--- name: asciinema-player-4df391719170 description: Play .cast terminal recordings in iTerm2 with full CLI controls. TRIGGERS - asciinema, .cast file, terminal recording, play cast, recording playback, play recording. Uses AskUserQuestion for speed/options selection, spawns clean iTerm2 window via AppleScript. allowed-tools: Read, Bash, Glob, AskUserQuestion --- # asciinema-player Play terminal session recordings (.cast files) in a dedicated iTerm2 window with full playback controls. Opens a **clean window** (bypasses default arrangements) for distraction-free viewing. > **Platform**: macOS only (requires iTerm2) --- ## Why iTerm2 Instead of Browser? | Aspect | Browser Player | iTerm2 CLI | | -------------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------- | | Large files (>100MB) | Crashes (memory limit) | Streams from disk | | Memory usage | 2-4GB for 700MB file | Minimal | | Startup time | Slow (download + parse) | Instant | | Native feel | Web-based | True terminal | **Decision**: iTerm2 CLI is the only reliable method for large recordings. --- ## Requirements | Component | Required | Installation | | ----------------- | -------- | ---------------------------- | | **iTerm2** | Yes | `brew install --cask iterm2` | | **asciinema CLI** | Yes | `brew install asciinema` | > **Note**: This skill is macOS-only. Linux users should run `asciinema play` directly in their terminal. --- ## Workflow Phases (ALL MANDATORY) **IMPORTANT**: All phases are MANDATORY. Do NOT skip any phase. AskUserQuestion MUST be used at each decision point. ### Phase 0: Preflight Checks **Purpose**: Verify iTerm2 and asciinema are installed. #### Step 0.1: Check Dependencies ```bash # Check iTerm2 is installed ls -d /Applications/iTerm.app 2>/dev/null && echo "iTerm2: OK" || echo "iTerm2: MISSING" # Check asciinema CLI which asciinema && asciinema --version ``` #### Step 0.2: Report Status and Ask for Installation **MANDATORY AskUserQuestion** if any dependency is missing: ``` Question: "Required dependencies are missing. Install them?" Header: "Setup" Options: - Label: "Install all (Recommended)" Description: "Will install: {list of missing: iTerm2, asciinema}" - Label: "Cancel" Description: "Abort - cannot proceed without dependencies" ``` #### Step 0.3: Install Missing Dependencies (if confirmed) ```bash # Install iTerm2 brew install --cask iterm2 # Install asciinema CLI brew install asciinema ``` --- ### Phase 1: File Selection (MANDATORY) **Purpose**: Discover and select the recording to play. #### Step 1.1: Discover Recordings ```bash # Search for .cast files in common locations fd -e cast . --max-depth 5 2>/dev/null | head -20 # Also check common locations ls -lh ~/scripts/tmp/*.cast 2>/dev/null ls -lh ~/.local/share/asciinema/*.cast 2>/dev/null ls -lh ./tmp/*.cast 2>/dev/null ``` #### Step 1.2: Get File Info ```bash # Get file size and line count for selected file ls -lh {file_path} wc -l {file_path} ``` #### Step 1.3: Present File Selection (MANDATORY AskUserQuestion) **If user provided path directly**, confirm: ``` Question: "Play this recording?" Header: "Confirm" Options: - Label: "Yes, play {filename}" Description: "{size}, {line_count} events" - Label: "Choose different file" Description: "Browse for other recordings" ``` **If no path provided**, discover and present options: ``` Question: "Which recording would you like to play?" Header: "Recording" Options: - Label: "{filename} ({size})" Description: "{line_count} events" - ... (up to 4 most recent) ``` --- ### Phase 2: Playback Settings (MANDATORY) **Purpose**: Configure playback options before launching iTerm2. #### Step 2.1: Ask Playback Speed (MANDATORY AskUserQuestion) ``` Question: "Select playback speed:" Header: "Speed" Options: - Label: "2x (fast)" Description: "Good for review, see everything" - Label: "6x (very fast)" Description: "Quick scan of long sessions" - Label: "16x (ultra fast)" Description: "Rapid skim for 700MB+ files" - Label: "Custom" Description: "Enter your own speed multiplier" ``` **If "Custom" selected**, ask for speed value (use Other option for numeric input). #### Step 2.2: Ask Additional Options (MANDATORY AskUserQuestion) ``` Question: "Select additional playback options:" Header: "Options" multiSelect: true Options: - Label: "Limit idle time (2s)" Description: "Cap pauses to 2 seconds max (recommended)" - Label: "Loop playback" Description: "Restart automatically when finished" - Label: "Resize terminal" Description: "Match terminal size to recording dimensions" - Label: "Pause on markers" Description: "Auto-pause at marked points (for demos)" ``` --- ### Phase 3: Launch in iTerm2 **Purpose**: Open clean iTerm2 window and start playback. #### Step 3.1: Build Command Construct the `asciinema play` command based on user selections: ```bash # Example with all options asciinema play -s 6 -i 2 -l -r /path/to/recording.cast ``` **Option flags:** - `-s {speed}` - Playback speed - `-i 2` - Idle time limit (if selected) - `-l` - Loop (if selected) - `-r` - Resize terminal (if selected) - `-m` - Pause on markers (if selected) #### Step 3.2: Launch iTerm2 Window Use AppleScript to open a **clean window** (bypasses default arrangements): ```bash osascript -e 'tell application "iTerm2" create window with default profile tell current window tell current session write text "asciinema play -s {speed} {options} {file_path}" end tell end tell end tell' ``` #### Step 3.3: Display Controls Reference ```markdown ## Playback Started **Recording:** `{filename}` **Speed:** {speed}x **Options:** {options_summary} ### Keyboard Controls | Key | Action | | -------- | --------------------------------- | | `Space` | Pause / Resume | | `Ctrl+C` | Stop playback | | `.