Cut a clip

Cut seconds 2 to 5 out of bunny.mp4 and save them as clip.mp4.

The task

The reference answer shows the job can be done with deft. It is not an agent run.

deft video split bunny.mp4 --from 2 --to-time 5 -o clip.mp4

Input

bunny.mp4 946.5 KB · h264 1280x720, 10.0s

Reference output

clip.mp4 617.6 KB · h264 1280x720, 3.0s

How a result is judged (1 check)

media: file = "clip.mp4", duration = 3, tolerance = 0.3, has_video = true

Runs

CodexWithout deftPassed2026-11-07

Time: 11s
New tokens: 5.1k
Total input: 41.9k
Output tokens: 0.3k
Commands: 2
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll inspect the video metadata, then extract the 2–5 second segment into `clip.mp4` in the current directory.
ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1:nokey=1 bunny.mp4
output
```
10.000000
```

ffmpeg -ss 2 -i bunny.mp4 -t 3 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -movflags +faststart clip.mp4

output

ffmpeg version 7.1.1 Copyright (c) 2000-2025 the FFmpeg developers
  built with Apple clang version 15.0.0 (clang-1500.1.0.2.5)
  configuration: --prefix=/opt/homebrew/Cellar/ffmpeg/7.1.1_1 --enable-shared --enable-pthreads --enable-version3 --cc=clang --host-cflags= --host-ldflags='-Wl,-ld_classic' --enable-ffplay --enable-gnutls --enable-gpl --enable-libaom --enable-libaribb24 --enable-libbluray --enable-libdav1d --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-libjxl --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus --enable-librav1e --enable-librist --enable-librubberband --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libsvtav1 --enable-libtesseract --enable-libtheora --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvmaf --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwebp --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-lzma --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-frei0r --enable-libass --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libspeex --enable-libsoxr --enable-libzmq --enable-libzimg --disable-libjack --disable-indev=jack --enable-videotoolbox --enable-audiotoolbox --enable-neon
  libavutil      59. 39.100 / 59. 39.100
  libavcodec     61. 19.101 / 61. 19.101
  libavformat    61.  7.100 / 61.  7.100
  libavdevice    61.  3.100 / 61.  3.100
  libavfilter    10.  4.100 / 10.  4.100
  libswscale      8.  3.100 /  8.  3.100
  libswresample   5.  3.100 /  5.  3.100
  libpostproc    58.  3.100 / 58.  3.100
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3
… 4240 more characters

Saved the segment as [clip.mp4](clip.mp4). It’s approximately 3 seconds long.

Output

clip.mp4 782.2 KB · h264 1280x720, 3.0s

CodexWith deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time: 14s
New tokens: 9.4k
Total input: 72.6k
Output tokens: 0.4k
Commands: 4
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll use the `deft` skill for the video trim, then save the extracted segment in the current directory.

cat .agents/skills/deft/SKILL.md && pwd && rg --files -g 'bunny.mp4' -g 'AGENTS.md'

output

---
name: deft
description: "Use deft instead of writing a script for file jobs: PDF merge/split/compress/watermark, image resize/convert/compress, video and audio trim/convert/compress, spreadsheets, Markdown to PDF/HTML, and YouTube downloads and subtitles."
---

# deft

One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.

Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`

Groups:
- `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
- `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, filters, montage, OCR
- `video`: Trim, crop, speed, convert, compress, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
- `audio`: Convert, trim, merge, fade, speed, tag, normalize (ffmpeg)
- `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
- `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline, PDF handout
- `data`: JSON/YAML/TOML/XML: convert, query with jq syntax, merge, diff
- `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: filter, sort, join, pivot, convert
- `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
- `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word, PDF; screenshots
- `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
- `email`: EML files: headers, text, attachments
- `contact`: VCF address books: to and from CSV
- `calendar`: ICS calendars: to and from CSV
- `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
- `youtube`: Info, download, audio, subtitles, thumbnail (yt-dlp)
- `file`: Any file: hash, duplicates, batch rename, base64, encoding
- `qr`: Cre
… 739 more characters

