1<div align="center">
2 
3# NotebookLM Claude Code Skill
4 
5**Let [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) chat directly with NotebookLM for source-grounded answers based exclusively on your uploaded documents**
6 
7[![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/Python-3.8+-blue.svg)](https://www.python.org/)
8[![Claude Code Skill](https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude%20Code-Skill-purple.svg)](https://www.anthropic.com/news/skills)
9[![Based on](https://img.shields.io/badge/Based%20on-NotebookLM%20MCP-green.svg)](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)
10[![GitHub](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill?style=social)](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill)
11 
12> 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.
13 
14[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)
15 
16</div>
17 
18---
19 
20## ⚠️ Important: Local Claude Code Only
21 
22**This skill works ONLY with local [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) installations, NOT in the web UI.**
23 
24The 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.
25 
26---
27 
28## The Problem
29 
30When you tell [Claude Code](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) to "search through my local documentation", here's what happens:
31- **Massive token consumption**: Searching through documentation means reading multiple files repeatedly
32- **Inaccurate retrieval**: Searches for keywords, misses context and connections between docs
33- **Hallucinations**: When it can't find something, it invents plausible-sounding APIs
34- **Manual copy-paste**: Switching between NotebookLM browser and your editor constantly
35 
36## The Solution
37 
38This 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.
39 
40```
41Your Task → Claude asks NotebookLM → Gemini synthesizes answer → Claude writes correct code
42```
43 
44**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.
45 
46---
47 
48## Why NotebookLM, Not Local RAG?
49 
50| Approach | Token Cost | Setup Time | Hallucinations | Answer Quality |
51|----------|------------|------------|----------------|----------------|
52| **Feed docs to Claude** | 🔴 Very high (multiple file reads) | Instant | Yes - fills gaps | Variable retrieval |
53| **Web search** | 🟡 Medium | Instant | High - unreliable sources | Hit or miss |
54| **Local RAG** | 🟡 Medium-High | Hours (embeddings, chunking) | Medium - retrieval gaps | Depends on setup |
55| **NotebookLM Skill** | 🟢 Minimal | 5 minutes | **Minimal** - source-grounded only | Expert synthesis |
56 
57### What Makes NotebookLM Superior?
58 
591. **Pre-processed by Gemini**: Upload docs once, get instant expert knowledge
602. **Natural language Q&A**: Not just retrieval — actual understanding and synthesis
613. **Multi-source correlation**: Connects information across 50+ documents
624. **Citation-backed**: Every answer includes source references
635. **No infrastructure**: No vector DBs, embeddings, or chunking strategies needed
64 
65---
66 
67## Installation
68 
69### The simplest installation ever:
70 
71```bash
72# 1. Create skills directory (if it doesn't exist)
73mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
74 
75# 2. Clone this repository
76cd ~/.claude/skills
77git clone https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill notebooklm
78 
79# 3. That's it! Open Claude Code and say:
80"What are my skills?"
81```
82 
83When you first use the skill, it automatically:
84- Creates an isolated Python environment (`.venv`)
85- Installs all dependencies including **Google Chrome**
86- Sets up browser automation with Chrome (not Chromium) for maximum reliability
87- Everything stays contained in the skill folder
88 
89**Note:** The setup uses real Chrome instead of Chromium for cross-platform reliability, consistent browser fingerprinting, and better anti-detection with Google services
90 
91---
92 
93## Quick Start
94 
95### 1. Check your skills
96 
97Say in Claude Code:
98```
99"What skills do I have?"
100```
101 
102Claude will list your available skills including NotebookLM.
103 
104### 2. Authenticate with Google (one-time)
105 
106```
107"Set up NotebookLM authentication"
108```
109*A Chrome window opens → log in with your Google account*
110 
111### 3. Create your knowledge base
112 
113Go to [notebooklm.google.com](https://notebooklm.google.com) → Create notebook → Upload your docs:
114- 📄 PDFs, Google Docs, markdown files
115- 🔗 Websites, GitHub repos
116- 🎥 YouTube videos
117- 📚 Multiple sources per notebook
118 
119Share: **⚙️ Share → Anyone with link → Copy**
120 
121### 4. Add to your library
122 
123**Option A: Let Claude figure it out (Smart Add)**
124```
125"Query this notebook about its content and add it to my library: [your-link]"
126```
127Claude will automatically query the notebook to discover its content, then add it with appropriate metadata.
128 
129**Option B: Manual add**
130```
131"Add this NotebookLM to my library: [your-link]"
132```
133Claude will ask for a name and topics, then save it for future use.
134 
135### 5. Start researching
136 
137```
138"What does my React docs say about hooks?"
139```
140 
141Claude automatically selects the right notebook and gets the answer directly from NotebookLM.
142 
143---
144 
145## How It Works
146 
147This 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.
