ffmpeg-skill 0.8.4 → 0.9.0

package/README.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ npx ffmpeg-skill
 - **Lossless when possible** — cuts and joins use stream copy by default; re-encoding only happens when it must (frame-accurate cuts, filters, format changes).
 - **Cut & join** segments with `mm:ss` / `hh:mm:ss.ms` times.
 - **Declarative edits** — describe the whole edit in a `project.json` (clips, transitions, captions, overlays, music, loudness, export, check) and re-render after every tweak.
-- **MCP server** — `mcp/server.py` exposes every script as an MCP tool over stdio (stdlib only) for Claude Desktop, Cursor or any MCP client.
+- **MCP server** — `mcp/server.py` exposes every script as an MCP tool over stdio (stdlib only) for Claude Desktop, Cursor or any MCP client; tool names, order and `inputSchema` are derived from the contract, so the MCP surface follows the scripts.
 - **Batch / watch folder** — one recipe over a whole shoot with a content-hash cache; re-runs only touch what changed.
 - **Optional local transcription** — `caption.py --transcribe` uses whisper.cpp / faster-whisper / openai-whisper when present; never required.
 - **Brand kit** — one `brand.json` (fonts, colours, logo, safe margins, caption style) applied by captions, overlays, graphics and projects.
@@ -140,13 +140,22 @@ python3 tests/corpus.py --fetch --verify     # ~1.4 GB download, then verify (sl
 python3 tests/bench_sync.py --cases 100
 ```
 
+## Machine-readable contract
+
+```bash
+npx ffmpeg-skill contract --json     # every tool as a ToolSpec: schema from argparse, role, capabilities, verification, dry-run
+npx ffmpeg-skill doctor              # which required ffmpeg components this machine has
+```
+
+For agent frameworks that treat ffmpeg-skill as an execution skill: `contract --json` lists the 21 tools as `ffmpeg-skill/<name>` with input/output schemas, `analysis` / `execution` / `verification` roles, the ffmpeg encoders and filters each one needs, whether the result must be probed, checked or looked at, and that no tool modifies its input or runs a shell. `contract_version` (1.0) is separate from the skill version. Details in [docs/contract.md](docs/contract.md).
+
 ## MCP
 
 ```json
 {"mcpServers": {"ffmpeg-skill": {"command": "python3", "args": ["/Users/you/.claude/skills/ffmpeg-skill/mcp/server.py"]}}}
 ```
 
-`python3 mcp/server.py --list` prints the tools; `--call probe '{"inputs": ["a.mp4"]}'` runs one from the shell.
+`python3 mcp/server.py --list` prints the tools (the same set, order and schemas as `contract --json`: the contract is the source of truth, MCP is the transport); `--call probe '{"inputs": ["a.mp4"]}'` runs one from the shell.
 
 ## Requirements
 
@@ -163,6 +172,10 @@ python3 evals/run.py --list     # routing eval prompts (see evals/)
 node bin/install.js --dir /tmp/skills   # try the installer without touching ~/.claude
 ```
 
+## Support
+
+If this skill saves you time, you can help keep it maintained through [GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/kajisho5). Issues and pull requests are just as welcome.
+
 ## License
 
 [MIT](LICENSE)

package/SKILL.md

@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ Scripts live in `scripts/` next to this file; run them with `python3 <skill-dir>
    crops keeping the subject, colours not washed out, transitions landing
    where intended. The job is not finished until the report's `Look:` line
    names that PNG; a probe alone cannot see a caption sitting on someone's
-   face. Audio-only jobs (sync, loudness, silence) write `Look: not needed`.
+   face. Audio-only jobs (sync, loudness, silence, or any job whose input is
+   an audio file) write `Look: not needed`; there is no picture to inspect.
 
 
 ## Before you run anything: what to ask, what to assume
@@ -112,6 +113,34 @@ Do not ask for things `probe.py` can tell you.
 | "it's a phone video with variable frame rate" | nothing extra: every re-encoding script conforms VFR to constant fps automatically; `fit.py --fps 30` to pick the rate |
 
 
+## Audio-only files
+
+Audio files are a first-class input, not a special case. `probe.py`, `cut.py`,
+`silence.py`, `loudness.py`, `audio.py`, `sync.py` and `check.py --platform
+podcast` all accept WAV, FLAC, MP3, M4A/AAC, OGG and Opus (any container ffmpeg
+can read) and write the codec that fits the output extension, so the same
+commands work with `talk.wav` in place of `talk.mp4`. What changes:
+
+- The output extension picks the format: `-o out.mp3` converts, `-o out.wav`
+  keeps PCM, `-o out.m4a` writes AAC. `audio.py in.wav -o out.mp3` with no
+  other flag is a plain conversion.
+- `cut.py` stream-copies audio too, so trims are lossless unless the format
+  cannot be cut on a packet boundary.
+- `Look: not needed` in the report; `Check:` still applies for loudness
+  (`check.py file.wav --platform podcast` measures LUFS and true peak).
+- Scripts that need a picture (`fit`, `caption`, `overlay`, `graphics`,
+  `color`, `export`, `join`, `scenes`, `look`) refuse an audio file with
+  "input has no video stream". Say so instead of forcing a video wrapper.
+
+| User says (audio file) | Do |
+|-----------|----|
+| "normalise this WAV to -14 LUFS", "podcast levels" | `loudness.py talk.wav -I -14 --tp -1 -o talk_norm.wav` (`-I -16 --tp -1.5` for podcasts) |
+| "remove the silence from this recording" | `silence.py talk.wav -o talk_tight.wav` |
+| "clean up the noise in this M4A" | `audio.py talk.m4a --voice -o talk_clean.m4a` (speech) or `--denoise` |
+| "convert this WAV to MP3" | `audio.py talk.wav -o talk.mp3` |
+| "trim this audio from 00:30 to 02:00" | `cut.py talk.wav --start 0:30 --end 2:00 -o talk_cut.wav` |
+| "is this loud enough for Apple Podcasts?" | `check.py talk.m4a --platform podcast` |
+
 ## Report format
 
 Finish every job with this shape (numbers from `probe.py`/`check.py`, not memory):

package/bin/install.js

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
  *   npx ffmpeg-skill --dir ./skills  # custom parent directory
  *   npx ffmpeg-skill --project       # ./.claude/skills/ffmpeg-skill in the current project
  *   npx ffmpeg-skill --uninstall     # remove from the selected targets
+ *   npx ffmpeg-skill contract --json # machine-readable execution contract (see docs/contract.md)
+ *   npx ffmpeg-skill doctor [--json] # which required ffmpeg capabilities this machine has
  */
 'use strict';
 