deft video

output

deft video - commands (input -> output)
  info               video -> report      Duration, size, frame rate, codecs
  add-audio          video -> video       Replace or mix the soundtrack: --audio song.mp3
  add-subtitles      video -> video       Add subtitles: burned into the picture, or --soft
  chunk              video -> video...    Cut into equal parts: --length 10:00
  compress           video -> mp4         Smaller file: --level, --target-size, --max-height
  convert            video|gif -> video   Change container and codec: --to mp4|webm|mov|mkv
  crop               video -> video       Cut a region: --box or --aspect 1:1
  download           url -> video         Save a video: --resolution 720p, --to mp4|webm|mkv [net]
  extract-audio      video -> audio       Save the soundtrack: --to mp3|m4a|wav|flac|ogg
  extract-subtitles  video -> srt|vtt     Save an embedded subtitle track: --to srt|vtt
  fade               video -> video       Fade: --fade-in 1 --fade-out 2
  frames             video -> png|jpg...  Save frames as images: --fps 1 or --at 0:05,0:10
  from-images        image... -> video    Slideshow: --duration, --fps, --audio
  merge              video... -> mp4      Join videos; --transition fades
  mute               video -> video       Remove the audio track
  pad                video -> video       Fit into a frame with bars: --size 1080x1920
  repeat             video -> video       Repeat a video: --count 3 plays it three times
  resize             vid
… 891 more characters

deft video split --help

output

deft video split - Cut out a part: --from 0:10 --to-time 0:25

Usage: deft video split <video>... [-o <video|dir>] [options]
In: video (each handled separately)   Out: video (default <name>.clip.<ext>)
--fast copies streams without re-encoding; cuts land on keyframes.

Options:
  --from <time>                Start time (default 0)
  --to-time <time>             End time (default: end of the video)
  --fast                       Stream copy, no re-encoding
Common: -o --force --dry-run --json -j   (deft help common)

Examples:
  deft video split clip.mp4 --from 0:01 --to-time 0:02 -o part.mp4
  deft video trim clip.mp4 --from 1 --fast -o tail.mp4
Needs: ffmpeg, ffprobe

deft video split bunny.mp4 --from 0:02 --to-time 0:05 -o clip.mp4
output
```
ok video.split bunny.mp4 -> clip.mp4  618KB  0.34s
```
Saved seconds 2–5 of `bunny.mp4` as [clip.mp4](clip.mp4).

Output

clip.mp4 617.6 KB · h264 1280x720, 3.0s

CodexWith deft, skill as AGENTS.mdPassed2026-11-05

Time: 13s
New tokens: 5.8k
Total input: 61.8k
Output tokens: 0.3k
Commands: 3
Failed: 0

Trace

I’ll use the local `deft` video trim command and save the 2–5 second segment as `clip.mp4` in this directory.

deft video

output

deft video - commands (input -> output)
  info           video -> report      Duration, size, frame rate, codecs
  compress       video -> mp4         Smaller file: --level, --target-size, --max-height
  convert        video -> video       Change container and codec: --to mp4|webm|mov|mkv
  download       url -> video         Save a video: --resolution 720p, --to mp4|webm|mkv [net]
  extract-audio  video -> audio       Save the soundtrack: --to mp3|m4a|wav|flac|ogg
  frames         video -> png|jpg...  Save frames as images: --fps 1 or --at 0:05,0:10
  merge          video... -> mp4      Join videos in order (sizes are matched to the first)
  mute           video -> video       Remove the audio track
  resize         video -> video       Scale: --size 1280x, x720, 50%
  rotate         video -> video       Turn clockwise: --angle 90
  split          video -> video       Cut out a part: --from 0:10 --to-time 0:25
  to-gif         video -> gif         Animated GIF: --fps, --size, --from, --to-time
More: deft video <command> --help

deft video split --help

output

deft video split - Cut out a part: --from 0:10 --to-time 0:25

Usage: deft video split <video>... [-o <video|dir>] [options]
In: video (each handled separately)   Out: video (default <name>.clip.<ext>)
--fast copies streams without re-encoding; cuts land on keyframes.

