VideoDB Monitoring

SKILL.md

---
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:

```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**:
   ```
   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 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":
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