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ const { spawnSync } = require('child_process');
 
 const SKILL_NAME = 'ffmpeg-skill';
 const ROOT = path.resolve(__dirname, '..');
-const PAYLOAD = ['SKILL.md', 'scripts', 'references', 'mcp'];
+const PAYLOAD = ['SKILL.md', 'scripts', 'references', 'mcp', 'package.json'];
 
 const args = process.argv.slice(2);
 const has = (flag) => args.includes(flag);
@@ -36,6 +38,12 @@ if (has('--help') || has('-h')) {
   process.exit(0);
 }
 
+// `contract` / `doctor` are answered by scripts/_contract.py; everything else installs.
+if (args[0] === 'contract' || args[0] === 'doctor') {
+  const py = spawnSync('python3', [path.join(ROOT, 'scripts', '_contract.py'), ...args], { stdio: 'inherit' });
+  process.exit(py.error ? 127 : py.status);
+}
+
 const home = os.homedir();
 const targets = [];
 const want = { claude: has('--claude'), cursor: has('--cursor'), codex: has('--codex') };

package/mcp/server.py

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 """ffmpeg-skill as an MCP server (stdio, JSON-RPC 2.0) — standard library only.
 
-Every script in ../scripts becomes a tool; arguments are passed as an argv list
-or as a flat object of flags. Results are the script's --json output.
+Every public script in ../scripts becomes a tool. Tool names, order, inputSchema and the
+structured-argument mapping all come from the contract (scripts/_contract.py); this file
+is only the transport. Arguments are passed as a flat object (keys = argparse dests) or,
+for CLI compatibility, as an argv list. Results are the script's --json output.
 
 Run:
   python3 mcp/server.py                         # stdio transport
@@ -20,41 +22,45 @@ HERE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
 SCRIPTS = HERE.parent / "scripts"
 PROTOCOL_VERSION = "2024-11-05"
 
-TOOLS: Dict[str, str] = {
-    "probe": "Inspect a media file: duration, fps/VFR, resolution, codecs, HDR, rotation, audio. Args: inputs (list), analyze (bool), compact (bool).",
-    "cut": "Cut a range or several segments, lossless when possible. Args: input, start, end, duration, segments, accurate, output.",
-    "fit": "Fit to a duration (speed/trim) and/or aspect (pad/crop). Args: input, duration, method, aspect, fit, width, fps, smooth, output.",
-    "caption": "Burn SRT/ASS or timed text; animated/karaoke styles; brand. Args: input, srt, ass, text, animate, karaoke, font, size, position, brand, output.",
-    "overlay": "Composite a logo/image/text with timing and fade. Args: input, image, text, logo, position, start, end, fade, opacity, scale, brand, output.",
-    "graphics": "Motion-graphics templates: lower-third, title, chapter, progress, countdown, bug. Args: input, template, name, title, subtitle, start, end, brand, output.",
-    "sync": "Detect offset between two recordings by audio, optional drift fix. Args: reference, second, fix_drift, replace_audio, trim_second, output.",
-    "multicam": "Align N cameras/recorders and switch between them. Args: inputs (list), switch, auto, audio, fix_drift, output.",
-    "audio": "Denoise/voice chain, music bed with ducking, fades, downmix, replace. Args: input, voice, denoise, music, duck, music_volume, fade_in, fade_out, downmix, replace, output.",
-    "loudness": "Two-pass EBU R128 normalisation. Args: input, lufs, tp, measure_only, output.",
-    "silence": "Remove dead air / list silences. Args: input, threshold, min_silence, margin, list, edl, output.",
-    "join": "Concatenate clips with transitions, normalising size/fps/audio. Args: inputs (list), transition, duration, width, height, fps, output.",
-    "color": "HDR→SDR tone mapping, LUTs, retag, strip Dolby Vision. Args: input, to_sdr, lut, retag, strip_dovi, tonemap, output.",
-    "export": "Platform presets: youtube, youtube4k, reels, x, prores, h265, gif. Args: input, preset, fit, output.",
-    "check": "Pre-delivery compliance per platform. Args: input, platform, no_loudness.",
-    "scenes": "Scene changes, audio peaks, highlight proposals. Args: input, highlights, target, edl, sheet.",
-    "look": "Contact sheet / frames / before-after PNG for visual checks. Args: input, at (list), tiles, compare, output.",
-    "render": "Render a whole edit from project.json. Args: project, fast, stop_after, init.",
-    "verify": "Run the toolchain on real files and report PASS/FAIL. Args: paths (list), quick, report.",
-    "report": "HTML delivery report. Args: after, before, platform, commands, notes, title, output.",
-}
-POSITIONAL = {"probe": ["inputs"], "sync": ["reference", "second"], "multicam": ["inputs"], "join": ["inputs"], "verify": ["paths"], "render": ["project"]}
+sys.path.insert(0, str(SCRIPTS))
+import _contract  # noqa: E402  (the contract is the only source of tool names, schemas and argument mapping)
+
+_SPECS: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+
+def specs() -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """ToolSpecs from the contract, generated once per process (argparse -> ToolSpec -> here)."""
+    if not _SPECS:
+        for spec in _contract.build(detect=False)["tools"]:
+            _SPECS[spec["name"]] = spec
+    return _SPECS
+
+
+class _Positional(dict):
+    """Positional argument names per tool, read from the contract (kept as a mapping for compatibility)."""
+
+    def __missing__(self, name: str) -> List[str]:
+        return list(specs()[name]["mcp"]["positional"]) if name in specs() else ["input"]
+
+    def get(self, name: str, default: Any = None) -> Any:  # type: ignore[override]
+        return self[name] if name in specs() else default
+
+
+POSITIONAL: Dict[str, List[str]] = _Positional()
 
 
 def build_argv(name: str, args: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[str]:
+    """Structured arguments -> argv, using the mapping the contract states (invocation.structured)."""
     if isinstance(args.get("argv"), list):
         argv = [str(a) for a in args["argv"]]
-        if name not in ("look", "probe") and "--json" not in argv and "--help" not in argv:
+        if name not in _contract.MCP_JSON_EXEMPT and "--json" not in argv and "--help" not in argv:
             argv.append("--json")
         return argv
+    spec = specs().get(name)
+    exceptions = spec["mcp"]["argument_exceptions"] if spec else {}
     argv: List[str] = []
     args = dict(args)
-    pos = POSITIONAL.get(name, ["input"])
-    for key in pos:
+    for key in POSITIONAL[name]:
         val = args.pop(key, None)
         if val is None:
             continue
@@ -65,11 +71,7 @@ def build_argv(name: str, args: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[str]:
     for key, val in args.items():
         if val is None or val is False:
             continue
-        flag = "--" + key.replace("_", "-")
-        if key == "output":
-            flag = "-o"
-        if key == "lufs" and name == "loudness":
-            flag = "-I"
+        flag = exceptions.get(key, "--" + key.replace("_", "-"))
         if val is True:
             argv.append(flag)
         elif isinstance(val, list):
@@ -77,14 +79,14 @@ def build_argv(name: str, args: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[str]:
                 argv += [flag, str(v)]
         else:
             argv += [flag, str(val)]
-    if name not in ("look", "probe") and "--json" not in argv and "--help" not in argv:
+    if name not in _contract.MCP_JSON_EXEMPT and "--json" not in argv and "--help" not in argv:
         argv.append("--json")
     return argv
 
