Installs and verifies development dependencies like Homebrew, Python, and FFmpeg for ButterCut.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/setup && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/222" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/setup && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/setup

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

Sets up a Mac for ButterCut. Installs all required dependencies (Homebrew, Ruby, Python, FFmpeg, WhisperX). Use when user says "install buttercut", "set up my mac", "get started", "first time setup", "install dependencies" or "check my installation".
250 chars✓ has a “when” trigger
Beginner

Key capabilities

  • Check existing Mac environment for ButterCut dependencies
  • Install Homebrew, Ruby, Python, FFmpeg, and WhisperX
  • Verify installation health using specific commands
  • Offer simple and advanced installation paths

How it works

The skill runs a series of diagnostic checks for required software versions and dependencies, then guides the user through an installation process based on their preference.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
User request to install or check ButterCut
You get back
A configured development environment or status report

When to use setup

  • Setting up ButterCut for the first time
  • Installing dependencies on a new Mac
  • Verifying environment health for ButterCut

About this skill

Skill: Mac Setup

Sets up a Mac for ButterCut. Two installation paths available based on user preference.

Step 1: Check Current State

Run each check below. Each command exits 0 when the dependency is present. Note which ones fail — that's what setup needs to install.

  • Xcode CLI Toolsxcode-select -p (fix: xcode-select --install)
  • Homebrewwhich brew (fix: see https://brew.sh)
  • Ruby 3.3.xruby --version | grep -q 'ruby 3\.3' (fix: install Ruby 3.3.6, see .ruby-version)
  • Bundlerwhich bundle (fix: gem install bundler)
  • Python 3.12.xpython3 --version | grep -q 'Python 3\.12' (fix: install Python 3.12.8, see .python-version)
  • FFmpegwhich ffmpeg (fix: see FFmpeg install in the setup file below — must be the homebrew-ffmpeg/ffmpeg tap build)
  • FFmpeg drawtext filterffmpeg -hide_banner -filters 2>/dev/null | grep -q ' drawtext ' (fix: the stock brew install ffmpeg formula often omits drawtext; replace it with the homebrew-ffmpeg/ffmpeg tap build — see setup file)
  • WhisperXwhich whisperx || test -x ~/.buttercut/whisperx || test -x ~/.buttercut/venv/bin/whisperx (fix: see setup steps below)
  • Gems installedbundle check (fix: bundle install in buttercut directory)

If everything passes, tell the user they're ready to go and stop.

Step 2: Ask User Preference

If dependencies are missing, use AskUserQuestion:

Question: "How would you like to install ButterCut?"
Header: "Install type"
Options:
  1. "Simple (recommended)" - "Fully automatic setup. We'll install everything for you using sensible defaults."
  2. "Advanced" - "For developers who want control. You manage Ruby/Python versions with your preferred tools."

Step 3: Run Appropriate Setup

Based on user choice:

  • Simple: Read and follow skills/setup/simple-setup.md
  • Advanced: Read and follow skills/setup/advanced-setup.md

Step 4: Verify Installation

After setup completes, re-run the checklist from Step 1 and report results to the user.

Step 5: Ask About Error Reports

Only if ruby lib/buttercut/report.rb consent prints error_reporting=unset — otherwise this user has already answered, so leave it alone.

Ask the two questions in skills/report-bug/SKILL.md (step 2), worded for a fresh install rather than a crash: "ButterCut sometimes hits errors. Want me to send those to the team so they can fix them?" Save the answers by setting error_reporting: and error_report_email: in libraries/settings.yaml.

Keep it to those two questions and move on — it's the last thing standing between them and their first cut.

When not to use it

  • When the user is not setting up ButterCut on a Mac

Limitations

  • Requires manual intervention for some installation steps
  • Limited to Mac environments

How it compares

It automates the validation of specific versions and build requirements, such as the FFmpeg drawtext filter, which standard installers often miss.

Compared to similar skills

setup side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
setup (this skill)121moNo flagsBeginner
resources12moReviewIntermediate
agent-manager-skill16moReviewBeginner
openrouter-team-setup026dCautionAdvanced

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