open-edit
The video editor you own, not rent — edit clips from your coding agent (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini); e.g. burn in stylized subtitles.
What is it?
What it is
OpenEdit is an open-source, agent-driven editing pipeline that integrates with VEED's HTML renderer to enable programmatic video editing through coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, or Gemini. It allows users to edit video, add subtitles, layer motion graphics, and generate content from slides, web pages, or AI services without a GUI or timeline.
Why it exists
OpenEdit exists to give users ownership over their editing workflow by providing an open-source, agent-native alternative to rented editors. It leverages VEED's renderer (free to use) while enabling automation via coding agents, reducing reliance on manual tools and supporting creative, fluid editing driven by prompts and references.
Who should use it
Developers and content creators who want to automate video editing, captions, and motion graphics via code agents on Apple Silicon macOS, and who prefer a script‑driven workflow over a GUI.
Who should avoid it
Users on Windows or Linux, those needing a traditional timeline editor, or novices without command‑line or agent experience.
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How open-edit works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open open-edit, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- No GUI or timeline required; entirely controlled via natural language
- High rendering speed (up to 2.2x faster than Chrome-driven renderers)
- Agent-agnostic design using AGENTS.md instructions
- Flexible transcription options including local offline processing
- Can use reference images to copy visual styles
- No headless browser installation required for the custom renderer
Disadvantages
- Limited platform support (currently Apple Silicon macOS only; Windows/Linux planned)
- No GUI or timeline for manual fine-tuning
- V1 scope is primarily focused on captions; other features like motion graphics may have rough edges
- VEED transcription requires an account and has usage limits
Installation
native
Download this repo, or install via the command line with: npx skills add veedstudio/open-edit
FAQ
How do I install OpenEdit on my Mac?
OpenEdit is available as a skills package. On an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 26, run: ```sh npx skills add veedstudio/open-edit ``` Alternatively, clone the repo and follow the installation steps in the README.
What platforms and hardware does OpenEdit support?
OpenEdit currently supports Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 26.0 (Tahoe). Intel Macs and earlier macOS versions are not supported. Windows and Linux support is planned but not yet available.
Which transcription providers can I use with OpenEdit?
OpenEdit supports three options: 1. **VEED** – cloud‑based, best quality, requires a VEED account (free tier covers ~2 min/month). 2. **WhisperX** – local, free, offline; install with the provided script and run the transcribe command. 3. **Custom service** – supply a Whisper‑style JSON with per‑word timings. OpenEdit asks once for your choice and remembers it in `.open-edit-prefs.json`.
How do I add subtitles to a video using my coding agent?
Start your agent (e.g., `claude`), then ask: ``` Add subtitles to my video [VIDEO] ``` The agent will transcribe, analyze, design, and render the video with burned‑in subtitles, returning the MP4 and opening a previewer.
Can I customize subtitle appearance?
Yes. After rendering, you can request changes: ``` I don't like the yellow colour, make it darker Move the text up a bit When he says "go buy it now", make sure the 'now' really stands out. ``` You can also provide a reference image: ``` Add subtitles that look like this [IMG-REF], to my video [VIDEO] ```
What rendering engine does OpenEdit use?
OpenEdit ships with VEED’s HTML/CSS renderer, which runs natively without a headless browser. It is up to 2.2× faster than Chrome‑based renderers. If desired, you can use Chrome as the backend instead.
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