 
 def call_tool(name: str, args: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     script = SCRIPTS / f"{name}.py"
-    if not script.exists():
+    if name not in specs() or not script.exists():
         return {"isError": True, "content": [{"type": "text", "text": f"unknown tool {name}"}]}
     argv = build_argv(name, args or {})
     proc = subprocess.run([sys.executable, str(script)] + argv, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, text=True)
@@ -108,14 +110,8 @@ def call_tool(name: str, args: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
 
 
 def tool_list() -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    out = []
-    for name, desc in TOOLS.items():
-        out.append({
-            "name": name,
-            "description": desc + " Pass either named args (flags without dashes, underscores for hyphens) or argv (raw CLI list). Media paths must be absolute.",
-            "inputSchema": {"type": "object", "properties": {"argv": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}, "description": "raw CLI arguments"}}, "additionalProperties": True},
-        })
-    return out
+    """tools/list: one entry per ToolSpec, in the contract's order, inputSchema derived from ToolSpec.input_schema."""
+    return [_contract.mcp_tool(spec) for spec in specs().values()]
 
 
 def handle(req: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -142,7 +138,7 @@ def version() -> str:
 def main() -> int:
     if "--list" in sys.argv:
         for t in tool_list():
-            print(f"{t['name']:10s} {t['description'].split(' Pass either')[0]}")
+            print(f"{t['name']:10s} {t['description'].split(' Structured arguments:')[0]}")
         return 0
     if "--call" in sys.argv:  # debugging helper: --call NAME '{"input": "..."}'
         i = sys.argv.index("--call")

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ffmpeg-skill",
-  "version": "0.8.4",
+  "version": "0.9.0",
   "description": "Agent Skill that lets coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex) do professional video editing with local FFmpeg: MCP server, batch processing, declarative project rendering, brand kits, motion-graphics templates, HTML delivery reports, scene detection, delivery checks, cut, silence removal, transitions, multicam, captions, sync with drift correction, HDR to SDR, LUTs, audio clean-up and ducking, loudness, platform exports. No API keys, no cloud, no dependencies.",
   "keywords": ["ffmpeg", "video", "agent-skill", "claude-code", "cursor", "codex", "skill", "video-editing"],
   "license": "MIT",
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@
     "LICENSE"
   ],
   "scripts": {
-    "test": "python3 tests/test_all.py",
+    "test": "python3 tests/test_all.py && python3 tests/test_contract.py",
     "release-check": "bash tests/release_check.sh",
-    "demo": "bash examples/make_demo.sh"
+    "demo": "bash examples/make_demo.sh",
+    "contract": "python3 scripts/_contract.py --json",
+    "doctor": "python3 scripts/_contract.py doctor"
   },
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=16"

package/scripts/_common.py

@@ -31,8 +31,12 @@ INSTALL_HINTS = {
 }
 
 
-def die(msg: str, code: int = 1) -> "None":
+def die(msg: str, code: int = 1, kind: str = "input") -> "None":
+    """Exit with a message. Under --json also print a machine-readable failure document
+    (status: failed) on stdout so callers get the same shape as a success; exit codes are unchanged."""
     sys.stderr.write(f"error: {msg}\n")
+    if STATE.json:
+        print_json({"status": "failed", "error": {"kind": kind, "message": msg}})
     sys.exit(code)
 
 
@@ -53,7 +57,7 @@ def require_tool(name: str) -> str:
     die(
         f"'{name}' was not found on PATH.\n"
         f"Install FFmpeg (which includes ffprobe) for {system}:\n{hint}",
-        code=127,
+        code=127, kind="missing_tool",
     )
     return ""  # unreachable
 
@@ -122,7 +126,7 @@ def apply_common(args: "argparse.Namespace") -> None:
 def emit(output: Optional[str], **extra: Any) -> None:
     """Final stdout line: the output path, or a JSON document with --json."""
     if STATE.json:
-        doc: Dict[str, Any] = {"output": output, "dry_run": STATE.dry_run, "commands": list(STATE.commands)}
+        doc: Dict[str, Any] = {"status": "completed", "output": output, "dry_run": STATE.dry_run, "commands": list(STATE.commands)}
         if output and not STATE.dry_run and os.path.exists(output):
             doc["probe"] = probe(output)
         doc.update(extra)
@@ -141,7 +145,7 @@ def _is_ffmpeg(cmd: Sequence[str]) -> bool:
 
 def _fail(cmd: Sequence[str], returncode: int, stderr: str) -> None:
     tail = "\n".join(stderr.strip().splitlines()[-15:])
-    die(f"command failed ({returncode}): {cmd[0]}\n{tail}", code=returncode or 1)
+    die(f"command failed ({returncode}): {cmd[0]}\n{tail}", code=returncode or 1, kind="ffmpeg")
 
 
 def run(cmd: Sequence[str], *, quiet: bool = False, check: bool = True) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:

