youtube-search-api-skill

What This Skill Does

The YouTube Search API Skill is a robust data extraction tool designed for OpenClaw agents, leveraging the BrowserAct infrastructure to scrape structured YouTube search results. Unlike standard web scraping methods that can be slow or prone to breakage, this skill utilizes a pre-configured template to directly parse video metadata—such as titles, view counts, upload dates, and channel information—without the need for actual browser rendering. It bypasses common hurdles like reCAPTCHA, geo-restrictions, and IP rate-limiting, providing a cost-effective, high-speed solution for gathering intelligence from YouTube at scale. Whether you need a small batch of specific video data or a comprehensive list of content creators within a niche, this tool delivers clean, machine-readable data directly into your workflow.

Installation

To install this skill, use the OpenClaw command-line interface. Run the following command in your terminal: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/ccmagia2-gif/youtube-search-api-skill Ensure you have configured your BROWSERACT_API_KEY in your environment variables before attempting to run the skill, as the agent is programmed to halt and request this key if it is missing.

Use Cases

This skill is ideal for professionals and researchers looking to automate competitive intelligence and content strategy. Common use cases include:

• Market Research: Extracting view counts and engagement metrics for specific keywords to identify trending topics.
• Content Curation: Compiling lists of relevant tutorials or educational content for learning paths.
• Competitor Analysis: Discovering new creators and analyzing channel growth patterns within a specific industry.
• Trend Monitoring: Tracking the latest YouTube Shorts or playlists for ongoing content trends.

Example Prompts

1. "Search for the latest 20 tutorials on 'Python automation' and list the results."
2. "Find me the top 50 YouTube channels focused on sustainable living for my research project."
3. "Look for recent YouTube Shorts related to 'AI news' and provide a summary of the titles found."

Tips & Limitations

• API Key Required: Without a valid BROWSERACT_API_KEY, the skill will not execute. Always verify your console configuration.
• Wait Times: Because the skill interacts with external services to bypass anti-bot measures, it may take several minutes to return results. Monitor the timestamped logs in your terminal to track progress.
• Parameter Configuration: Adjust the Video_type (Videos, Shorts, Channels, Playlists) and Date_limit to ensure you are receiving the exact subset of data you require for your analysis.