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X to Markdown

Free

Convert X tweets and articles to markdown format easily.

by jimliu24.8k stars on jimliu/baoyu-skills
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Updated Jul 4, 2026
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Free · Opens the source repo

What X to Markdown does

The X to Markdown skill provides a straightforward way to convert content from X (formerly Twitter) into markdown format, complete with YAML front matter. This tool is particularly useful for developers, writers, and researchers who want to archive or repurpose tweets and articles in a structured markdown format. The conversion process supports both individual tweets and entire threads, as well as articles from the platform, allowing for comprehensive content extraction.

To use the skill, users must provide a URL from X, and the tool will handle the extraction and formatting. The output includes essential metadata such as the original URL, author information, and cover images, which are neatly organized in markdown files. The skill also allows for user preferences regarding media handling, enabling users to choose whether to download images and videos locally or keep the original links in the markdown output.

Before any conversion can take place, the skill requires user consent due to its reliance on a reverse-engineered API. This consent process ensures that users are aware of the potential risks involved, including the possibility of changes to the API that could affect functionality. The skill is designed to be user-friendly, prompting users for their preferences during the initial setup and allowing for easy adjustments later on.

The X to Markdown skill is ideal for anyone looking to integrate social media content into their projects or documentation. Its ability to convert tweets and articles into a widely-used format like markdown makes it a valuable addition for developers and content creators alike, streamlining the process of content management and archiving.

When to use it

Use this skill when you need to convert X tweets or articles into markdown format for documentation or archiving purposes.

When not to use it

This skill may not be suitable if you require official API support or if you are concerned about the risks associated with using a reverse-engineered API.

What you can build with it

Archiving Tweets for Research

Researchers can use this skill to convert relevant tweets into markdown for easy reference and documentation.

Documenting Social Media Campaigns

Marketers can convert tweets related to their campaigns into markdown format for reporting and analysis.

Creating Content from Social Media

Writers can extract tweets and articles to create structured content for blogs or articles.

How to install X to Markdown

View source

1. Install with the skills CLI

npx skills add jimliu/baoyu-skills/baoyu-danger-x-to-markdown --agent claude-code

2. Or install it manually

Download the skill folder and drop it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or .claude/skills/ to scope it to one repo. Restart Claude Code so it picks up the new skill.

Anthropic's agentic coding CLI, and the reference implementation of Agent Skills. Drop a skill folder into ~/.claude/skills and Claude Code loads it automatically whenever a task matches the skill's description. Claude Code docs

Inside SKILL.md

Written by jimliu

X to Markdown

Converts X content to markdown:

  • Tweets/threads → Markdown with YAML front matter
  • X Articles → Full content extraction

User Input Tools

When this skill prompts the user, follow this tool-selection rule (priority order):

  1. Prefer built-in user-input tools exposed by the current agent runtime — e.g., AskUserQuestion, request_user_input, clarify, ask_user, or any equivalent.
  2. Fallback: if no such tool exists, emit a numbered plain-text message and ask the user to reply with the chosen number/answer for each question.
  3. Batching: if the tool supports multiple questions per call, combine all applicable questions into a single call; if only single-question, ask them one at a time in priority order.

Concrete AskUserQuestion references below are examples — substitute the local equivalent in other runtimes.

Script Directory

Scripts located in scripts/ subdirectory.

Path Resolution:

  1. {baseDir} = this SKILL.md's directory
  2. Script path = {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts
  3. Resolve ${BUN_X} runtime: if bun installed → bun; if npx available → npx -y bun; else suggest installing bun

Consent Requirement

Before any conversion, check and obtain consent.

Consent Flow

Step 1: Check consent file

# macOS
cat ~/Library/Application\ Support/baoyu-skills/x-to-markdown/consent.json

# Linux
cat ~/.local/share/baoyu-skills/x-to-markdown/consent.json

Step 2: If accepted: true and disclaimerVersion: "1.0" → print warning and proceed:

Warning: Using reverse-engineered X API. Accepted on: <acceptedAt>

Step 3: If missing or version mismatch → display disclaimer:

DISCLAIMER

This tool uses a reverse-engineered X API, NOT official.

Risks:
- May break if X changes API
- No guarantees or support
- Possible account restrictions
- Use at your own risk

Accept terms and continue?