package/scripts/_contract.py

@@ -0,0 +1,577 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Machine-readable execution contract for ffmpeg-skill (internal module, not a tool).
+
+    python3 scripts/_contract.py --json              # the contract, with detected capabilities
+    python3 scripts/_contract.py --json --static     # same, without environment detection
+    python3 scripts/_contract.py doctor [--json]     # which required capabilities this machine has
+    ffmpeg-skill contract --json                     # the same through the npm entry point
+
+The contract describes every public tool in scripts/ (one ToolSpec per script that does
+not start with "_"): what it needs, what it takes, what it writes, how to verify the
+result, and whether an agent can plan it with --dry-run. Input schemas are generated
+from each script's argparse parser, so the CLI stays the single source of truth; the
+per-tool facts that cannot be read from a parser (role, verification policy, required
+ffmpeg components) live in TOOL_META below and are checked against the scripts by
+tests/test_contract.py.
+
+The contract has its own version (CONTRACT_VERSION) that only changes when the shape of
+this document changes; the skill version comes from package.json.
+"""
+import argparse
+import importlib.util
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
+
+HERE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
+ROOT = HERE.parent
+SKILL_ID = "ffmpeg-skill"
+CONTRACT_VERSION = "1.0"
+
+ROLES = {
+    "analysis": "reads media and reports measurements; writes no media",
+    "analysis_and_execution": "measures by default or with a flag, and can also write a transformed artifact",
+    "execution": "writes a new media artifact from the input(s); the input is never modified",
+    "verification": "checks or shows an artifact (probe numbers, compliance rows, contact sheets); writes no media",
+}
+
+# Facts that are not derivable from the argparse parsers. Capability names:
+#   ffmpeg / ffprobe            the binaries on PATH
+#   encoder:<name>              `ffmpeg -encoders`
+#   filter:<name>               `ffmpeg -filters`
+#   bsf:<name>                  `ffmpeg -bsfs`
+#   external:whisper            a local whisper engine (whisper.cpp / faster-whisper / openai-whisper)
+# "optional" entries name the flag or condition under which the capability is needed.
+FF = ["ffmpeg", "ffprobe"]
+X264 = "encoder:libx264"
+X265 = "encoder:libx265"
+AAC = "encoder:aac"
+HDR_X265 = {"capability": X265, "when": "the source is HDR (kept as HEVC Main10)"}
+AUDIO_OUT = [
+    {"capability": "encoder:libmp3lame", "when": "output extension is .mp3"},
+    {"capability": "encoder:libopus", "when": "output extension is .opus"},
+    {"capability": "encoder:libvorbis", "when": "output extension is .ogg"},
+    {"capability": "encoder:flac", "when": "output extension is .flac"},
+]
+
+TOOL_META: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {
+    "probe": dict(role="analysis", inputs=["media (video or audio, any container ffprobe reads)"], outputs=["measurement JSON on stdout (no file)"],
+                  required=["ffprobe"], optional=[{"capability": "ffmpeg", "when": "--analyze"}, {"capability": "filter:signalstats", "when": "--analyze"}],
+                  video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=False, idempotency="bit_exact", deterministic=True),
+    "cut": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video or audio asset"], outputs=["cut video/audio artifact (same container family)"],
+                required=FF, optional=[{"capability": X264, "when": "re-encode: --accurate, VFR source, or a keyframe farther than --tolerance"}, HDR_X265, {"capability": AAC, "when": "re-encode of a video container"}],
+                video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "fit": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset"], outputs=["video artifact at the requested duration / aspect / fps"],
+                required=FF + [X264, AAC], optional=[HDR_X265, {"capability": "filter:minterpolate", "when": "--smooth interpolate"}],
+                video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "caption": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset", "SRT/ASS file or timed text (--text)"], outputs=["video artifact with burnt-in captions", "generated .srt / .ass sidecar"],
+                    required=FF + [X264, AAC, "filter:subtitles"], optional=[{"capability": "filter:ass", "when": "--animate / --karaoke"}, HDR_X265, {"capability": "external:whisper", "when": "--transcribe"}],
+                    video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "overlay": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset", "image (--image / --logo) or text (--text)"], outputs=["video artifact with the overlay composited"],
+                    required=FF + [X264, AAC], optional=[{"capability": "filter:drawtext", "when": "--text"}, HDR_X265],
+                    video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "graphics": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset"], outputs=["video artifact with the drawn template"],
+                     required=FF + [X264, AAC, "filter:drawtext"], optional=[HDR_X265],
+                     video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "sync": dict(role="analysis_and_execution", inputs=["reference recording (video or audio)", "second recording (video or audio)"], outputs=["offset / drift JSON on stdout", "aligned artifact with --replace-audio / --trim-second / --fix-drift -o"],
+                 required=FF, optional=[{"capability": AAC, "when": "writing a video container"}] + AUDIO_OUT,
+                 video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "multicam": dict(role="execution", inputs=["reference camera", "other cameras / recorders"], outputs=["switched multicam video artifact"],
+                     required=FF + [X264, AAC], optional=[HDR_X265],
+                     video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "audio": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video or audio asset", "music bed (--music) or replacement track (--replace)"], outputs=["artifact with the processed audio (video stream-copied)"],
+                  required=FF + [AAC], optional=[{"capability": "filter:afftdn", "when": "--denoise / --voice"}, {"capability": "filter:sidechaincompress", "when": "--duck"}] + AUDIO_OUT,
+                  video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "loudness": dict(role="analysis_and_execution", inputs=["video or audio asset"], outputs=["loudness measurement JSON (--measure-only)", "normalised artifact (video stream-copied)"],
+                     required=FF + ["filter:loudnorm", AAC], optional=AUDIO_OUT,
+                     video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe", "check"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "silence": dict(role="analysis_and_execution", inputs=["video or audio asset"], outputs=["silence list JSON (--list)", "artifact with silences removed", "EDL text (--edl)"],
+                    required=FF + ["filter:silencedetect"], optional=[{"capability": X264, "when": "removing silences from a video"}, HDR_X265, {"capability": AAC, "when": "removing silences from a video"}] + AUDIO_OUT,
+                    video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "join": dict(role="execution", inputs=["two or more video assets"], outputs=["concatenated video artifact"],
+                 required=FF + [X264, AAC, "filter:xfade", "filter:acrossfade"], optional=[HDR_X265],
+                 video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "color": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset", ".cube LUT (--lut)"], outputs=["video artifact with converted colour"],
+                  required=FF, optional=[{"capability": X264, "when": "--to-sdr / --lut"}, {"capability": "filter:zscale", "when": "--to-sdr"}, {"capability": "filter:tonemap", "when": "--to-sdr"},
+                                         {"capability": "filter:lut3d", "when": "--lut"}, {"capability": "bsf:filter_units", "when": "--strip-dovi"}, {"capability": X265, "when": "--lut on an HDR source"}, {"capability": AAC, "when": "re-encode"}],
+                  video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "export": dict(role="execution", inputs=["video asset"], outputs=["delivery artifact in the preset's format"],
+                   required=FF, optional=[{"capability": X264, "when": "preset youtube / youtube4k / reels / x"}, {"capability": AAC, "when": "any preset except gif"},
+                                          {"capability": X265, "when": "preset h265"}, {"capability": "encoder:prores_ks", "when": "preset prores"},
+                                          {"capability": "filter:palettegen", "when": "preset gif"}, {"capability": "encoder:gif", "when": "preset gif"}],
+                   video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=False, verify=["probe", "check"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "check": dict(role="verification", inputs=["media artifact"], outputs=["compliance rows JSON on stdout (no file)"],
