asciinema-recorder

Generate ready-to-copy commands for recording Claude Code sessions with asciinema. Dynamically creates filenames based on workspace and datetime.

Platform: macOS, Linux (requires asciinema CLI)

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Starting a new terminal recording session

• Creating demos or documentation recordings

• Capturing Claude Code sessions for review or sharing

• Generating workspace-specific recording filenames

Why This Skill?

This skill generates ready-to-copy recording commands with:

• Dynamic workspace-based filename

• Datetime stamp for uniqueness

• Saves to project's tmp/ folder (gitignored)

Requirements

Component Required Installation

asciinema CLI Yes brew install asciinema

Workflow Phases

Phase 0: Preflight Check

Purpose: Verify asciinema is installed.

Check asciinema CLI

which asciinema && asciinema --version

If asciinema is NOT installed, use AskUserQuestion:

• question: "asciinema not found. How would you like to proceed?" header: "Setup" multiSelect: false options:

• label: "Install asciinema (Recommended)" description: "Run: brew install asciinema (macOS) or apt install asciinema (Linux)"

• label: "Show manual instructions" description: "Display installation commands for all platforms"

• label: "Cancel" description: "Exit without recording"

Based on selection:

"Install asciinema" → Run appropriate install command based on OS:

macOS

brew install asciinema

Linux (apt)

sudo apt install asciinema

Linux (pip)

pip install asciinema

Then proceed to Phase 1.0.

"Show manual instructions" → Display the commands above, then exit skill.

"Cancel" → Exit skill without action.

Phase 1.0: Recording Location

Purpose: Let user choose where to save the recording.

Use AskUserQuestion:

• question: "Where should the recording be saved?" header: "Location" multiSelect: false options:

• label: "$PWD/tmp/ (Recommended)" description: "Project tmp directory (gitignored)"

• label: "~/asciinema/" description: "Global recordings directory"

• label: "Custom path" description: "Specify your own directory"

Based on selection:

• "$PWD/tmp/" → Set OUTPUT_DIR="$PWD/tmp"

• "~/asciinema/" → Set OUTPUT_DIR="$HOME/asciinema" and create if missing: mkdir -p ~/asciinema

• "Custom path" → Use user's "Other" input as OUTPUT_DIR

Phase 1.1: Recording Options

Purpose: Let user configure recording behavior.

Use AskUserQuestion:

• question: "Which recording options would you like?" header: "Options" multiSelect: true options:

• label: "Add title/description" description: "Include session title in recording metadata (-t flag)"

• label: "Disable idle time limit" description: "Keep full pauses instead of 2s max (--idle-time-limit 0)"

• label: "Quiet mode" description: "Suppress asciinema status messages (-q flag)"

Based on selections, build command flags:

• "Add title" → Continue to title selection question, add -t "title" flag

• "Disable idle time limit" → Add --idle-time-limit 0 flag

• "Quiet mode" → Add -q flag

If "Add title" was selected, follow up with:

• question: "Enter a title for this recording:" header: "Title" multiSelect: false options:

• label: "Use workspace name" description: "Title: ${WORKSPACE}"

• label: "Use workspace + datetime" description: "Title: ${WORKSPACE} ${DATETIME}"

• label: "Custom title" description: "Enter your own title"

Based on title selection:

• "Use workspace name" → Set TITLE="${WORKSPACE}"

• "Use workspace + datetime" → Set TITLE="${WORKSPACE} ${DATETIME}"

• "Custom title" → Use user's "Other" input as TITLE

Phase 1.2: Detect Context & Generate Command

Purpose: Generate a copy-paste ready recording command.

Step 1.2.1: Detect Workspace

Extract workspace name from $PWD :

/usr/bin/env bash << 'SKILL_SCRIPT_EOF' WORKSPACE=$(basename "$PWD") echo "Workspace: $WORKSPACE" SKILL_SCRIPT_EOF

Step 1.2.2: Generate Datetime

/usr/bin/env bash << 'SKILL_SCRIPT_EOF_2' DATETIME=$(date +%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M) echo "Datetime: $DATETIME" SKILL_SCRIPT_EOF_2

Step 1.2.3: Ensure Output Directory Exists

Create the output directory selected in Phase 1.0:

mkdir -p "${OUTPUT_DIR}"

Step 1.2.4: Construct Command

Build the recording command using:

• OUTPUT_DIR from Phase 1.0 (location selection)

• Flags from Phase 1.1 (options selection)

• TITLE if "Add title" was selected

Base command

CMD="asciinema rec"

Add flags from Phase 1.1 options

(Claude builds this based on user selections)

Final command format:

asciinema rec ${FLAGS} "${OUTPUT_DIR}/${WORKSPACE}_${DATETIME}.cast"

Example outputs:

Default (no options selected):

asciinema rec /home/user/projects/my-app/tmp/my-app_2025-12-21_14-30.cast

With title + quiet mode:

asciinema rec -t "my-app Demo" -q /home/user/projects/my-app/tmp/my-app_2025-12-21_14-30.cast

With all options:

asciinema rec -t "my-app 2025-12-21 14:30" -q --idle-time-limit 0 ~/asciinema/my-app_2025-12-21_14-30.cast

Phase 2: User Guidance

Purpose: Explain the recording workflow step-by-step.

Present these instructions:

Recording Instructions

1. Exit Claude Code - Type exit or press Ctrl+D
2. Copy the command shown above
3. Paste and run in your terminal (starts a recorded shell)
4. Run claude to start Claude Code inside the recording
5. Work normally - everything is captured
6. Exit Claude Code - Type exit or press Ctrl+D
7. Exit the recording shell - Type exit or press Ctrl+D again

Your recording will be saved to: $PWD/tmp/{workspace}_{datetime}.cast

Phase 3: Additional Info

Purpose: Provide helpful tips for after recording.

Tips

• Environment variable: ASCIINEMA_REC=1 is set during recording
• Playback: Use asciinema-player skill or asciinema play file.cast
• Upload (optional): asciinema upload file.cast (requires account)
• Markers: Add asciinema marker during recording for navigation points

TodoWrite Task Templates

Template: Record Claude Code Session

1. [Preflight] Check asciinema CLI installed
2. [Preflight] Offer installation if missing
3. [Context] Detect current workspace from $PWD
4. [Context] Generate datetime slug
5. [Context] Ensure tmp/ directory exists
6. [Command] Construct full recording command
7. [Guidance] Display step-by-step instructions
8. [Guidance] Show additional tips (playback, upload)
9. Verify against Skill Quality Checklist

Post-Change Checklist

After modifying this skill:

• Command generation still uses $PWD (no hardcoded paths)

• Guidance steps remain clear and platform-agnostic

• TodoWrite template matches actual workflow

• README.md entry remains accurate

• Validate with quick_validate.py

CLI Options Reference

Option Flag Description

Title -t

Recording title (for asciinema.org)

Quiet -q

Suppress status messages

Append -a

Append to existing recording

Troubleshooting

"Cannot record from within Claude Code"

Cause: asciinema must wrap the program, not be started from inside.

Fix: Exit Claude Code first, then run the generated command.

"Recording file too large"

Cause: Long sessions produce large files.

Fix:

• Use asciinema upload to store online instead of locally

• Split long sessions into smaller recordings

"Playback shows garbled output"

Cause: Terminal size mismatch.

Fix: Use -r flag during playback to resize terminal.

Reference Documentation

• asciinema CLI Documentation

• asciinema Markers