Options:
  --from <time>                Start time (default 0)
  --to-time <time>             End time (default: end of the video)
  --fast                       Stream copy, no re-encoding
Common: -o --force --dry-run --json -j   (deft help common)

Examples:
  deft video split clip.mp4 --from 0:01 --to-time 0:02 -o part.mp4
  deft video trim clip.mp4 --from 1 --fast -o tail.mp4
Needs: ffmpeg, ffprobe

deft video split bunny.mp4 --from 0:02 --to-time 0:05 -o clip.mp4
output
```
ok video.split bunny.mp4 -> clip.mp4  618KB  0.27s
```
Saved the 2–5 second segment from `bunny.mp4` as `clip.mp4` in the current directory.

Output

Its files were not kept in this run. The last line of the trace is its own report.

Claude Opus 5.5Without deftPassed2026-11-07

Time: 10s
New tokens: 8.6k
Total input: 41.9k
Output tokens: 0.4k
Commands: 0
Failed: 0

Trace

Output

clip.mp4 782.2 KB · h264 1280x720, 3.0s

Claude Opus 5.5With deft, skill installedPassedRead the skillUsed deft2026-11-07

Time: 16s
New tokens: 10.4k
Total input: 75.1k
Output tokens: 0.8k
Commands: 0
Failed: 0

Trace

Output

.claude/skills/deft/SKILL.md 2.1 KB

---
name: deft
description: "Use deft first for any simple, direct operation on local files, whatever the type: convert, read, extract, edit, compress, merge, split, compare or inspect. Try it before writing a script or one-liner. If unsure, run deft find; if it says no command does this, use another tool. Not for programming work: to read, write or change source code, skip it."
---

# deft

One local command for file jobs. Prefer it over writing Python or shell scripts.

Syntax: `deft <group> <command> [inputs] [-o output] [--options]`

Groups:
- `pdf`: Merge, split, compress, encrypt, forms, OCR, compare, convert
- `image`: Resize, crop, convert, compress, adjust, montage, OCR
- `video`: Trim, merge, convert, compress, subtitles, GIF, frames (ffmpeg)
- `audio`: Convert, trim, normalize, denoise, cut silence (ffmpeg)
- `doc`: Word/ODT/RTF: to text, Markdown, HTML, PDF; find and replace
- `slides`: PowerPoint: extract text, Markdown outline
- `sheet`: Excel/CSV/ODS tables: SQL query, pivot, merge, split, convert
- `json`: JSON: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `toml`: TOML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `xml`: XML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `yaml`: YAML: convert, format, merge, diff, validate
- `md`: Markdown to PDF, HTML, Word, EPUB; table of contents
- `html`: HTML to Markdown, text, Word and PDF
- `epub`: E-books: info, to text, Markdown and PDF
- `gps`: GPX and KML tracks: convert, distance and time
- `qr`: Create QR codes and barcodes; read QR codes

How to use it:
1. Run `deft <group>` to list commands, or `deft find "<what you want>"` to search. If it says `no command does this`, use another tool.
2. Run `deft <group> <command> --help` for options and examples.
3. `deft convert <in> -o <out.ext>` converts between formats by extension.
4. Results are one line starting with `ok`, `partial` or `error`; add `--json` to parse them. Errors include a `hint:` with the fix.

Inputs are never overwritten; pass `--force` or `--in-place` to allow it. Globs and directories work as inputs; several inputs run in parallel.

If `deft` is not installed, ask the user, then follow https://github.com/firstprayer/deft/blob/main/docs/INSTALL.md

clip.mp4 617.6 KB · h264 1280x720, 3.0s

Claude CodeWithout deftNot run yet

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