nlm-skill

Gemini Notebook CLI & MCP Expert

This skill provides comprehensive guidance for using Gemini Notebook via both the nlm CLI and MCP tools.

Tool Detection (CRITICAL - Read First!)

ALWAYS check which tools are available before proceeding:

1. Check for MCP tools: Tool names vary by host; look for mcp__gemini-notebook-mcp__*, mcp__notebooklm_mcp__*, or mcp_gemini_notebook_mcp_*.
2. Follow an explicit surface choice: If the user asks for MCP or CLI, use it.
3. Choose by task when both are available: Use MCP for notebook operations and downloads inside its configured download directory. Use the CLI for an explicit --profile without changing the MCP default account, or for a user-directed output path outside the MCP download directory. Ask only if the choice would materially change the result and the user's preference is unclear.
4. Use the available surface when only MCP or only CLI is callable; read its tool docstring or nlm <command> --help before supplying unfamiliar options.

Decision Logic:

has_mcp_tools = check_available_tools()  # Look for any NotebookLM MCP tool name above
has_cli = check_bash_available()  # Can run nlm commands

if user_named_mcp_or_cli:
    use_that_surface()
elif needs_workspace_output_outside_mcp_root or needs_explicit_profile_without_switching_default:
    use_cli()
elif has_mcp_tools:
    use_mcp()
elif has_cli:
    use_cli()

Check the active account before a mutation when more than one profile is saved: nlm login profile list shows accounts, and nlm config get auth.default_profile shows the MCP default. CLI commands can use --profile <name>. MCP tools use the active profile: call the profile tool (action=list, then action=switch with name=...) to change it for this MCP server until it restarts (add make_default=true only when the user asks to change their default). While a switch is active, tool results carry active_profile_note; tell the user which account is in use. usage_get(profile=...) is an account-specific read and does not switch other MCP tools.