Screencast

Record your screen to an MP4 video. Guided setup to pick what to record (full screen, specific window, or custom region), then start/stop recording on demand.

Prerequisites

• ffmpeg (required)

Script

All recording logic goes through the helper script bundled with this skill at scripts/screencast.js.

Locating the script:

if [[ -n "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR:-}" ]]; then
  SCREENCAST_JS="${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/screencast.js"
else
  SCREENCAST_JS="$(command -v screencast.js 2>/dev/null || \
    find ~/.claude -path "*/screencast/scripts/screencast.js" -type f 2>/dev/null | head -1)"
fi
if [[ -z "$SCREENCAST_JS" || ! -f "$SCREENCAST_JS" ]]; then
  echo "Error: screencast.js not found. Ask the user for the path." >&2
fi

Store in SCREENCAST_JS and use for all commands below.

Commands

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" deps                                  # Check ffmpeg + platform
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" list-screens                          # List available displays
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" list-windows                          # List open windows with geometry
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" start [flags]                         # Start recording
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" stop                                  # Stop recording
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" status                                # Check if recording
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" pick-window                          # macOS: click to select a window
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" pick-region                          # macOS: drag to select a region

Start flags:

• --screen <index> — display to record (default: 0 = main)
• --region <x,y,w,h> — crop to a specific rectangle
• --window <id> — record a specific window (resolves geometry)
• --fps <N> — frame rate (default: 30)
• --output <path> — output file (default: screencast_<timestamp>.mp4)

All commands return JSON output.

Workflow

Step 1: Check Dependencies

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" deps

macOS: terminal must have Screen Recording permission (System Settings > Privacy & Security).

If ffmpeg is missing, tell the user:

• macOS: brew install ffmpeg
• Linux: sudo apt install ffmpeg
• Windows: winget install ffmpeg or download from ffmpeg.org

Step 2: Choose What to Record

Check platform from the deps output.

On macOS, offer interactive selection (pick-window or pick-region) first.

If the user chooses interactive:

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" pick-window
# or
node "$SCREENCAST_JS" pick-region

Use the returned id with --window, or x,y,w,h with --region. If the picker returns {cancelled: true}, ask what they'd like to do instead.

On all platforms (or if the user prefers manual selection):

Ask the user what they want to record. Three options:

Full screen (default):

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" list-screens

Present the list. If only one screen, use it automatically. Note the screen dimensions for reference.

Specific window:

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" list-windows

Present a numbered list showing app name, window title, and dimensions. The user picks by number. Use the window's id field with the --window flag.

Custom region: The user provides coordinates as x,y,width,height. Offer the screen dimensions as reference: "Your main display is 2560x1440. Top-left is 0,0."

Step 3: Confirm and Start

Confirm the target, FPS, and output path before starting.

When the user says start:

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" start --window <id> --output <path>
# or: start --region <x,y,w,h> --output <path>
# or: start --screen <index> --output <path>

Confirm recording is active. The conversation continues normally while recording runs in the background.

Step 4: Stop Recording

When the user says "stop" or "stop recording":

node "$SCREENCAST_JS" stop

Report: file path, duration, and file size.

Edge Cases

• If the user starts a new conversation topic without stopping, check status and remind them recording is still active.
• If start reports a recording is already in progress, inform the user and offer to stop the existing one first.
• If stop finds a dead process, report it and note whether a partial file exists.

See the reference guide for macOS picker details, tips, and standalone installation.