# VHS

> MIT terminal GIFs as code — .tape scripts for CLI demos

**Category:** DevOps  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://github.com/charmbracelet/vhs  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/charmbracelet/vhs  
**Added:** 2026-09-12

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## The Hook

VHS is terminal demo GIFs as code when you want reproducible CLI tapes instead of hand-recording screen capture.

## What's Good

MIT. charmbracelet/vhs. Write `.tape` scripts (Type, Enter, Sleep, Set FontSize/Width/Height, Output) that drive a virtual terminal and emit GIF/WebM/MP4 for docs, READMEs, and integration demos. Charm stack; active releases. Source github.com/charmbracelet/vhs.

## The Catch

Vs asciinema (live cast recording) and freeze (Charm still frames): VHS is *scripted* GIF generation that needs a TTY-capable install path (ttyd/ffmpeg deps show up in real installs). Not an interactive recorder you click through. Keep hand-capture when the demo is exploratory, not scripted.

## Verdict

MIT CLI demo tapes. Free forever; check the .tape into git and regenerate the GIF.