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notebooklm-skill

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CLAUDE.md
# notebooklm-skill

Use this skill to enable Claude Code to communicate directly with your Google NotebookLM notebooks. Query your uploaded documents and get source-grounded, citation-backed answers from Gemini. Features browser automation, library management, persistent authentication, and answers exclusively from your own knowledge base.

## Orchestration instructions (chief)

<div align="center">

# NotebookLM Claude Code Skill

**Let [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) chat directly with NotebookLM for source-grounded answers based exclusively on your uploaded documents**

[![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3.8+-blue.svg)](https://www.python.org/)
[![Claude Code Skill](https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude%20Code-Skill-purple.svg)](https://www.anthropic.com/news/skills)
[![Based on](https://img.shields.io/badge/Based%20on-NotebookLM%20MCP-green.svg)](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)
[![GitHub](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill?style=social)](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill)

> Use this skill to query your Google NotebookLM notebooks directly from Claude Code for source-grounded, citation-backed answers from Gemini. Browser automation, library management, persistent auth. Drastically reduced hallucinations - answers only from your uploaded documents.

[Installation](#installation) • [Quick Start](#quick-start) • [Why NotebookLM](#why-notebooklm-not-local-rag) • [How It Works](#how-it-works) • [MCP Alternative](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)

</div>

---

## ⚠️ Important: Local Claude Code Only

**This skill works ONLY with local [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) installations, NOT in the web UI.**

The web UI runs skills in a sandbox without network access, which this skill requires for browser automation. You must use [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) locally on your machine.

---

## The Problem

When you tell [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) to "search through my local documentation", here's what happens:
- **Massive token consumption**: Searching through documentation means reading multiple files repeatedly
- **Inaccurate retrieval**: Searches for keywords, misses context and connections between docs
- **Hallucinations**: When it can't find something, it invents plausible-sounding APIs
- **Manual copy-paste**: Switching between NotebookLM browser and your editor constantly

## The Solution

This Claude Code Skill lets [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) chat directly with [**NotebookLM**](https://notebooklm.google/) — Google's **source-grounded knowledge base** powered by Gemini 2.5 that provides intelligent, synthesized answers exclusively from your uploaded documents.

```
Your Task → Claude asks NotebookLM → Gemini synthesizes answer → Claude writes correct code
```

**No more copy-paste dance**: Claude asks questions directly and gets answers straight back in the CLI. It builds deep understanding through automatic follow-ups, getting specific implementation details, edge cases, and best practices.

---

## Why NotebookLM, Not Local RAG?

| Approach | Token Cost | Setup Time | Hallucinations | Answer Quality |
|----------|------------|------------|----------------|----------------|
| **Feed docs to Claude** | 🔴 Very high (multiple file reads) | Instant | Yes - fills gaps | Variable retrieval |
| **Web search** | 🟡 Medium | Instant | High - unreliable sources | Hit or miss |
| **Local RAG** | 🟡 Medium-High | Hours (embeddings, chunking) | Medium - retrieval gaps | Depends on setup |
| **NotebookLM Skill** | 🟢 Minimal | 5 minutes | **Minimal** - source-grounded only | Expert synthesis |

### What Makes NotebookLM Superior?

1. **Pre-processed by Gemini**: Upload docs once, get instant expert knowledge
2. **Natural language Q&A**: Not just retrieval — actual understanding and synthesis
3. **Multi-source correlation**: Connects information across 50+ documents
4. **Citation-backed**: Every answer includes source references
5. **No infrastructure**: No vector DBs, embeddings, or chunking strategies needed

---

## Installation

### The simplest installation ever:

```bash
# 1. Create skills directory (if it doesn't exist)
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills

# 2. Clone this repository
cd ~/.claude/skills
git clone https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill notebooklm

# 3. That's it! Open Claude Code and say:
"What are my skills?"
```

When you first use the skill, it automatically:
- Creates an isolated Python environment (`.venv`)
- Installs all dependencies including **Google Chrome**
- Sets up browser automation with Chrome (not Chromium) for maximum reliability
- Everything stays contained in the skill folder

**Note:** The setup uses real Chrome instead of Chromium for cross-platform reliability, consistent browser fingerprinting, and better anti-detection with Google services

---

## Quick Start

### 1. Check your skills

Say in Claude Code:
```
"What skills do I have?"
```

Claude will list your available skills including NotebookLM.

### 2. Authenticate with Google (one-time)

```
"Set up NotebookLM authentication"
```
*A Chrome window opens → log in with your Google account*

### 3. Create your knowledge base

Go to [notebooklm.google.com](https://notebooklm.google.com) → Create notebook → Upload your docs:
- 📄 PDFs, Google Docs, markdown files
- 🔗 Websites, GitHub repos
- 🎥 YouTube videos
- 📚 Multiple sources per notebook

Share: **⚙️ Share → Anyone with link → Copy**

### 4. Add to your library

**Option A: Let Claude figure it out (Smart Add)**
```
"Query this notebook about its content and add it to my library: [your-link]"
```
Claude will automatically query the notebook to discover its content, then add it with appropriate metadata.

**Option B: Manual add**
```
"Add this NotebookLM to my library: [your-link]"
```
Claude will ask for a name and topics, then save it for future use.

### 5. Start researching

```
"What does my React docs say about hooks?"
```

Claude automatically selects the right notebook and gets the answer directly from NotebookLM.

---

## How It Works

This is a **Claude Code Skill** - a local folder containing instructions and scripts that Claude Code can use when needed. Unlike the [MCP server version](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp), this runs directly in Claude Code without needing a separate server.

### Key Differences from MCP Server

| Feature | This Skill | MCP Server |
|---------|------------|------------|
| **Protocol** | Claude Skills | Model Context Protocol |
| **Installation** | Clone to `~/.claude/skills` | `claude mcp add ...` |
| **Sessions** | Fresh browser each question | Persistent chat sessions |
| **Compatibility** | Claude Code only (local) | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, etc. |
| **Language** | Python | TypeScript |
| **Distribution** | Git clone | npm package |

### Architecture

```
~/.claude/skills/notebooklm/
├── SKILL.md              # Instructions for Claude
├── scripts/              # Python automation scripts
│   ├── ask_question.py   # Query NotebookLM
│   ├── notebook_manager.py # Library management
│   └── auth_manager.py   # Google authentication
├── .venv/                # Isolated Python environment (auto-created)
└── data/                 # Local notebook library
```

When you mention NotebookLM or send a notebook URL, Claude:
1. Loads the skill instructions
2. Runs the appropriate Python script
3. Opens a browser, asks your question
4. Returns the answer directly to you
5. Uses that knowledge to help with your task

---

## Core Features

### **Source-Grounded Responses**
NotebookLM significantly reduces hallucinations by answering exclusively from your uploaded documents. If information isn't available, it indicates uncertainty rather than inventing content.

### **Direct Integration**
No copy-paste between browser and editor. Claude asks and receives answers programmatically.

### **Smart Library Management**
Save NotebookLM links with tags and descriptions. Claude auto-selects the right notebook for your task.

### **Automatic Authentication**
One-time Google login, then authentication persists across sessions.

### **Self-Contained**
Everything runs in the skill folder with an isolated Python environment. No globa

## Roles
(no agents yet)

## Workflow
- **Chief:** notebooklm-skill — splits tasks and delegates.

## Coordination / communication
-