Use AskUserQuestion with options: "Yes, I accept" | "No, I decline"

Step 4: On accept → create consent file:

{
  "version": 1,
  "accepted": true,
  "acceptedAt": "<ISO timestamp>",
  "disclaimerVersion": "1.0"
}

Step 5: On decline → output "User declined. Exiting." and stop.

Preferences (EXTEND.md)

Check EXTEND.md in priority order — the first one found wins:

PriorityPathScope
1.baoyu-skills/baoyu-danger-x-to-markdown/EXTEND.mdProject
2${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}/baoyu-skills/baoyu-danger-x-to-markdown/EXTEND.mdXDG
3$HOME/.baoyu-skills/baoyu-danger-x-to-markdown/EXTEND.mdUser home
ResultAction
FoundRead, parse, apply settings
Not foundMUST run first-time setup (see below) — do NOT silently create defaults

EXTEND.md supports: Download media by default, default output directory.

First-Time Setup (BLOCKING)

CRITICAL: When EXTEND.md is not found, you MUST use AskUserQuestion to ask the user for their preferences before creating EXTEND.md. NEVER create EXTEND.md with defaults without asking. This is a BLOCKING operation — do NOT proceed with any conversion until setup is complete.

Use AskUserQuestion with ALL questions in ONE call:

Question 1 — header: "Media", question: "How to handle images and videos in tweets?"

  • "Ask each time (Recommended)" — After saving markdown, ask whether to download media
  • "Always download" — Always download media to local imgs/ and videos/ directories
  • "Never download" — Keep original remote URLs in markdown

Question 2 — header: "Output", question: "Default output directory?"

  • "x-to-markdown (Recommended)" — Save to ./x-to-markdown/{username}/{tweet-id}.md
  • (User may choose "Other" to type a custom path)

Question 3 — header: "Save", question: "Where to save preferences?"

  • "User (Recommended)" — ~/.baoyu-skills/ (all projects)
  • "Project" — .baoyu-skills/ (this project only)

After user answers, create EXTEND.md at the chosen location, confirm "Preferences saved to [path]", then continue.

Full reference: references/config/first-time-setup.md

Supported Keys

KeyDefaultValuesDescription
download_mediaaskask / 1 / 0ask = prompt each time, 1 = always download, 0 = never
default_output_diremptypath or emptyDefault output directory (empty = ./x-to-markdown/)

Value priority:

  1. CLI arguments (--download-media, -o)
  2. EXTEND.md
  3. Skill defaults

Usage

${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url>
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> -o output.md
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --download-media
${BUN_X} {baseDir}/scripts/main.ts <url> --json

Options

OptionDescription
<url>Tweet or article URL
-o <path>Output path
--jsonJSON output
--download-mediaDownload image/video assets to local imgs/ and videos/, and rewrite markdown links to local relative paths
--loginRefresh cookies only

Supported URLs

  • https://x.com/<user>/status/<id>
  • https://twitter.com/<user>/status/<id>
  • https://x.com/i/article/<id>

Output

---
url: "https://x.com/user/status/123"
author: "Name (@user)"
tweetCount: 3
coverImage: "https://pbs.twimg.com/media/example.jpg"
---

Content...

File structure: x-to-markdown/{username}/{tweet-id}/{content-slug}.md

When --download-media is enabled:

  • Images are saved to imgs/ next to the markdown file
  • Videos are saved to videos/ next to the markdown file
  • Markdown media links are rewritten to local relative paths

Media Download Workflow

Based on download_media setting in EXTEND.md:

SettingBehavior
1 (always)Run script with --download-media flag
0 (never)Run script without --download-media flag
ask (default)Follow the ask-each-time flow below

Ask-Each-Time Flow

  1. Run script without --download-media → markdown saved
  2. Check saved markdown for remote media URLs (https:// in image/video links)
  3. If no remote media found → done, no prompt needed
  4. If remote media found → use AskUserQuestion:
    • header: "Media", question: "Download N images/videos to local files?"
    • "Yes" — Download to local directories
    • "No" — Keep remote URLs
  5. If user confirms → run script again with --download-media (overwrites markdown with localized links)

Authentication

  1. Environment variables (preferred): X_AUTH_TOKEN, X_CT0
  2. Chrome login (fallback): Auto-opens Chrome, caches cookies locally

Extension Support

Custom configurations via EXTEND.md. See Preferences section for paths and supported options.

Frequently asked questions about X to Markdown

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