Video

Video CLI

Commands and options for the Cuitty Video command-line workflow.

Video CLI

The cuitty-video CLI validates, previews, renders, and backs up Video compositions.

In a published install, run the binary directly:

cuitty-video --help

Inside the local workspace, run the CLI source with Bun:

cd ~/Code/cuitty/video
bun --cwd packages/cli src/index.ts --help

Commands

CommandPurpose
init [directory]Create a starter project with a sample composition.
preview <file>Parse a YAML or JSON composition and print timeline details.
validate <file>Validate schema and lint checks without rendering.
render <file>Render a composition to a video file.
backup <file>Back up a rendered video through the Persist integration.
loginAuthenticate with Cuitty.
logoutRemove the local Cuitty auth session.
whoamiPrint the current auth identity.

Render

cuitty-video render composition.yaml -o output.mp4 --codec h264 --crf 18

Options:

OptionDescription
-o, --output <path>Output path. Defaults to <input>.mp4.
--codec <codec>h264, h265, vp9, prores, or gif.
--crf <number>Constant Rate Factor. Lower is higher quality.
--concurrency <number>Parallel frame renders.
--preset-dir <path>Directory containing reusable preset YAML files.
--dry-runParse and validate only. Do not render.

Use --dry-run in CI checks that should validate authoring changes without requiring FFmpeg.

Preview

cuitty-video preview composition.yaml
cuitty-video preview composition.yaml --frame 60
cuitty-video preview composition.yaml --open

--frame prints the clips visible at one frame. --open starts a local browser preview.

Validate

cuitty-video validate composition.yaml --strict
cuitty-video validate composition.yaml --preset-dir ./presets --json

Validation checks the DSL shape, timeline bounds, empty layers, overlapping clips, and unknown render types.

Init

cuitty-video init my-video
cd my-video
cuitty-video preview composition.yaml
cuitty-video render composition.yaml

Use init for a local starting point, then move reusable presets and data-driven scenes into version control.

Backup

cuitty-video backup output.mp4 -e http://localhost:3456

backup is the bridge from rendered artifacts into Cuitty storage workflows.