` | Step forward (when paused) | | `]` | Skip to next marker (when paused) | ### Tips - Press `Space` to pause anytime - Use `.` to step through frame by frame - `Ctrl+C` to exit when done ``` --- ## TodoWrite Task Template (MANDATORY) **Load this template into TodoWrite before starting**: ``` 1. [Preflight] Check iTerm2 installed 2. [Preflight] Check asciinema CLI installed 3. [Preflight] AskUserQuestion: install missing deps (if needed) 4. [Preflight] Install dependencies (if confirmed) 5. [Selection] Get file info (size, events) 6. [Selection] AskUserQuestion: confirm file selection 7. [Settings] AskUserQuestion: playback speed 8. [Settings] AskUserQuestion: additional options (multi-select) 9. [Launch] Build asciinema play command 10. [Launch] Execute AppleScript to open iTerm2 11. [Launch] Display controls reference ``` --- ## CLI Options Reference | Option | Flag | Values | Description | | ---------- | ---- | ------------------- | -------------------------------- | | Speed | `-s` | 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 16... | Playback speed multiplier | | Idle limit | `-i` | seconds (e.g., 2) | Cap idle/pause time | | Loop | `-l` | (flag) | Continuous loop | | Resize | `-r` | (flag) | Match terminal to recording size | | Markers | `-m` | (flag) | Auto-pause at markers | | Quiet | `-q` | (flag) | Suppress info messages | --- ## AppleScript Reference ### Open Clean iTerm2 Window (No Default Arrangement) ```applescript tell application "iTerm2" create window with default profile tell current window tell current session write text "your command here" end tell end tell end tell ``` **Why this works**: `create window with default profile` creates a fresh window, bypassing any saved window arrangements. ### One-liner for Bash ```bash osascript -e 'tell application "iTerm2" create window with default profile tell current window tell current session write text "asciinema play -s 6 -i 2 /path/to/file.cast" end tell end tell end tell' ``` --- ## Troubleshooting ### "Device not configured" error **Cause**: Running `asciinema play` from a non-TTY context (e.g., Claude Code's Bash tool) **Fix**: Use AppleScript to open a real iTerm2 window (this skill does this automatically) ### Recording plays too fast/slow **Fix**: Use the speed AskUserQuestion to select appropriate speed: - 2x for careful review - 6x for quick scan - 16x for ultra-fast skim of very long recordings ### iTerm2 not opening **Cause**: iTerm2 not installed or AppleScript permissions not granted **Fix**: 1. Install iTerm2: `brew install --cask iterm2` 2. Grant permissions: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation → Allow Terminal/Claude to control iTerm2 ### Large file (>500MB) considerations The CLI player streams from disk, so file size doesn't cause memory issues. However: - Very long recordings may benefit from higher speeds (6x, 16x) - Use `-i 2` to skip idle time - Consider splitting very long recordings --- ## Post-Change Checklist After modifying this skill: 1. [ ] Preflight checks verify iTerm2 and asciinema 2. [ ] AskUserQuestion phases use proper multiSelect where applicable 3. [ ] AppleScript uses heredoc wrapper for bash compatibility 4. [ ] Speed options match CLI capability (-s flag) 5. [ ] TodoWrite template matches actual workflow phases --- ## Reference Documentation - [asciinema play Usage](https://docs.asciinema.org/manual/cli/usage/) - [asciinema CLI Options](https://man.archlinux.org/man/extra/asciinema/asciinema-play.1.en) - [iTerm2 AppleScript Documentation](https://iterm2.com/documentation-scripting.html) - [asciinema Markers](https://docs.asciinema.org/manual/cli/markers/) --- Source attribution: David-Li0406 Original project: https://github.com/David-Li0406/meta-skill-evloving/blob/ca3a335628981df10c36e00cb9850df2c247ab9a/skill-flow/data/skills-refined-36k/skillsmp/asciinema-player/SKILL.md License: Apache-2.0 License information: https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub. ## Upstream license notice Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004 http://www.apache.org/licenses/ TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE, REPRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION 1. Definitions. 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See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. # Mega AI Hub resource metadata Creator / publisher: David-Li0406 Original project: https://github.com/David-Li0406/meta-skill-evloving/blob/ca3a335628981df10c36e00cb9850df2c247ab9a/skill-flow/data/skills-refined-36k/skillsmp/asciinema-player/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Source repository record Fields of work: Development & Engineering Roles: Backend Developer, DevOps / SRE, Frontend Developer Specialties: Testing Tools: Asciinema, Iterm2 Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 00f4f55cf478ec8958f111a0d420d78b31b5de2748c3fd6e6b6237d39744650d