Play .cast terminal recordings in iTerm2 with full CLI controls. TRIGGERS - asciinema, .cast file, terminal recording, play cast, recording playback, play recording. Uses AskUserQuestion for speed/options selection, spawns clean iTerm2 window via AppleScript.
View on GitHubterrylica/cc-skills
asciinema-tools
January 25, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/terrylica/cc-skills/blob/main/plugins/asciinema-tools/skills/asciinema-player/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill asciinema-playerInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/asciinema-player/# asciinema-player
Play terminal session recordings (.cast files) in a dedicated iTerm2 window with full playback controls. Opens a **clean window** (bypasses default arrangements) for distraction-free viewing.
> **Platform**: macOS only (requires iTerm2)
---
## Why iTerm2 Instead of Browser?
| Aspect | Browser Player | iTerm2 CLI |
| -------------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------- |
| Large files (>100MB) | Crashes (memory limit) | Streams from disk |
| Memory usage | 2-4GB for 700MB file | Minimal |
| Startup time | Slow (download + parse) | Instant |
| Native feel | Web-based | True terminal |
**Decision**: iTerm2 CLI is the only reliable method for large recordings.
---
## Requirements
| Component | Required | Installation |
| ----------------- | -------- | ---------------------------- |
| **iTerm2** | Yes | `brew install --cask iterm2` |
| **asciinema CLI** | Yes | `brew install asciinema` |
> **Note**: This skill is macOS-only. Linux users should run `asciinema play` directly in their terminal.
---
## Workflow Phases (ALL MANDATORY)
**IMPORTANT**: All phases are MANDATORY. Do NOT skip any phase. AskUserQuestion MUST be used at each decision point.
### Phase 0: Preflight Checks
**Purpose**: Verify iTerm2 and asciinema are installed.
#### Step 0.1: Check Dependencies
```bash
# Check iTerm2 is installed
ls -d /Applications/iTerm.app 2>/dev/null && echo "iTerm2: OK" || echo "iTerm2: MISSING"
# Check asciinema CLI
which asciinema && asciinema --version
```
#### Step 0.2: Report Status and Ask for Installation
**MANDATORY AskUserQuestion** if any dependency is missing:
```
Question: "Required dependencies are missing. Install them?"
Header: "Setup"
Options:
- Label: "Install all (Recommended)"
Description: "Will install: {list of missing: iTerm2, asciinema}"
- Label: "Cancel"