NotebookLM CLI (nlm)
Manage Google NotebookLM notebooks, sources, notes, and audio overviews via the nlm command-line tool.
Binary Path: /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm
Authentication
Before first use, authenticate with Google:
/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm auth
This launches a browser for OAuth. Credentials are stored in ~/.nlm/env.
To check available browser profiles:
/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm auth --all --notebooks
Core Commands
Notebook Management
# List all notebooks /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm list # Create a new notebook /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm create “Research Notes” # Delete a notebook /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm rm <notebook-id> # Get notebook analytics /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm analytics <notebook-id>
Source Management
Add sources from URLs, files, or stdin:
# Add URL source /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add <notebook-id> https://example.com/article # Add PDF file /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add <notebook-id> document.pdf # Add from stdin echo “Some text content” | /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add <notebook-id> - # Add with specific MIME type cat data.json | /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add <notebook-id> - -mime=”application/json” # Add YouTube video /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add <notebook-id> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID # List sources in notebook /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm sources <notebook-id> # Rename a source /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm rename-source <source-id> “New Title” # Remove a source /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm rm-source <notebook-id> <source-id> # Refresh source content /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm refresh-source <source-id>
Note Management
# List notes in notebook /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm notes <notebook-id> # Create new note /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm new-note <notebook-id> “Note Title” # Update note content /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm update-note <notebook-id> <note-id> “New content” “New Title” # Remove note /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm rm-note <note-id>
Audio Overviews
Generate AI podcast-style audio summaries:
# Create audio overview with instructions /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-create <notebook-id> “Focus on key themes and provide a professional summary” # List audio overviews /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-list <notebook-id> # Get audio overview status/content /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-get <notebook-id> # Download audio file (requires --direct-rpc) /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-download <notebook-id> output.mp3 --direct-rpc # Share audio (private) /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-share <notebook-id> # Share audio (public) /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-share <notebook-id> --public # Delete audio /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-rm <notebook-id>
Video Overviews
# Create video overview /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm video-create <notebook-id> “Instructions for video” # List video overviews /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm video-list <notebook-id> # Download video (requires --direct-rpc) /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm video-download <notebook-id> output.mp4 --direct-rpc
Generation Commands
# Generate notebook guide (short summary) /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-guide <notebook-id> # Generate comprehensive content outline /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-outline <notebook-id> # Generate new content section /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-section <notebook-id> # Free-form chat generation /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-chat <notebook-id> "What are the main themes?" # Interactive chat session /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm chat <notebook-id> # Generate magic view synthesis from specific sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-magic <notebook-id> <source-id-1> <source-id-2>
Content Transformation Commands
Transform your sources into different formats. All commands take <notebook-id> <source-id> [source-id...]:
# Summarize content from sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm summarize <notebook-id> <source-id> # Generate study guide with key concepts and review questions /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm study-guide <notebook-id> <source-id> # Generate FAQ from sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm faq <notebook-id> <source-id> # Create professional briefing document /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm briefing-doc <notebook-id> <source-id> # Rephrase content in different words /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm rephrase <notebook-id> <source-id> # Expand on content with more detail /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm expand <notebook-id> <source-id> # Get a critique of the content /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm critique <notebook-id> <source-id> # Brainstorm ideas from sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm brainstorm <notebook-id> <source-id> # Verify facts in sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm verify <notebook-id> <source-id> # Explain concepts in accessible language /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm explain <notebook-id> <source-id> # Create a structured outline from sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm outline <notebook-id> <source-id> # Generate text-based mindmap /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm mindmap <notebook-id> <source-id> # Create a timeline of events /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm timeline <notebook-id> <source-id> # Generate table of contents /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm toc <notebook-id> <source-id>
Research Commands
Research topics and automatically import sources into a notebook:
# Research a topic and import sources to a notebook /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm research "quantum computing advances" --notebook <notebook-id> # Deep research mode for comprehensive investigation /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm research "climate policy impacts" --notebook <notebook-id> --deep
The research command:
- •Searches for relevant sources on the topic
- •Automatically imports found sources into the specified notebook
- •
--deepmode performs more comprehensive research
Batch Operations
Execute multiple commands in a single request for better performance:
/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm batch "create 'Research Notebook'" "add NOTEBOOK_ID https://example.com" "add NOTEBOOK_ID paper.pdf"
Common Workflows
Research Workflow
Option A: Automated Research (recommended)
Use the research command to automatically find and import sources:
# Create notebook id=$(/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm create "AI Research" | grep -o 'notebook [^ ]*' | cut -d' ' -f2) # Research and auto-import sources /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm research "transformer architecture advances 2024" --notebook $id # For comprehensive investigation /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm research "transformer architecture advances 2024" --notebook $id --deep # Generate synthesis /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-chat $id "What are the key findings?" /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-create $id "Summarize the key findings professionally"
Option B: Manual Source Addition
- •Create a notebook for the topic
- •Add sources manually (URLs, PDFs, text)
- •Create notes with key findings
- •Generate an audio overview for synthesis
# Create notebook id=$(/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm create "AI Research" | grep -o 'notebook [^ ]*' | cut -d' ' -f2) # Add sources manually /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add $id https://arxiv.org/paper.pdf /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm add $id research-notes.txt # Generate audio /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm audio-create $id "Summarize the key findings professionally"
Study Materials Workflow
Generate comprehensive study materials from sources:
# Get notebook and source IDs /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm list /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm sources <notebook-id> # Generate study materials from a source /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm study-guide <notebook-id> <source-id> # Key concepts + review questions /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm faq <notebook-id> <source-id> # Common questions answered /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm outline <notebook-id> <source-id> # Structured overview /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm explain <notebook-id> <source-id> # Accessible explanations
Content Analysis Workflow
Deeply analyze and transform content:
# Summarize and synthesize /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm summarize <notebook-id> <source-id> /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm generate-magic <notebook-id> <src1> <src2> # Cross-source synthesis # Critical analysis /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm critique <notebook-id> <source-id> /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm verify <notebook-id> <source-id> # Creative exploration /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm brainstorm <notebook-id> <source-id> /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm expand <notebook-id> <source-id> # Interactive Q&A /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm chat <notebook-id>
Executive Briefing Workflow
Create professional documents from sources:
# Generate briefing materials /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm briefing-doc <notebook-id> <source-id> # Executive summary + recommendations /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm timeline <notebook-id> <source-id> # Chronological overview /Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm toc <notebook-id> <source-id> # Structure overview
Troubleshooting
- •Auth errors: Run
/Users/vwh7mb/projects/nlm/nlm authto re-authenticate - •Debug mode: Add
-debugflag for detailed API interactions - •Browser profile: Use
--profile “Profile Name”to specify browser profile
Environment Variables
- •
NLM_AUTH_TOKEN: Authentication token (managed by auth command) - •
NLM_COOKIES: Authentication cookies (managed by auth command) - •
NLM_BROWSER_PROFILE: Chrome/Brave profile to use (default: “Default”)