YouTube Q&A

Workflow

1. Extract the YouTube URL from the user's message. Supported formats:

   • youtube.com/watch?v=ID
   • youtu.be/ID
   • youtube.com/embed/ID, /shorts/ID, /live/ID
   • m.youtube.com/watch?v=ID
   • Bare 11-character video ID

2. Fetch the transcript using the appropriate run method above. Add --lang <code> if the user requests a specific language (e.g., --lang es). Add --translate <code> to translate the transcript to a different language.

3. If the fetch fails, read the error message:

   • No transcript in requested language: Run the list command to show available languages (same run method, replace fetch with list). Then re-fetch with the appropriate --lang flag, or use --translate if the user wants a specific output language.
   • Transcripts disabled: Tell the user that the video owner has disabled captions.
   • Import error: Tell the user to install the package.
   • Other errors: Relay the error message clearly.

4. Answer the user's question based on the transcript. If no specific question was asked, provide a brief summary and invite questions.

Answering Questions

Answer in your own words based on what the transcript says. Keep it concise and natural.

• Do not include timestamps unless the user explicitly asks for them.
• Do not quote the transcript unless the user explicitly asks for quotes.
• Skip ads, sponsor reads, and promotional segments — focus only on the actual content of the video.
• For summary requests: Provide a clear, structured overview of the main points. Use the Pareto Principle mindset — focus on the content that matters most.
• For specific questions: Answer directly based on what the speaker said.
• Auto-generated transcripts may contain errors — especially with technical terms, proper nouns, and non-native speakers. Use judgment to correct obvious transcription mistakes silently.

Language Handling

• The script defaults to English (en).
• Pass --lang <code> for other languages. Multiple codes can be comma-separated in priority order: --lang es,en tries Spanish first, falls back to English.
• Use --translate <code> to translate a transcript into a different language using YouTube's built-in translation (only works if the source transcript is marked as translatable).

Error Reference