summarize Skill (openclaw) for Claude: Summarize URLs, PDFs and YouTube

Has Claude run the summarize command-line tool to summarize or transcribe a link, PDF, local file or YouTube video.

Installs: 27K; on skills.sh
Stars: 393.6K; on GitHub
Updated: Nov 2026; last repo commit

This skill makes Claude run the summarize command-line tool whenever you ask what a link, video or file is about. The tool handles URLs, local files such as PDFs, and YouTube links, and it can print the extracted text or transcript instead of a summary.

It will not work until the summarize program is installed on your machine, and it needs an API key for the model provider you choose. SKILL.md says to trigger it for "use summarize.sh", "what's this link/video about?", "summarize this URL/article" and "transcribe this YouTube/video".

Good for

Anyone who pastes a link or video and asks "what is this about?"
Researchers who want a transcript or a short, medium or long summary of an article, podcast or PDF
Developers who already use the summarize.sh tool and want Claude to call it

Install summarize

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the summarize skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

npx skills add https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw --skill summarize

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Node.js.

The skill only calls the summarize program, so install that too. SKILL.md lists the Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize. Then set an API key for the model provider you want, for example OPENAI_API_KEY.

From the vendor's docs. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Summarize or transcribe URLs, YouTube/videos, podcasts, articles, transcripts, PDFs, and local files.

Sections in SKILL.md

When to use (trigger phrases)
Quick start
YouTube: summary vs transcript
Model + keys
Useful flags
Config

Key facts

Needs: The summarize CLI (Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize) and an API key for one model provider
License: MIT (as reported by GitHub for the openclaw repo)
What installs: 1 file, SKILL.md
Homepage: summarize.sh
Installs on skills.sh: 26,959 (Nov 2, 2026)
GitHub stars: 393,639 (Nov 2, 2026)
Last commit: 2026-11-01
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk warn

What it includes

Summarizes a web page, PDF or other local file
Runs the CLI on a URL or a file path and returns a summary using the default model, which is auto and can be set in config.
Try: “What is this article about? https://example.com”
Runs code · summarize <url or file>
Handles YouTube links, with an Apify fallback if a token is set
Summarizes a video from its transcript. If a transcript cannot be fetched the CLI can use Apify when APIFY_API_TOKEN is set.
Runs code · --youtube auto
Prints the extracted text or transcript with no model summary
SKILL.md calls the transcript best effort and says no yt-dlp is needed. If it is huge, Claude gives a tight summary first and asks which part to expand.
Try: “Transcribe this YouTube video https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ”
Runs code · --extract
Sets summary size (short to xxl or a character count) or JSON output
Length takes short, medium, long, xl, xxl or a number of characters.
--length, --max-output-tokens, --json
Uses Firecrawl for pages that block normal fetching
Needs FIRECRAWL_API_KEY. It is an optional service.
Network · --firecrawl auto|off|always
Optional file that sets the default model, e.g. openai/gpt-5.2
Without it the model is auto and the config may choose the provider.
Files · ~/.summarize/config.json

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

Summaries use a model provider you set a key for
SKILL.md has you set an API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI or Google to get a summary; only --extract skips the LLM summary. Do not point it at private documents unless that provider is acceptable. github.com
You must install a separate program first
SKILL.md lists the Homebrew formula steipete/tap/summarize for the summarize binary, a third-party tap. Check the formula before you install it. github.com
Optional keys add more services
FIRECRAWL_API_KEY and APIFY_API_TOKEN switch on Firecrawl and Apify as fallbacks. Leave them unset if you do not want those services used. github.com

Technical details

Talks to	The page, file or video you ask about, through the summarize CLI. The model provider whose key you set: OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI or Google. Optional: Firecrawl (FIRECRAWL_API_KEY) and Apify (APIFY_API_TOKEN)
Sign-in and keys	Keys are read from the environment variables OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, XAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY (aliases GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY and GOOGLE_API_KEY).
Scopes	Runs the summarize binary Reads files whose path you give it Optional config file ~/.summarize/config.json

Questions

What does the summarize skill do?

It makes Claude run the summarize CLI on a URL, a local file such as a PDF, or a YouTube link, and report back a summary or the extracted text.

How do I install it?

Use the install box above. It adds the skill and shows the Homebrew command for the summarize program the skill calls, which has to be installed separately.

Does it need an API key?

Yes, for the model provider. Set one of OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, XAI_API_KEY or GEMINI_API_KEY. FIRECRAWL_API_KEY and APIFY_API_TOKEN are optional extras.

Can it transcribe a YouTube video?

Yes, best effort. Use --youtube auto --extract to print the transcript. SKILL.md says yt-dlp is not needed, and an Apify token enables a fallback.

Which model does it use?

The default is auto, and a config file can choose the provider and model. SKILL.md gives openai/gpt-5.2 as the example setting in ~/.summarize/config.json.

Is it safe?

It needs care. It runs a separate program (installed from a third-party Homebrew tap) on your machine, and SKILL.md has you set a model provider API key. Do not use it on private files or links unless that provider is acceptable, and keep the keys in your environment.

Does it work in Codex or Cursor?

SKILL.md does not name any client. It only requires the summarize program on your PATH.

How long can the output be?

Set --length to short, medium, long, xl, xxl or a character count, and --max-output-tokens to cap the model output.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: openclaw/openclaw
Folder: skills/summarize

openclaw/openclaw skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

github.com · github.com
skills CLI commands · github.com
summarize on skills.sh · skills.sh