gifgrep skill: install and search GIFs in Claude Code

Q: How to install gifgrep in Claude Code?

Install the binary first with `brew install steipete/tap/gifgrep`, then add the skill using `npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a claude-code`.

What gifgrep does

This skill connects your AI assistant to the gifgrep CLI. It queries Giphy and Tenor, outputs raw links or JSON metadata, and downloads animations directly into ~/Downloads. Terminal previews work out of the box in Kitty and Ghostty via the --thumbs flag.

Under the hood, it expects the gifgrep executable installed via Homebrew (steipete/tap/gifgrep) or Go. Queries to Tenor work immediately via a fallback demo key, while Giphy requires exporting GIPHY_API_KEY. The CLI also handles asset processing: gifgrep still captures a frame at a specific timestamp, and gifgrep sheet compiles multiple sampled frames into a single PNG grid.

Worth installing if you often attach visual demos to pull requests or documentation. Skip it if your project never touches media assets.

What it helps with

search Tenor or Giphy animations directly from the terminal
generate a PNG frame grid from a GIF for PR reviews or docs
extract a static PNG frame at a specific timestamp
download GIF files locally instead of relying on hotlinks

Example prompts for the agent

Search for cat gifs using gifgrep and download the top match
Generate a 9-frame contact sheet from clip.gif using gifgrep sheet
Get 5 gif URLs for office handshake with gifgrep

How to install gifgrep

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a claude-code

2Manually: put the files in place

~/.claude/skills/gifgrep/SKILL.md

Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/gifgrep/

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a codex

2Manually: put the files in place

.agents/skills/gifgrep/SKILL.md

For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a cursor

2Manually: put the files in place

.cursor/skills/gifgrep/SKILL.md

Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

1GitHub CLI

gh skill install openclaw/openclaw gifgrep

2Manually: put the files in place

.github/skills/gifgrep/SKILL.md

1Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a gemini-cli

2Platform CLI

gemini skills install https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw --path skills/gifgrep

Manually: put the files in place

.devin/skills/gifgrep/SKILL.md

The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

Skills CLI (Vercel)

npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a opencode

From the same set45

The whole set →

Questions about gifgrep

How to install gifgrep in Claude Code?

Install the binary first with brew install steipete/tap/gifgrep, then add the skill using npx skills add openclaw/openclaw --skill gifgrep -a claude-code.

What does gifgrep do?

It lets your coding agent find animations on Giphy and Tenor, save files locally, and extract static frames or contact sheets.

Does gifgrep require an API key?

Tenor works without configuration by using a built-in demo key. Searching Giphy requires setting the GIPHY_API_KEY environment variable.

Source text

SKILL.md · MIT

---
name: gifgrep
description: "Search GIF providers with CLI/TUI, download results, and extract stills/sheets."
homepage: https://gifgrep.com
metadata:
  {
    "openclaw":
      {
        "emoji": "🧲",
        "requires": { "bins": ["gifgrep"] },
        "install":
          [
            {
              "id": "brew",
              "kind": "brew",
              "formula": "steipete/tap/gifgrep",
              "bins": ["gifgrep"],
              "label": "Install gifgrep (brew)",
            },
            {
              "id": "go",
              "kind": "go",
              "module": "github.com/steipete/gifgrep/cmd/gifgrep@latest",
              "bins": ["gifgrep"],
              "label": "Install gifgrep (go)",
            },
          ],
      },
  }
---

# gifgrep

Use `gifgrep` to search GIF providers (Tenor/Giphy), browse in a TUI, download results, and extract stills or sheets.

GIF-Grab (gifgrep workflow)

- Search -> preview -> download -> extract (still/sheet) for fast review and sharing.

Quick start

- `gifgrep cats --max 5`
- `gifgrep cats --format url | head -n 5`
- `gifgrep search --json cats | jq '.[0].url'`
- `gifgrep tui "office handshake"`
- `gifgrep cats --download --max 1 --format url`

TUI + previews

- TUI: `gifgrep tui "query"`
- CLI still previews: `--thumbs` (Kitty/Ghostty only; still frame)

Download + reveal

- `--download` saves to `~/Downloads`
- `--reveal` shows the last download in Finder

Stills + sheets

- `gifgrep still ./clip.gif --at 1.5s -o still.png`
- `gifgrep sheet ./clip.gif --frames 9 --cols 3 -o sheet.png`
- Sheets = single PNG grid of sampled frames (great for quick review, docs, PRs, chat).
- Tune: `--frames` (count), `--cols` (grid width), `--padding` (spacing).

Providers

- `--source auto|tenor|giphy`
- `GIPHY_API_KEY` required for `--source giphy`
- `TENOR_API_KEY` optional (Tenor demo key used if unset)

Output

- `--json` prints an array of results (`id`, `title`, `url`, `preview_url`, `tags`, `width`, `height`)
- `--format` for pipe-friendly fields (e.g., `url`)

GIF asset hygiene

- Before recommending or using an animated GIF URL, verify it resolves successfully, has `Content-Type: image/gif`, and is actually animated (multiple frames or loop metadata; e.g. inspect with `file`, `identify`, or a small script).
- Record attribution/license/source URL alongside the asset.
- Do not hotlink when a local asset is needed: download/copy it into the project and reference the local file.

Environment tweaks

- `GIFGREP_SOFTWARE_ANIM=1` to force software animation
- `GIFGREP_CELL_ASPECT=0.5` to tweak preview geometry

gifgrep — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

What gifgrep does

What it helps with

Example prompts for the agent

How to install gifgrep

From the same set45

Similar

Questions about gifgrep

Source text

See also