---
name: youtube-pipeline
description: Complete YouTube video production pipeline from ideation to distribution. Covers Strategy (Phase 1), Packaging (Phase 2), Scripting (Phase 3), Shorts (Phase 3.5), Production (Phase 4), and Repurposing (Phase 5).
---

# YouTube Pipeline Skill

This skill provides access to a complete YouTube video production pipeline. It is self-contained: when activated, resolve the folder containing this `SKILL.md` as `<skill-root>` and read the bundled workflow, knowledge, prompt, and script files from there.

## Quick Reference

| Phase | Workflow | Purpose |
|-------|----------|---------|
| 1 | `/youtube-phase1-strategy` | Find proven topic via 3-source validation (YT Studio + VidIQ + Google Trends) |
| 2 | `/youtube-phase2-packaging` | Engineer title & thumbnail |
| 3 | `/youtube-phase3-scripting` | Write retention-optimized script |
| 3.5 | `/youtube-phase3.5-shorts` | Create 6 Shorts (3 Topic + 3 Extract) |
| 4 | `/youtube-phase4-production` | Film, edit, polish |
| 5 | `/youtube-phase5-repurposing` | Distribute to all platforms (YT, TikTok, IG, LinkedIn) |
| Master | `/youtube-pipeline` | Orchestrate all 6 phases |

---

## Bundled Files (Always Read These First)

All runtime instructions are bundled in this skill. Do not require the user's vault, a global config folder, or a specific agent harness for normal use.

**Workflow Files:**
```
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-pipeline.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase1-strategy.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase2-packaging.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase3-scripting.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase3.5-shorts.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase4-production.md
<skill-root>/resources/youtube-phase5-repurposing.md
```

**Knowledge And Prompts:**
```
<skill-root>/resources/knowledge/
<skill-root>/resources/prompts/
```

**Automation Scripts (Phase 1):**
```
<skill-root>/scripts/parse_yt_studio.ps1
<skill-root>/scripts/google-trends/search.js
```

---

## Phase 1 Automation Tools

### YouTube Studio HTML Parser
Extracts topics and volume indicators from YouTube Studio's Inspiration tab.

**User Workflow:**
1. Go to YouTube Studio → Inspiration → Search topic
2. Right-click results → Inspect → Find `<yta-section id="top-section">`
3. Right-click → Copy → Copy outerHTML
4. Paste into `.html` file

**Agent Command:**
```powershell
$SkillRoot = "<path-to-installed-youtube-pipeline-skill>"
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File (Join-Path $SkillRoot "scripts/parse_yt_studio.ps1") -InputFile "topic.html" -OutputFile "parsed.md"
```

### Google Trends Research
Google Trends validation is required. This skill bundles the local `google-trends` Node CLI so agents can run trends checks without relying on a separate global skill install.

**First-Time Setup:**
```powershell
$SkillRoot = "<path-to-installed-youtube-pipeline-skill>"
$TrendRoot = Join-Path $SkillRoot "scripts/google-trends"
Push-Location $TrendRoot
pnpm install
Pop-Location
```

**Agent Command:**
```powershell
$SkillRoot = "<path-to-installed-youtube-pipeline-skill>"
node (Join-Path $SkillRoot "scripts/google-trends/search.js") -k "Claude Cowork" -p youtube -t "now 7-d"
```

If Node dependencies are unavailable, use the manual Google Trends workflow in `resources/youtube-phase1-strategy.md`. Do not assume a Gemini, Codex, Pi, or other harness-specific path.

## How to Use This Skill

### Option 1: Full Pipeline
Invoke `/youtube-pipeline` and follow the prompts. The orchestrator will:
1. Ask where you're starting
2. Chain through all 6 phases
3. Track state across phases

### Option 2: Single Phase
Jump directly to any phase:
- `/youtube-phase1-strategy` — Just need a topic (uses 3-source validation)
- `/youtube-phase2-packaging` — Just need title/thumbnail
- `/youtube-phase3-scripting` — Just need a script
- `/youtube-phase3.5-shorts` — Create 6 Shorts from a video
- `/youtube-phase4-production` — Just need production guidance
- `/youtube-phase5-repurposing` — Distribute to a