Video Cutter by Timecode

😫 The Pain Point

You have a 2-hour meeting recording but only need the 5 minutes from 45:00 to 50:00. Video editors are overkill for simple trimming.

🚀 Agentic Solution

A Precision Video Cutter that extracts exactly the segment you need.

Key Features:

• Timecode Input: Specify start/end in HH:MM:SS format.
• No Re-encoding: Fast copy mode when possible.
• Batch Clips: Extract multiple segments from one video.

⚔️ Phase 1: Commander (Quick Fix)

For quick cutting.

Prompt:

“I have a video meeting.mp4. Write a Python script using FFmpeg to:

1. Extract: Clip from 00:45:00 to 00:50:00.
2. Mode: Use -c copy for fast extraction (no re-encode).
3. Output: Save as meeting_clip.mp4.

Accept timestamps via command line arguments. Handle invalid timestamps gracefully.”

Result: Exactly the clip you need in seconds.

🏗️ Phase 2: Architect (Permanent Tool)

For Video Editors.

Engineering Prompt:

**Role:** Python GUI Developer (PyQt6 Specialist)
**Task:** Create "Precision Video Cutter" Desktop App

**Objective:** A tool to losslessly extract specific time segments from videos without re-encoding.

**Tech Stack:**
* Language: Python 3.10+
* GUI Library: PyQt6 (Cross-platform)
* Media Engine: FFmpeg
* Packaging: PyInstaller

**Functional Requirements:**
1.  **UI Layout (PyQt6):**
    *   **Source:** Video File Selection.
    *   **Timeline:** Inputs for Start Time / End Time (HH:MM:SS.ms).
    *   **List:** Queue of multiple cuts to perform on the same video.
    *   **Mode:** Checkbox "Clean Mode" (Re-encode, Accurate) vs "Fast Mode" (Stream Copy, Keyframe limited).

2.  **Core Logic:**
    *   **Fast Mode:** `ffmpeg -ss ... -i ... -c copy` (Instant).
    *   **Clean Mode:** Re-encode at clip boundaries for frame-perfect cut.
    *   **Threading:** Process queue in background.

3.  **Deliverables:**
    *   `main.py`: Complete source code.
    *   `requirements.txt`: Dependencies.
    *   **Build Instructions:**
        *   Windows: `pyinstaller --onefile --noconsole main.py`
        *   macOS: `pyinstaller --windowed --noconsole main.py`

🧠 Prompt Decoding

• -c copy: Copies streams without re-encoding. Instant but cuts at nearest keyframe.
• Re-encode: Slower but frame-accurate cuts.

🛠️ Instructions

1. Install FFmpeg.
2. Copy Prompt → Specify timestamps → Run.