+                  required=["ffprobe"], optional=[{"capability": "ffmpeg", "when": "loudness rows (default)"}, {"capability": "filter:loudnorm", "when": "loudness rows (default)"}],
+                  video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=False, idempotency="bit_exact", deterministic=True),
+    "scenes": dict(role="analysis", inputs=["video asset"], outputs=["scene / audio-peak / highlight JSON on stdout", "EDL text (--edl)", "per-scene contact sheet PNG (--sheet)"],
+                   required=FF + ["filter:scdet"], optional=[{"capability": "filter:drawtext", "when": "--sheet"}, {"capability": "filter:tile", "when": "--sheet"}],
+                   video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="bit_exact", deterministic=True),
+    "look": dict(role="verification", inputs=["video artifact"], outputs=["PNG contact sheet / frames / side-by-side"],
+                 required=FF + ["filter:tile"], optional=[{"capability": "filter:drawtext", "when": "timecode stamps (default; --no-timecode to skip)"}, {"capability": "filter:zscale", "when": "HDR source"}, {"capability": "filter:tonemap", "when": "HDR source"}],
+                 video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="bit_exact", deterministic=True),
+    "render": dict(role="execution", inputs=["project.json (clips, transitions, captions, overlays, audio, loudness, export, check)"], outputs=["final video artifact", "work directory of stage outputs (--keep / --work)"],
+                   required=FF, optional=[{"capability": "delegated", "when": "each stage runs cut / join / fit / caption / overlay / audio / loudness / export / check with their capabilities"}],
+                   video_required=True, audio_only=False, visual=True, verify=["probe", "check", "look"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+    "batch": dict(role="execution", inputs=["folder of media", "batch.json recipe (steps or a render project)"], outputs=["one artifact per input file in the recipe's output_dir", "content-hash cache"],
+                  required=FF, optional=[{"capability": "delegated", "when": "each recipe step runs the named script with its capabilities"}],
+                  video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=["probe"], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="cached", deterministic=True),
+    "verify": dict(role="verification", inputs=["media files and/or folders"], outputs=["PASS/FAIL JSON per step", "Markdown report (--report)", "step outputs (--out / --keep)"],
+                   required=FF, optional=[{"capability": "delegated", "when": "runs cut / fit / caption / export / loudness / color on each file"}],
+                   video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="environment_dependent", deterministic=False),
+    "report": dict(role="verification", inputs=["deliverable (--after)", "source (--before)", "commands / notes text"], outputs=["single-file HTML delivery report"],
+                   required=FF + ["filter:loudnorm"], optional=[{"capability": "delegated", "when": "runs look (sheets) and check (--platform)"}],
+                   video_required=False, audio_only=True, visual=False, verify=[], produces_artifact=True, idempotency="content_equivalent", deterministic=True),
+}
+
+# Dry-run behaviour a parser cannot express (measured in tests/test_contract.py with a fake ffmpeg
+# on PATH). "analysis_only": ffmpeg still decodes/measures the input under --dry-run, but nothing
+# is encoded and no file is written. Every other tool with the flag runs no ffmpeg at all.
+DRY_RUN_ANALYSIS = {
+    "sync": "audio is decoded to find the offset; the aligned output is not written",
+    "multicam": "audio is decoded to align the cameras; the switched output is not written",
+    "scenes": "scene and audio-peak measurement runs; --sheet and --edl are not written",
+    "report": "probe, loudness and contact-sheet measurements run; the HTML is not written",
+}
+DRY_RUN_NOTES = {
+    "probe": "read-only tool; --dry-run changes nothing (ffprobe still runs)",
+    "check": "read-only tool; --dry-run skips the ffmpeg loudness measurement, so loudness rows are absent",
+    "verify": "not supported: the flag is accepted but the steps run and outputs are written",
+}
+
+IDEMPOTENCY = {
+    "bit_exact": "same inputs and flags give byte-identical output",
+    "content_equivalent": "same inputs and flags give the same media content; bytes may differ between encoder builds",
+    "cached": "re-runs skip inputs whose content hash and recipe are unchanged",
+    "environment_dependent": "output includes timings or machine state and differs between runs",
+}
+
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- parsers
+class _Captured(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
+        self.parser = parser
+
+
+def _capture_parser(script: Path) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
+    """Import the script and run main() until parse_args() to get its live parser."""
+    original = argparse.ArgumentParser.parse_args
+
+    def fake_parse(self: argparse.ArgumentParser, *a: Any, **k: Any) -> Any:
+        raise _Captured(self)
+
+    argparse.ArgumentParser.parse_args = fake_parse  # type: ignore[assignment]
+    sys_argv = sys.argv
+    try:
+        sys.argv = [str(script)]
+        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("ffskill_tool_" + script.stem, script)
+        module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+        assert spec.loader is not None
+        spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+        module.main()
+    except _Captured as cap:
+        return cap.parser
+    finally:
+        argparse.ArgumentParser.parse_args = original  # type: ignore[assignment]
+        sys.argv = sys_argv
+    raise RuntimeError(f"{script.name}: main() returned before parse_args()")
+
+
+def _json_type(action: argparse.Action) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    if isinstance(action, argparse._StoreTrueAction):
+        return {"type": "boolean"}
+    if isinstance(action, argparse._AppendAction) or action.nargs in ("+", "*"):
+        return {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}
+    if action.type is int:
+        return {"type": "integer"}
+    if action.type is float:
+        return {"type": "number"}
+    return {"type": "string"}
+
+
+def input_schema(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    props: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    required: List[str] = []
+    positional: List[str] = []
+    common = {"dry_run", "json", "progress", "fast"}
+    for action in parser._actions:
+        if isinstance(action, argparse._HelpAction):
+            continue
+        prop: Dict[str, Any] = _json_type(action)
+        if action.help and action.help != argparse.SUPPRESS:
+            prop["description"] = action.help % {"default": action.default} if "%(default)" in action.help else action.help
+        if action.choices:
+            prop["enum"] = list(action.choices)
+        if action.default not in (None, False, argparse.SUPPRESS):
+            prop["default"] = action.default
+        if action.option_strings:
+            prop["cli"] = list(action.option_strings)
+            if action.required:
+                required.append(action.dest)
+        else:
+            prop["cli"] = "positional"
+            positional.append(action.dest)
+            if action.nargs not in ("?", "*"):
+                required.append(action.dest)
+        if action.dest in common:
+            prop["common"] = True
+        props[action.dest] = prop
+    groups = [g for g in getattr(parser, "_mutually_exclusive_groups", []) if g._group_actions]
+    schema: Dict[str, Any] = {"type": "object", "properties": props, "required": required, "positional": positional, "additionalProperties": False}
+    if groups:
+        schema["mutually_exclusive"] = [[a.dest for a in g._group_actions] for g in groups]
+        schema["one_of_required"] = [[a.dest for a in g._group_actions] for g in groups if g.required]
+    return schema
+
+
+def output_schema(name: str, meta: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """What the tool prints on stdout with --json (keys observed in the implementation)."""
+    if name == "probe":
+        return {"type": "object", "description": "one probe document, or an array of them for several inputs",
+                "properties": {"file": {"type": "string"}, "format": {"type": "string"}, "duration": {"type": "number"}, "size_bytes": {"type": "integer"},
+                               "video": {"type": ["object", "null"]}, "audio": {"type": ["object", "null"]}}, "additionalProperties": True}
+    base = {"status": {"enum": ["completed"]}, "output": {"type": ["string", "null"], "description": "path written, or null"},
+            "dry_run": {"type": "boolean"}, "commands": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}, "description": "every ffmpeg command line planned or run"},
+            "probe": {"type": "object", "description": "probe of the output when a file was written"}}
+    extra: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    if name == "check":
+        extra = {"platform": {"type": "string"}, "ok": {"type": "boolean"}, "failed": {"type": "integer"}, "warnings": {"type": "integer"},