148 
149### Key Differences from MCP Server
150 
151| Feature | This Skill | MCP Server |
152|---------|------------|------------|
153| **Protocol** | Claude Skills | Model Context Protocol |
154| **Installation** | Clone to `~/.claude/skills` | `claude mcp add ...` |
155| **Sessions** | Fresh browser each question | Persistent chat sessions |
156| **Compatibility** | Claude Code only (local) | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, etc. |
157| **Language** | Python | TypeScript |
158| **Distribution** | Git clone | npm package |
159 
160### Architecture
161 
162```
163~/.claude/skills/notebooklm/
164├── SKILL.md              # Instructions for Claude
165├── scripts/              # Python automation scripts
166│   ├── ask_question.py   # Query NotebookLM
167│   ├── notebook_manager.py # Library management
168│   └── auth_manager.py   # Google authentication
169├── .venv/                # Isolated Python environment (auto-created)
170└── data/                 # Local notebook library
171```
172 
173When you mention NotebookLM or send a notebook URL, Claude:
1741. Loads the skill instructions
1752. Runs the appropriate Python script
1763. Opens a browser, asks your question
1774. Returns the answer directly to you
1785. Uses that knowledge to help with your task
179 
180---
181 
182## Core Features
183 
184### **Source-Grounded Responses**
185NotebookLM significantly reduces hallucinations by answering exclusively from your uploaded documents. If information isn't available, it indicates uncertainty rather than inventing content.
186 
187### **Direct Integration**
188No copy-paste between browser and editor. Claude asks and receives answers programmatically.
189 
190### **Smart Library Management**
191Save NotebookLM links with tags and descriptions. Claude auto-selects the right notebook for your task.
192 
193### **Automatic Authentication**
194One-time Google login, then authentication persists across sessions.
195 
196### **Self-Contained**
197Everything runs in the skill folder with an isolated Python environment. No global installations.
198 
199### **Human-Like Automation**
200Uses realistic typing speeds and interaction patterns to avoid detection.
201 
202---
203 
204## Common Commands
205 
206| What you say | What happens |
207|--------------|--------------|
208| *"Set up NotebookLM authentication"* | Opens Chrome for Google login |
209| *"Add [link] to my NotebookLM library"* | Saves notebook with metadata |
210| *"Show my NotebookLM notebooks"* | Lists all saved notebooks |
211| *"Ask my API docs about [topic]"* | Queries the relevant notebook |
212| *"Use the React notebook"* | Sets active notebook |
213| *"Clear NotebookLM data"* | Fresh start (keeps library) |
214 
215---
216 
217## Real-World Examples
218 
219### Example 1: Workshop Manual Query
220 
221**User asks**: "Check my Suzuki GSR 600 workshop manual for brake fluid type, engine oil specs, and rear axle torque."
222 
223**Claude automatically**:
224- Authenticates with NotebookLM
225- Asks comprehensive questions about each specification
226- Follows up when prompted "Is that ALL you need to know?"
227- Provides accurate specifications: DOT 4 brake fluid, SAE 10W-40 oil, 100 N·m rear axle torque
228 
229![NotebookLM Chat Example](images/example_notebookchat.png)
230 
231### Example 2: Building Without Hallucinations
232 
233**You**: "I need to build an n8n workflow for Gmail spam filtering. Use my n8n notebook."
234 
235**Claude's internal process:**
236```
237→ Loads NotebookLM skill
238→ Activates n8n notebook
239→ Asks comprehensive questions with follow-ups
240→ Synthesizes complete answer from multiple queries
241```
242 
243**Result**: Working workflow on first try, no debugging hallucinated APIs.
244 
245---
246 
247## Technical Details
248 
249### Core Technology
250- **Patchright**: Browser automation library (Playwright-based)
251- **Python**: Implementation language for this skill
252- **Stealth techniques**: Human-like typing and interaction patterns
253 
254Note: The MCP server uses the same Patchright library but via TypeScript/npm ecosystem.
255 
256### Dependencies
257- **patchright==1.55.2**: Browser automation
258- **python-dotenv==1.0.0**: Environment configuration
259- Automatically installed in `.venv` on first use
260 
261### Data Storage
262 
263All data is stored locally within the skill directory:
264 
265```
266~/.claude/skills/notebooklm/data/
267├── library.json       - Your notebook library with metadata
268├── auth_info.json     - Authentication status info
269└── browser_state/     - Browser cookies and session data
270```
271 
272**Important Security Note:**
273- The `data/` directory contains sensitive authentication data and personal notebooks
274- It's automatically excluded from git via `.gitignore`
275- NEVER manually commit or share the contents of the `data/` directory
276 
277### Session Model
278 
279Unlike the MCP server, this skill uses a **stateless model**:
280- Each question opens a fresh browser
281- Asks the question, gets the answer
282- Adds a follow-up prompt to encourage Claude to ask more questions
283- Closes the browser immediately
284 
285This means:
286- No persistent chat context
287- Each question is independent
288- But your notebook library persists
289- **Follow-up mechanism**: Each answer includes "Is that ALL you need to know?" to prompt Claude to ask comprehensive follow-ups
290 
291For multi-step research, Claude automatically asks follow-up questions when needed.
