Vhs

Skill kpatryk/skills/skills/vhs

VHS terminal recording best practices from Charmbracelet (formerly charmbracelet-vhs). This skill should be used when writing, reviewing, or editing VHS tape files to create professional terminal GIFs and videos. Triggers on tasks involving .tape files, VHS configuration, terminal recording, demo creation, or CLI documentation.From its SKILL.md

Install

npx -y skills add kpatryk/skills --skill vhs

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SKILL.md

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Charmbracelet VHS Best Practices

Comprehensive best practices guide for VHS terminal recordings, maintained by Charmbracelet. Contains 47 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to guide creation of professional, portable, and optimized terminal demos.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

Writing new VHS tape files
Creating terminal demos for documentation
Setting up CI/CD for automated GIF generation
Optimizing recording file size and quality
Troubleshooting tape file issues
Reviewing tape files for best practices

Rule Categories by Priority

Priority	Category	Impact	Prefix
1	Configuration Structure	CRITICAL	`config-`
2	Dependency Management	CRITICAL	`deps-`
3	Command Syntax	HIGH	`cmd-`
4	Timing & Synchronization	HIGH	`timing-`
5	Output Optimization	MEDIUM-HIGH	`output-`
6	Visual Quality	MEDIUM	`visual-`
7	CI/Automation	MEDIUM	`ci-`
8	Advanced Patterns	LOW	`advanced-`

Quick Reference

1. Configuration Structure (CRITICAL)

config-settings-order - Place all settings before commands
config-output-first - Declare output at file start
config-shell-explicit - Explicitly set shell type
config-typing-speed-global - Set global TypingSpeed early
config-dimensions-explicit - Set explicit terminal dimensions
config-comments-document - Use comments to document tape structure

2. Dependency Management (CRITICAL)

deps-require-early - Use Require for dependency validation
deps-require-order - Place Require before settings
deps-require-all - Require all external commands
deps-system-requirements - Verify system dependencies

3. Command Syntax (HIGH)

cmd-type-syntax - Use correct Type command syntax
cmd-enter-explicit - Always follow Type with Enter
cmd-key-repeat - Use key repeat counts
cmd-ctrl-combinations - Use Ctrl combinations for terminal control
cmd-hide-show - Use Hide/Show for sensitive operations
cmd-env-variables - Use Env for environment variables
cmd-screenshot - Use Screenshot for static captures
cmd-multiline-type - Handle multiline commands properly

4. Timing & Synchronization (HIGH)

timing-sleep-after-enter - Add Sleep after commands for output
timing-wait-pattern - Use Wait for dynamic command completion
timing-type-speed-override - Override TypingSpeed for emphasis
timing-sleep-units - Use explicit time units
timing-final-sleep - End recordings with final Sleep
timing-natural-pauses - Add natural pauses between actions
timing-wait-timeout - Set appropriate Wait timeouts
timing-playback-speed - Use PlaybackSpeed for final adjustments

5. Output Optimization (MEDIUM-HIGH)

output-format-selection - Choose output format based on use case
output-framerate - Optimize framerate for file size
output-dimensions-optimize - Right-size terminal dimensions
output-loop-offset - Use LoopOffset for seamless loops
output-multiple-formats - Generate multiple output formats
output-relative-paths - Use relative paths for portability

6. Visual Quality (MEDIUM)

visual-font-readable - Choose readable font settings
visual-theme-selection - Select appropriate theme
visual-window-decoration - Add window decorations for polish
visual-spacing - Adjust letter and line spacing
visual-padding-margin - Use padding and margins effectively
visual-cursor-visibility - Ensure cursor visibility

7. CI/Automation (MEDIUM)

ci-github-action - Use official VHS GitHub Action
ci-auto-commit - Auto-commit generated assets
ci-golden-files - Use golden files for integration testing
ci-matrix-builds - Generate platform-specific demos
ci-caching - Cache VHS dependencies in CI

8. Advanced Patterns (LOW)

advanced-source-include - Use Source for reusable tape components
advanced-clipboard - Use Copy and Paste for complex input
advanced-recording-live - Record live sessions then edit
advanced-server-mode - Use server mode for remote access

How to Use

Read individual reference files for detailed explanations and code examples:

Section definitions - Category structure and impact levels
Rule template - Template for adding new rules

Reference Files

File	Description
AGENTS.md	Complete compiled guide with all rules
references/_sections.md	Category definitions and ordering
assets/templates/_template.md	Template for new rules
metadata.json	Version and reference information

What ships with it: 49 files

57.9 KB alongside SKILL.md

references/

README.md2.9 KB

9 more files not listed here. See all 49 in the repository.