+                 "checks": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "object", "properties": {"check": {"type": "string"}, "status": {"enum": ["PASS", "WARN", "FAIL"]}, "value": {}, "expected": {}, "fix": {"type": "string"}, "kind": {"enum": ["format", "judgement"]}}}}}
+    elif name == "scenes":
+        extra = {"file": {"type": "string"}, "duration": {"type": "number"}, "scene_count": {"type": "integer"}, "scenes": {"type": "array"}, "audio_peaks": {"type": "array"}}
+    elif name == "silence":
+        extra = {"silences": {"type": "array"}, "keep": {"type": "array"}, "input_duration": {"type": "number"}, "kept_duration": {"type": "number"}, "removed_seconds": {"type": "number"}}
+    elif name == "sync":
+        extra = {"reference": {"type": "string"}, "second": {"type": "string"}, "offset_seconds": {"type": "number"}, "confidence": {"type": "number"}, "meaning": {"type": "string"}, "drift": {"type": "object"}}
+    elif name == "look":
+        extra = {"outputs": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}}
+    elif name == "render":
+        extra = {"stages": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}}, "check": {"type": ["object", "null"]}}
+    elif name == "verify":
+        extra = {"report": {"type": ["string", "null"]}, "files": {"type": "array"}, "failed": {"type": "integer"}, "total": {"type": "integer"}}
+    elif name == "batch":
+        extra = {"results": {"type": "array"}, "processed": {"type": "integer"}, "total": {"type": "integer"}}
+    elif name == "report":
+        extra = {"report": {"type": "string"}, "check": {"type": ["object", "null"]}}
+    elif name == "loudness":
+        extra = {"measured": {"type": "object", "description": "--measure-only prints the loudnorm measurement instead (input_i, input_tp, input_lra, input_thresh, target_offset)"}}
+    props = dict(base)
+    props.update(extra)
+    required = ["status", "output", "dry_run", "commands"]
+    return {"type": "object", "properties": props, "required": required, "additionalProperties": True}
+
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- environment
+def skill_version() -> str:
+    for candidate in (ROOT / "package.json",):
+        try:
+            return str(json.loads(candidate.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))["version"])
+        except (OSError, ValueError, KeyError):
+            continue
+    return "unknown"
+
+
+def skill_description() -> str:
+    try:
+        text = (ROOT / "SKILL.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        m = re.search(r"^description:\s*(.+)$", text, re.M)
+        return m.group(1).strip() if m else ""
+    except OSError:
+        return ""
+
+
+def public_tools() -> List[str]:
+    return sorted(p.stem for p in HERE.glob("*.py") if not p.name.startswith("_"))
+
+
+def _ff_list(binary: str, flag: str) -> List[str]:
+    """Names from `ffmpeg -encoders` / `-filters` / `-bsfs` (empty list when ffmpeg is missing)."""
+    exe = shutil.which(binary)
+    if not exe:
+        return []
+    proc = subprocess.run([exe, "-hide_banner", flag], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, text=True)
+    names: List[str] = []
+    flags = {"-encoders": r"[VASFXBD.]{6}", "-filters": r"[TSC.]{3}"}.get(flag)
+    for line in proc.stdout.splitlines():
+        parts = line.split()
+        if not parts:
+            continue
+        if flag == "-bsfs":
+            if len(parts) == 1 and not parts[0].endswith(":"):
+                names.append(parts[0])
+        elif flags and len(parts) >= 2 and re.fullmatch(flags, parts[0]):
+            names.append(parts[1])
+    return names
+
+
+def _version_line(binary: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    exe = shutil.which(binary)
+    if not exe:
+        return None
+    proc = subprocess.run([exe, "-version"], stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, text=True)
+    first = (proc.stdout or proc.stderr).splitlines()[:1]
+    m = re.match(rf"{binary} version (\S+)", first[0]) if first else None
+    return m.group(1) if m else (first[0] if first else "unknown")
+
+
+def _whisper_available() -> bool:
+    if shutil.which("whisper-cli") or shutil.which("whisper-cpp") or shutil.which("whisper"):
+        return True
+    return importlib.util.find_spec("faster_whisper") is not None or importlib.util.find_spec("whisper") is not None
+
+
+def required_capabilities() -> Dict[str, List[str]]:
+    req: set = set()
+    opt: set = set()
+    for meta in TOOL_META.values():
+        req.update(meta["required"])
+        opt.update(o["capability"] for o in meta["optional"] if o["capability"] != "delegated")
+    opt -= req
+    return {"required": sorted(req), "optional": sorted(opt)}
+
+
+def doctor() -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Detect which declared capabilities this machine has. No secrets, no environment variables."""
+    encoders = set(_ff_list("ffmpeg", "-encoders"))
+    filters = set(_ff_list("ffmpeg", "-filters"))
+    bsfs = set(_ff_list("ffmpeg", "-bsfs"))
+    have: Dict[str, bool] = {}
+    wanted = required_capabilities()
+    for cap in wanted["required"] + wanted["optional"]:
+        if cap == "ffmpeg":
+            have[cap] = shutil.which("ffmpeg") is not None
+        elif cap == "ffprobe":
+            have[cap] = shutil.which("ffprobe") is not None
+        elif cap.startswith("encoder:"):
+            have[cap] = cap[8:] in encoders
+        elif cap.startswith("filter:"):
+            have[cap] = cap[7:] in filters
+        elif cap.startswith("bsf:"):
+            have[cap] = cap[4:] in bsfs
+        elif cap == "external:whisper":
+            have[cap] = _whisper_available()
+        else:
+            have[cap] = False
+    available = sorted(c for c, ok in have.items() if ok)
+    missing_required = sorted(c for c in wanted["required"] if not have.get(c))
+    missing_optional = sorted(c for c in wanted["optional"] if not have.get(c))
+    return {
+        "python": ".".join(str(x) for x in sys.version_info[:3]),
+        "ffmpeg": _version_line("ffmpeg"),
+        "ffprobe": _version_line("ffprobe"),
+        "available": available,
+        "missing": missing_required,
+        "missing_optional": missing_optional,
+        "ok": not missing_required,
+    }
+
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- contract
+def tool_spec(name: str, version: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    if name not in TOOL_META:
+        # a public script without metadata is drift: fail loudly instead of guessing its role or capabilities
+        raise RuntimeError(f"scripts/{name}.py is public but has no TOOL_META entry in scripts/_contract.py; add one (or prefix the file with '_')")
+    meta = TOOL_META[name]
+    parser = _capture_parser(HERE / f"{name}.py")
+    schema = input_schema(parser)
+    # structured key -> CLI flag where key.replace("_", "-") is not the long option (MCP uses the same table)
+    exceptions: Dict[str, str] = {}
+    for dest, prop in schema["properties"].items():
+        if prop["cli"] == "positional":
+            continue
+        longs = [f for f in prop["cli"] if f.startswith("--")]
+        if dest == "output":
+            exceptions[dest] = "-o"
+        elif name == "loudness" and dest == "lufs":
+            exceptions[dest] = "-I"
+        elif "--" + dest.replace("_", "-") not in longs:
+            exceptions[dest] = longs[0] if longs else prop["cli"][0]
+    supports_dry_run = "dry_run" in schema["properties"] and name != "verify"
+    return {
+        "id": f"{SKILL_ID}/{name}",
+        "name": name,
+        "version": version,
+        "description": (parser.description or "").strip().splitlines()[0] if parser.description else "",
+        "executable": f"scripts/{name}.py",
+        "role": meta["role"],
+        "capabilities": {"required": list(meta["required"]), "optional": list(meta["optional"])},
+        "inputs": list(meta["inputs"]),
+        "outputs": list(meta["outputs"]),
+        "input_schema": schema,
+        "output_schema": output_schema(name, meta),
+        "supports_dry_run": supports_dry_run,
+        "dry_run": {"supported": supports_dry_run,
+                    "ffmpeg_execution": "full" if not supports_dry_run else "analysis_only" if name in DRY_RUN_ANALYSIS else "none",
+                    "semantics": "prints the ffmpeg command lines that would run; no output file is written",
+                    **({"note": DRY_RUN_ANALYSIS.get(name) or DRY_RUN_NOTES[name]} if name in DRY_RUN_ANALYSIS or name in DRY_RUN_NOTES else {})},
+        "supports_json": "json" in schema["properties"],
+        "mutates_input": False,
+        "produces_artifact": meta["produces_artifact"],
+        "verification": {"required": bool(meta["verify"]), "tools": [f"{SKILL_ID}/{t}" for t in meta["verify"]]},
+        "requires_visual_verification": meta["visual"],
+        "audio_only": meta["audio_only"],
+        "video_required": meta["video_required"],
+        "deterministic_inputs": meta["deterministic"],
+        "idempotency_hint": meta["idempotency"],
+        "mcp": {"tool": name, "positional": schema["positional"], "argument_exceptions": exceptions},
