# Showsteps

> Free Chrome extension that turns a click-through into a step-by-step guide with screenshots. Nothing uploaded. Exports PDF, HTML, Markdown, DOCX, agent skill. Chrome only; records browser tabs, not desktop or mobile apps. MIT licensed. Site: https://showsteps.vercel.app. Source: https://github.com/btahir/showsteps. Support (optional, everything is free): https://showsteps.vercel.app/support/.

Showsteps records a click-through in Chrome and produces an annotated step-by-step guide (PDF, HTML, Markdown, DOCX) and a replayable agent skill (SKILL.md, steps.json, Playwright replay.spec.ts). Everything is stored locally; there is no account, no analytics and no network access after install. A CLI and a local MCP server let agents inspect, edit and export guides.

## For agents

- [Agents guide: CLI and MCP](https://showsteps.vercel.app/docs/agents/): commands, JSON output, exit codes, MCP tools, file format, worked examples
- [AGENTS.md](https://github.com/btahir/showsteps/blob/main/AGENTS.md): the same content in the repository
- [Full text of this site](https://showsteps.vercel.app/llms-full.txt): every page in one Markdown file

## CLI and MCP

Run `npx -y @showsteps/cli <command>` (binary: showsteps). Every command takes a .showsteps file or a guide.json, and `--json` prints one JSON object with "ok" true or false. Exit codes: 0 ok, 1 invalid input, 2 usage, 3 file error.

- `showsteps validate <file>`: check a guide against the schema
- `showsteps info <file>`: title, step counts, actions, pages, sensitive steps
- `showsteps steps <file>`: list steps with ids
- `showsteps edit-step <file> --id <id> [--title T] [--description D] [--skip|--unskip] [--out F]`
- `showsteps regen-titles <file>`: regenerate generated titles, keep edited ones
- `showsteps export <file> --format md|html|pdf|docx|playwright|skill|all --out <dir>`
- `showsteps new --from-steps <steps.json> --out <file.showsteps>`: create a guide from a step list

MCP server: `showsteps-mcp` (stdio, no network, no keys; `claude mcp add showsteps -- npx -y @showsteps/mcp`). Tools: validate_guide, guide_info, list_steps, edit_step, regenerate_titles, export_guide, create_guide_from_steps. Files are passed by absolute path.

Schema: the steps.json written by the skill export follows https://showsteps.vercel.app/schema/steps.schema.json (JSON Schema 2020-12). The .showsteps project is a zip with guide.json and images/<stepId>.png; guide.json carries a schema version (v1).

## Guides

- [Open-source Scribe alternative](https://showsteps.vercel.app/open-source-scribe-alternative/): Showsteps is a free, MIT-licensed Chrome extension that turns a click-through into a guide and an agent skill. Local-first. Compared with Scribe and Mimik.
- [Scribe alternative without cloud upload](https://showsteps.vercel.app/scribe-alternative-no-cloud-upload/): Where guide recorders send your screenshots, how to check any extension yourself, and how Showsteps keeps captures in your browser. For teams that ban uploads.
- [Tango alternative](https://showsteps.vercel.app/tango-alternative/): Showsteps records clicks in Chrome into a step-by-step guide, keeps it on your machine and exports PDF, HTML, Markdown and DOCX. No cap, no cloud, no account.
- [Free step-by-step guide maker](https://showsteps.vercel.app/free-step-by-step-guide-maker/): Record a task in Chrome and get a step-by-step guide with annotated screenshots. Edit the text, blur sensitive fields, export to PDF, HTML, Markdown or DOCX.
- [How to create an SOP with screenshots](https://showsteps.vercel.app/how-to-create-an-sop-with-screenshots/): A method for writing a standard operating procedure for a software task: scope it, record it, write clear steps, redact, test it on a newcomer, keep it current.
- [Steps recorder Chrome extension](https://showsteps.vercel.app/steps-recorder-chrome-extension/): How a steps recorder Chrome extension captures screenshots, which permissions it needs, what to check about privacy and export, and how Showsteps handles each.
- [Work instructions template](https://showsteps.vercel.app/work-instructions-template/): A plain work instructions template: purpose, prerequisites, numbered steps, checks, change log. Plus rules for the steps and how to fill them from a recording.
- [Steps Recorder alternative](https://showsteps.vercel.app/steps-recorder-alternative/): Microsoft has deprecated Steps Recorder (psr.exe). Showsteps records web tasks in Chrome into an annotated step list and exports PDF, HTML, Markdown and DOCX.
- [Convert clicks to a Playwright test](https://showsteps.vercel.app/convert-clicks-to-playwright-test/): Turn a click-through into a Playwright test, compared with codegen. Showsteps exports replay.spec.ts and an agent skill from the same recording as your guide.
- [Record a workflow as an agent skill](https://showsteps.vercel.app/record-workflow-as-agent-skill/): Turn a browser task you do by hand into a SKILL.md, a steps.json and a Playwright replay script with a Chrome extension. Free and local, no API key.

## Project

- [Privacy](https://showsteps.vercel.app/privacy/): what is stored, what leaves the device, every permission
- [About](https://showsteps.vercel.app/about/)
- [Changelog](https://showsteps.vercel.app/changelog/)
- [Support](https://showsteps.vercel.app/support/): optional donations; every feature is free
- [Source](https://github.com/btahir/showsteps): MIT licence
- [Sitemap](https://showsteps.vercel.app/sitemap.xml)