292 
293---
294 
295## Limitations
296 
297### Skill-Specific
298- **Local Claude Code only** - Does not work in web UI (sandbox restrictions)
299- **No session persistence** - Each question is independent
300- **No follow-up context** - Can't reference "the previous answer"
301 
302### NotebookLM
303- **Rate limits** - Free tier has daily query limits
304- **Manual upload** - You must upload docs to NotebookLM first
305- **Share requirement** - Notebooks must be shared publicly
306 
307---
308 
309## FAQ
310 
311**Why doesn't this work in the Claude web UI?**
312The web UI runs skills in a sandbox without network access. Browser automation requires network access to reach NotebookLM.
313 
314**How is this different from the MCP server?**
315This is a simpler, Python-based implementation that runs directly as a Claude Skill. The MCP server is more feature-rich with persistent sessions and works with multiple tools (Codex, Cursor, etc.).
316 
317**Can I use both this skill and the MCP server?**
318Yes! They serve different purposes. Use the skill for quick Claude Code integration, use the MCP server for persistent sessions and multi-tool support.
319 
320**What if Chrome crashes?**
321Run: `"Clear NotebookLM browser data"` and try again.
322 
323**Is my Google account secure?**
324Chrome runs locally on your machine. Your credentials never leave your computer. Use a dedicated Google account if you're concerned.
325 
326---
327 
328## Troubleshooting
329 
330### Skill not found
331```bash
332# Make sure it's in the right location
333ls ~/.claude/skills/notebooklm/
334# Should show: SKILL.md, scripts/, etc.
335```
336 
337### Authentication issues
338Say: `"Reset NotebookLM authentication"`
339 
340### Browser crashes
341Say: `"Clear NotebookLM browser data"`
342 
343### Dependencies issues
344```bash
345# Manual reinstall if needed
346cd ~/.claude/skills/notebooklm
347rm -rf .venv
348python -m venv .venv
349source .venv/bin/activate  # or .venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
350pip install -r requirements.txt
351```
352 
353---
354 
355## Disclaimer
356 
357This tool automates browser interactions with NotebookLM to make your workflow more efficient. However, a few friendly reminders:
358 
359**About browser automation:**
360While I've built in humanization features (realistic typing speeds, natural delays, mouse movements) to make the automation behave more naturally, I can't guarantee Google won't detect or flag automated usage. I recommend using a dedicated Google account for automation rather than your primary account—think of it like web scraping: probably fine, but better safe than sorry!
361 
362**About CLI tools and AI agents:**
363CLI tools like Claude Code, Codex, and similar AI-powered assistants are incredibly powerful, but they can make mistakes. Please use them with care and awareness:
364- Always review changes before committing or deploying
365- Test in safe environments first
366- Keep backups of important work
367- Remember: AI agents are assistants, not infallible oracles
368 
369I built this tool for myself because I was tired of the copy-paste dance between NotebookLM and my editor. I'm sharing it in the hope it helps others too, but I can't take responsibility for any issues, data loss, or account problems that might occur. Use at your own discretion and judgment.
370 
371That said, if you run into problems or have questions, feel free to open an issue on GitHub. I'm happy to help troubleshoot!
372 
373---
374 
375## Credits
376 
377This skill is inspired by my [**NotebookLM MCP Server**](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp) and provides an alternative implementation as a Claude Code Skill:
378- Both use Patchright for browser automation (TypeScript for MCP, Python for Skill)
379- Skill version runs directly in Claude Code without MCP protocol
380- Stateless design optimized for skill architecture
381 
382If you need:
383- **Persistent sessions** → Use the [MCP Server](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)
384- **Multiple tool support** (Codex, Cursor) → Use the [MCP Server](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)
385- **Quick Claude Code integration** → Use this skill
386 
387---
388 
389## The Bottom Line
390 
391**Without this skill**: NotebookLM in browser → Copy answer → Paste in Claude → Copy next question → Back to browser...
392 
393**With this skill**: Claude researches directly → Gets answers instantly → Writes correct code
394 
395Stop the copy-paste dance. Start getting accurate, grounded answers directly in Claude Code.
396 
397```bash
398# Get started in 30 seconds
399cd ~/.claude/skills
400git clone https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill notebooklm
401# Open Claude Code: "What are my skills?"
402```
403 
404---
405 
406<div align="center">
407 
408Built as a Claude Code Skill adaptation of my [NotebookLM MCP Server](https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-mcp)
409 
410For source-grounded, document-based research directly in Claude Code
411 
412</div>
413