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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Summarize URLs and Files agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The summarize skill gives an AI agent the ability to run a command-line tool called summarize, which reads a web link, a local file such as a PDF, or a YouTube video and returns a short or detailed summary. It is useful for anyone who wants quick summaries of long articles, reports or videos, or a best-effort transcript of a YouTube video. This guide explains what agent skills are in practice, how to install this one, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before using it on sensitive material.

Summarize URLs and Filessipeed/picoclaw · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install the summarize CLI. Install the summarize tool with the Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize.
  2. 2Get an API key. Obtain a key from one AI provider: OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI or Google.
  3. 3Set the environment variable. Export the matching key, such as OPENAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY, in your shell.
  4. 4Install the skill. Unzip the downloaded ZIP and place the summarize folder in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
  5. 5Test the command. Run summarize on a URL or file to confirm the tool works before asking the agent.
  6. 6Ask in plain language. Request a summary or transcript using a trigger phrase such as “summarize this URL/article”.

What is the summarize skill and what does it make the agent do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that tells an AI agent when to use a particular tool and how to use it. The summarize skill is one such folder. Its SKILL.md describes a fast command-line tool called summarize, which works on URLs, local files and YouTube links.

Once the skill is installed, the agent knows to reach for that tool when you ask it to summarize something or explain what a link or video is about. The skill also tells the agent which flags to pass and which API keys are needed for the AI model that writes the summary.

  • Summarize a web article or other URL
  • Summarize a local file such as a PDF
  • Summarize a YouTube video, or try to extract its transcript
  • Choose a short, medium or long summary

Install the summarize CLI

The skill needs the summarize command-line tool on your computer. The skill's metadata lists a Homebrew install using the formula steipete/tap/summarize, so on a system with Homebrew you can install it from that formula.

The skill also requires an API key for one AI provider. Set the key for the provider you plan to use before you start.

  • Requires the summarize CLI (Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize)
  • Requires one API key: OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, XAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY
  • Optional: FIRECRAWL_API_KEY for blocked sites
  • Optional: APIFY_API_TOKEN for the YouTube fallback
brew install steipete/tap/summarize

Install the skill: download, unzip or upload

Download the ZIP for the summarize skill from this page and unzip it. Then place the summarize folder in one of these locations, depending on how you use your agent.

For a personal setup, put it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, put it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, if you use the Claude apps, you can upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills instead of copying files manually.

  • Personal: ~/.claude/skills/summarize/
  • Project only: .claude/skills/summarize/ inside your project
  • Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
~/.claude/skills/summarize/SKILL.md

How do you trigger the skill with natural requests?

You do not need special syntax. The skill is meant to be used when you ask in ordinary language. The source lists trigger phrases such as “use summarize.sh”, “what’s this link/video about?”, “summarize this URL/article”, and “transcribe this YouTube/video”.

If a request is long or the transcript is very large, the skill tells the agent to return a tight summary first and then ask which section or time range you want expanded.

  • “Summarize this URL: [link]”
  • “What’s this video about? [YouTube link]”
  • “Transcribe this YouTube video” (best-effort)
  • “use summarize.sh” on this file: [path]

Run the command directly

You can also run the tool yourself to check that it works before asking the agent. The default model is google/gemini-3-flash-preview if you do not set one. The --length flag accepts short, medium, long, xl, xxl or a character count.

To get only a transcript of a YouTube video, add --extract-only. This works on URLs only, not on local files, and the source describes transcript extraction as best-effort.

  • --length short|medium|long|xl|xxl|<chars>
  • --max-output-tokens <count>
  • --extract-only (URLs only)
  • --json (machine readable output)
  • --firecrawl auto|off|always (fallback extraction)
  • --youtube auto (uses Apify fallback if APIFY_API_TOKEN is set)
summarize "https://example.com" --model google/gemini-3-flash-preview summarize "/path/to/file.pdf" --model google/gemini-3-flash-preview summarize "https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ" --youtube auto summarize "https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ" --youtube auto --extract-only

Set your API key and optional config

Set the API key for the provider you chose. The source lists these variables: OpenAI uses OPENAI_API_KEY, Anthropic uses ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, xAI uses XAI_API_KEY, and Google uses GEMINI_API_KEY (aliases GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY and GOOGLE_API_KEY).

You can set a default model in an optional config file at ~/.summarize/config.json. The source gives this example, which selects an OpenAI model.

  • OpenAI: OPENAI_API_KEY
  • Anthropic: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
  • xAI: XAI_API_KEY
  • Google: GEMINI_API_KEY (aliases GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY)
{ "model": "openai/gpt-5.4" }

Safety notes: scripts, network and sensitive content

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. Content you summarize is sent to the AI provider you configure, and possibly to Firecrawl or Apify when those services are used. The skill does not describe how data is handled, so do not assume privacy.

Do not use this skill on confidential or sensitive documents. It also needs internet access and a model API, so it will not work offline.

  • Content is sent to a third-party AI provider
  • Firecrawl or Apify may receive content if their options are used
  • Transcripts are best-effort, so verify important quotes against the video
  • Needs internet access and a model API key

What people use it for

  • Summarizing a long article or report before deciding whether to read it in full
  • Getting the gist of a YouTube video without watching it
  • Extracting a best-effort transcript of a YouTube video to search for a quote
  • Summarizing a local PDF file such as a report you already have on disk

Frequently asked questions

Is the summarize skill free?

The skill is published under the MIT licence. The AI provider API you connect to may charge for usage, and the source does not state prices, so check your provider's terms.

What do I need to use the summarize agent skill?

You need the summarize CLI, installable with the Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize, and an API key for one AI provider: OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI or Google. Internet access is also required.

Does this work offline?

No. The tool needs internet access and a model API to produce a summary, so offline use is not supported.

How do I get a YouTube transcript without yt-dlp?

Run summarize with a YouTube URL and the --extract-only flag, or ask the agent to transcribe the video. The skill notes that yt-dlp is not needed, but transcript extraction is best-effort, so results may be incomplete.

Where do I put the skill folder?

Place it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder. In the Claude apps you can upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

Can I use this for confidential documents?

The source does not describe how data is handled, and content is sent to a third-party AI provider, so the skill is not suitable for confidential or sensitive documents.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you regularly need quick summaries of articles, reports or videos and already have an API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI or Google. Pick something else if you work with confidential material, need guaranteed-accurate transcripts, or need to work offline.

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