+    }
+
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- MCP derivation
+# tools that print JSON without --json (probe) or whose primary output is a file path (look): the transport
+# does not append --json for them (stated in invocation.structured.argument_mapping.json)
+MCP_JSON_EXEMPT = ("look", "probe")
+MCP_STRUCTURED_NOTE = ("Structured arguments: keys are the input_schema property names (argparse dests), positionals "
+                       "are passed by name, output -> -o. Or argv: the raw CLI list (non-canonical; all other keys are then ignored). "
+                       "Media paths must be absolute.")
+
+
+def mcp_input_schema(spec: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Translate a ToolSpec.input_schema into the JSON Schema an MCP tools/list entry carries.
+
+    Deterministic and lossless where JSON Schema can express argparse semantics:
+      - properties keep type / enum / default / description / items; the ffmpeg-skill-only keys
+        (`cli`, `common`) are dropped, positionals get a "(positional N)" prefix in the description;
+      - required fields, mutually exclusive groups (`not required [a, b]` per pair) and required
+        groups (`anyOf required`) apply to the structured branch;
+      - the raw-argv compatibility branch (`argv` present) lifts those constraints, which JSON Schema
+        expresses as a top-level anyOf of the two branches.
+    Not expressible and therefore documented rather than encoded: which keys the tool ignores when
+    `argv` is given (all of them), and argparse's `%(default)s` help interpolation (already applied).
+    """
+    src = spec["input_schema"]
+    props: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    positional = list(src.get("positional", []))
+    for dest in sorted(src["properties"]):
+        p = src["properties"][dest]
+        out: Dict[str, Any] = {"type": p["type"]}
+        if p["type"] == "array":
+            out["items"] = dict(p.get("items", {"type": "string"}))
+        desc = p.get("description", "")
+        if dest in positional:
+            desc = f"(positional {positional.index(dest) + 1}) {desc}".strip()
+        if desc:
+            out["description"] = desc
+        for key in ("enum", "default"):
+            if key in p:
+                out[key] = p[key]
+        props[dest] = out
+    props["argv"] = {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}, "description": "raw CLI arguments (non-canonical compatibility path; when present every other key is ignored)"}
+    structured: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    if src.get("required"):
+        structured["required"] = list(src["required"])
+    all_of: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for group in src.get("mutually_exclusive", []):
+        for i, a in enumerate(group):
+            for b in group[i + 1:]:
+                all_of.append({"not": {"required": [a, b]}})
+    if all_of:
+        structured["allOf"] = all_of
+    one_of = [[{"required": [d]} for d in group] for group in src.get("one_of_required", [])]
+    if one_of:
+        structured["anyOf"] = one_of[0] if len(one_of) == 1 else [{"allOf": [{"anyOf": g} for g in one_of]}]
+    schema: Dict[str, Any] = {"type": "object", "properties": props, "additionalProperties": False}
+    if structured:
+        schema["anyOf"] = [{"required": ["argv"]}, structured]
+    return schema
+
+
+def mcp_tool(spec: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """The MCP tools/list entry for a ToolSpec: name, description and the derived inputSchema."""
+    return {"name": spec["name"], "description": f"{spec['description']} {MCP_STRUCTURED_NOTE}".strip(), "inputSchema": mcp_input_schema(spec)}
+
+
+def mcp_tools(detect: bool = False) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    return [mcp_tool(spec) for spec in build(detect=detect)["tools"]]
+
+
+def build(detect: bool = True) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    version = skill_version()
+    tools = [tool_spec(n, version) for n in public_tools()]
+    wanted = required_capabilities()
+    caps: Dict[str, Any] = {"required": wanted["required"], "optional": wanted["optional"], "naming": "ffmpeg | ffprobe | encoder:<name> | filter:<name> | bsf:<name> | external:whisper"}
+    if detect:
+        d = doctor()
+        caps.update({"available": d["available"], "missing": d["missing"], "missing_optional": d["missing_optional"], "detected_by": "doctor"})
+    return {
+        "contract_version": CONTRACT_VERSION,
+        "skill": {
+            "id": SKILL_ID,
+            "version": version,
+            "description": skill_description(),
+            "execution_mode": "local",
+            "kind": "execution",
+            "entrypoints": {
+                "cli": "python3 scripts/<tool>.py [args] [--json] [--dry-run]",
+                "mcp": "python3 mcp/server.py (stdio JSON-RPC; tools/list == this tool list)",
+                "contract": "python3 scripts/_contract.py --json  |  ffmpeg-skill contract --json",
+                "doctor": "python3 scripts/_contract.py doctor --json  |  ffmpeg-skill doctor --json",
+            },
+            "not_provided": ["AI reasoning", "decisions", "production plans", "project IR", "approvals", "network access", "transcription engine"],
+        },
+        "requirements": {"python": ">=3.9 (standard library only)", "ffmpeg": ">=5.0", "ffprobe": ">=5.0", "node": ">=16 (npx installer only)"},
+        "execution": {
+            "shell": False,
+            "arbitrary_executables": False,
+            "subprocess": "argv list only: [python3, scripts/<tool>.py, ...] and [ffmpeg|ffprobe, ...] resolved from PATH",
+            "network": False,
+            "input_mutation": False,
+        },
+        "invocation": {
+            "structured": {
+                "canonical": True,
+                "transports": ["cli", "mcp"],
+                "argument_mapping": {
+                    "positional": "listed in input_schema.positional, in order; array values expand to several arguments",
+                    "options": "key -> --key with '_' replaced by '-'; booleans are flags; arrays repeat the flag; input_schema.properties[key].cli lists the accepted spellings",
+                    "exceptions": "per tool in mcp.argument_exceptions (key -> flag), e.g. output -> -o, loudness.lufs -> -I, graphics.count_from -> --from",
+                    "json": "--json is appended for every tool except look and probe (probe prints JSON by default)",
+                },
+            },
+            "raw_argv": {"canonical": False, "transports": ["mcp"], "note": "MCP tools also accept {\"argv\": [...]} for CLI compatibility; it is still bound to the named script, never a shell"},
+        },
+        "roles": ROLES,
+        "idempotency_hints": IDEMPOTENCY,
+        "verification_policy": {
+            "probe_first": "run ffmpeg-skill/probe on every input before planning",
+            "verify_last": "run the tools named in each ToolSpec.verification after it wrote an artifact",
+            "visual": "when requires_visual_verification is true, run ffmpeg-skill/look on the output and inspect the PNG",
+            "audio_only": "audio-only inputs and audio-only tools never need ffmpeg-skill/look",
+            "check_rows": "ffmpeg-skill/check rows carry kind=format (fix) or kind=judgement (decide with the user)",
+        },
+        "json_output": {
+            "success": {"status": "completed", "exit_code": 0, "stdout": "one JSON document (output_schema)"},
+            "failure": {"status": "failed", "exit_code": "non-zero (127 when ffmpeg/ffprobe is missing)", "stdout": "{\"status\": \"failed\", \"error\": {\"kind\": ..., \"message\": ...}} when --json was given", "stderr": "human-readable message"},
+            "error_kinds": {"input": "missing or unsuitable input, bad arguments", "ffmpeg": "ffmpeg/ffprobe returned an error", "missing_tool": "ffmpeg or ffprobe not on PATH"},
+        },
+        "capabilities": caps,
+        "tools": tools,
+    }
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__, formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter)
+    ap.add_argument("command", nargs="?", choices=["contract", "doctor"], default="contract")
+    ap.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="JSON on stdout (the contract is always JSON)")
+    ap.add_argument("--static", action="store_true", help="omit environment detection (available / missing capabilities)")
+    args = ap.parse_args()
+    if args.command == "doctor":
+        d = doctor()
+        if args.json:
+            print(json.dumps(d, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+        else:
+            print(f"python {d['python']}; ffmpeg {d['ffmpeg'] or 'MISSING'}; ffprobe {d['ffprobe'] or 'MISSING'}")
+            print(f"available: {', '.join(d['available'])}")
+            print(f"missing required: {', '.join(d['missing']) or 'none'}")
+            print(f"missing optional: {', '.join(d['missing_optional']) or 'none'}")
+        return 0 if d["ok"] else 1
+    print(json.dumps(build(detect=not args.static), indent=2, sort_keys=True, ensure_ascii=False))
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())

