---
id: asciinema
version: "2.4.0"
license: GNU GPLv3
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: dormant
---

# asciinema — Terminal session recorder

License: copyleft · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 10.7M/mo

## What it is and what it does

asciinema is a command-line tool for recording terminal sessions and replaying them later. It captures everything that appears on screen—commands, output, timing—into a portable .cast file format that can be played back in a terminal at normal or adjusted speed, or uploaded to asciinema.org for sharing via a web browser. The tool runs as a standalone CLI with no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to install and use.

Typical workflow: run `asciinema rec filename.cast` to start recording your shell session, execute commands as normal, then exit to save the recording. Later, replay it with `asciinema play filename.cast`, optionally adjusting playback speed or limiting idle time. If you want to share, upload to asciinema.org with `asciinema upload filename.cast` or record directly to the web with `asciinema rec` (no filename). The package supports pausing capture mid-session and recording keyboard input if explicitly enabled.

Use it for:

- Create shareable terminal demos or tutorials by recording a shell session and uploading to asciinema.org
- Document command-line workflows or bug reproductions by capturing terminal output with precise timing
- Replay recorded sessions at faster or slower speeds, or with idle time compressed, for training or review
- Archive terminal sessions locally as portable .cast files for later playback without needing the original environment
- Embed terminal recordings in documentation or blogs via asciinema.org's web player

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Records and replays terminal sessions, saving them as timestamped files that can be played back in the terminal or uploaded to asciinema.org for web viewing.

Yes, if you need a lightweight, dependency-free terminal recorder for demos, documentation, or archival. The dormant maintenance status is a concern for long-term compatibility and security updates, but the package is stable and has no known vulnerabilities. Suitable for one-off or occasional use; not recommended if you require active maintenance or expect to rely on it in production workflows.

## Install

pip install asciinema
uv add asciinema
poetry add asciinema

## Installing asciinema

Before you install: Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance status is dormant—last release was in 2023—so expect no active bug fixes or feature updates, though the package is marked Production/Stable.

License in practice: Licensed under GNU GPLv3 (copyleft). Any derivative work or distribution must also be open source under compatible terms; proprietary use is not permitted.

Quickstart:

pip install asciinema
asciinema rec demo.cast
# (record your terminal session, then exit)
asciinema play demo.cast

Verify before relying:

- Whether dormant status affects compatibility with Python 3.10, 3.11 or modern terminal environments
- Current state of asciinema.org upload endpoint and whether it remains operational
- Long-term security implications of no active maintenance since 2023-10-23

## Package facts

- License: GNU GPLv3 (copyleft)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 10.7M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

terminal session recorder, record terminal output, asciicast player, terminal replay, shell session capture, terminal screencast, command recording tool, terminal-recording, documentation, cli-tool

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/asciinema) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/asciinema/)