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Usage

The run command

readme2demo run https://github.com/example/tool
readme2demo run -gr https://github.com/example/tool             # same, via the flag
readme2demo run -s my_guide.md                                  # guide-only: no repo
readme2demo run -gr https://github.com/example/tool -s my_guide.md   # both
readme2demo run https://github.com/example/tool --skip-video --budget-usd 3

The repository is optional. Provide it positionally or with -gr/--github-repo, provide a step-by-step guide with -s/--step-by-step, or provide both. At least one is required.

  • Repo only — the agent reads the README (and any step_by_step.md the repo ships) and runs it.
  • Guide only — no repository is cloned. Your guide must be self-contained (install a published package, or clone whatever it needs as an explicit step). The fresh-container replay still verifies every command.
  • Both — the guide is treated as authoritative; the planner and agent follow it, and the repo provides the code. Both are taken into account.

Common flags

Flag Purpose
-gr, --github-repo Repo URL (optional; same as the positional argument).
-s, --step-by-step Your own guide; becomes the authoritative source and the video's script.
--llm-backend auto | api | claude-cli for the planner/distiller/tutorial passes.
--engine claude-code (default) or openhands (experimental).
--budget-usd Abort the run if the agent's cost exceeds this.
--skip-video / --with-video Skip or force VHS rendering.
--allow-docker-socket Mount the host Docker socket into the sandbox. Security tradeoff — trusted repos only.

Resuming and inspecting runs

Runs are crash-safe and resumable. Every stage records its transition in manifest.json, so you can pick up exactly where a run stopped:

readme2demo resume runs/tool-20260702-... --from-stage render
readme2demo report runs/tool-20260702-...

Outputs

Artifacts land in runs/<run-id>/: tutorial.md, step_by_step.md, troubleshooting.md, commands.sh, demo.tape, demo.mp4, demo.gif, howto.jsonld, and manifest.json.