package/scripts/caption.py

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional, Tuple
 
-from _common import color_hex, load_brand, video_args, add_common, apply_common, emit, aac_args, cfr_args, default_output, die, escape_filter_path, ffmpeg_base, fmt_srt_time, info, parse_time, probe, run, x264_args
+from _common import STATE, color_hex, load_brand, video_args, add_common, apply_common, emit, aac_args, cfr_args, default_output, die, escape_filter_path, ffmpeg_base, fmt_srt_time, info, parse_time, probe, run, x264_args
 
 ALIGN = {"bottom": 2, "top": 8, "center": 5, "bottom-left": 1, "bottom-right": 3, "top-left": 7, "top-right": 9}
 
@@ -352,7 +352,8 @@ def main() -> int:
             srt_path = os.path.splitext(out_guess)[0] + ".srt"
         else:
             srt_path = os.path.splitext(args.text)[0] + ".srt"
-        write_srt(cues, srt_path)
+        if not STATE.dry_run:
+            write_srt(cues, srt_path)
         info(f"wrote {srt_path} ({len(cues)} cues)")
         if not args.input:
             print(srt_path)
@@ -382,7 +383,7 @@ def main() -> int:
         if args.fonts_dir:
             vf += f":fontsdir={escape_filter_path(args.fonts_dir)}"
     else:
-        if not srt_path or not os.path.exists(srt_path):
+        if not srt_path or (not os.path.exists(srt_path) and not (STATE.dry_run and args.text)):
             die(f"SRT file not found: {srt_path}")
         style = [
             f"FontName={args.font}",

package/scripts/report.py

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
 
-from _common import add_common, apply_common, die, emit, info, probe
+from _common import STATE, add_common, apply_common, die, emit, info, probe
 
 HERE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
 
@@ -150,8 +150,11 @@ def main() -> int:
     .foot{color:var(--ink2);font-size:12px;margin-top:36px;border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding-top:10px}
     """
     doc = f"<!doctype html><html><head><meta charset='utf-8'><meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width,initial-scale=1'><title>{html.escape(title)}</title><style>{css}</style></head><body><div class='wrap'>{''.join(parts)}</div></body></html>"
-    Path(output).write_text(doc, encoding="utf-8")
-    info(f"wrote {output} ({os.path.getsize(output) / 1024:.0f} KB)")
+    if STATE.dry_run:
+        info(f"wrote {output}")  # printed as "[dry-run] would write"; nothing is written
+    else:
+        Path(output).write_text(doc, encoding="utf-8")
+        info(f"wrote {output} ({os.path.getsize(output) / 1024:.0f} KB)")
     emit(None, report=output, check=chk)
     if not args.json:
         print(output)