Overview

Records the Mac screen for a specified duration and saves the video to ~/Downloads as a .mov file. This is ideal for quick screen captures, QuickTime-style recordings, or brief demo videos requested by users.

How This Skill Works

Use the helper script: scripts/record_screen.sh --seconds <N>. The script records via screencapture -V, saves the file to ~/Downloads with a timestamped name screen-recording-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.mov, and then automatically opens in QuickTime Player for review.

When to Use It

• When a user asks to record the screen for a short duration
• To create a QuickTime-style screen recording for sharing
• To capture a brief UI demonstration or tutorial (N seconds)
• For troubleshooting or bug reports with a visual clip
• To provide a reproducible visual reference to teammates or support

Quick Start

1. Step 1: Run scripts/record_screen.sh --seconds 10
2. Step 2: Wait for completion; the file saves to ~/Downloads as screen-recording-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.mov
3. Step 3: The recording opens in QuickTime Player automatically

Best Practices

• Specify a duration with --seconds <N> that fits the content (e.g., 5–15 seconds for demos)
• Verify the video is saved in ~/Downloads with the timestamped filename
• Review the recording in QuickTime immediately to confirm framing and content
• Avoid revealing sensitive information in the recording
• For longer content, split into multiple short recordings

Example Use Cases

• Record a 10-second demo showing how to enable a feature
• Capture a 12-second bug reproduction video for a bug report
• Create an 8-second onboarding clip demonstrating a common task
• Share a quick UI walkthrough with teammates
• Provide a short troubleshooting video for customer support

Frequently Asked Questions