NotebookLM Claude Code Skill v1.2.0

Major Authentication Reliability Fix

This release completely refactors the authentication system to fix persistent auth failures reported in Issue #2.

Root Cause Analysis

After extensive testing and analysis of the MCP Server TypeScript implementation, three critical issues were identified:

1. Playwright Bug #36139: Session cookies don't persist in launch_persistent_context()
2. Chromium Reliability: Cross-platform issues with default Chromium
3. Python API Limitation: Can't pass storage_state to launch_persistent_context()

The Solution: Hybrid Authentication

New Architecture:

• Persistent browser profile (user_data_dir) for consistent fingerprinting
• Manual cookie injection from state.json for session cookie persistence
• Real Chrome (channel="chrome") instead of Chromium
• No automation detection banner (ignore_default_args)

How It Works:

Setup:   Login → Save to browser profile + state.json
Runtime: Load browser profile + inject cookies from state.json

What's New

Authentication Improvements:

• Hybrid auth approach: Combines browser profile persistence with manual cookie injection
• Real Chrome required: channel="chrome" for cross-platform reliability
• Session cookies fixed: Manual injection workaround for Playwright bug #36139
• Stealth mode: Removed automation detection banner

Technical Changes:

• scripts/ask_question.py: Hybrid auth + cookie injection
• scripts/auth_manager.py: Updated setup and validation
• scripts/setup_environment.py: Installs Chrome instead of Chromium
• README.md: Chrome installation instructions
• AUTHENTICATION.md: Complete architecture documentation (NEW)

Developer Experience:

• Comprehensive auth architecture docs
• Better error messages
• Easier testing (just delete .venv and data/browser_state)

Upgrading

cd ~/.claude/skills/notebooklm
git pull
rm -rf .venv data/browser_state  # Fresh start recommended
# Keep data/library if you have notebooks!

First use after upgrade:

# Skill will auto-install Chrome and setup dependencies
# Then: "Set up NotebookLM authentication"

Migration Notes

Chrome Installation:
The skill now requires real Google Chrome (not Chromium):

cd ~/.claude/skills/notebooklm
source .venv/bin/activate
patchright install chrome

Re-authentication Required:
Due to the architecture change, please re-authenticate after upgrading:

"Set up NotebookLM authentication"

Technical Details

Why This Works:

Files Changed:

• 5 files modified, 111 insertions, 21 deletions
• 1 new file: AUTHENTICATION.md

Bug Fixes

• Fixed: Session cookies not persisting after restart (#2)
• Fixed: Authentication failures on some systems
• Fixed: "Chrome is being controlled" automation banner

References

• Based on: notebooklm-mcp TypeScript implementation
• Playwright Issue #36139
• Playwright Issue #14949
• AUTHENTICATION.md

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to @howeirdo and @gee842 for reporting the auth issues and helping debug!

Questions or issues? https://github.com/PleasePrompto/notebooklm-skill/issues

Full Changelog: v1.1.0...v1.2.0

Full Changelog: v1.1.0...v1.2.0