Houdini MCP

Name: Houdini MCP
Author: JTCHE

by JTCHEversion 0.8.1i★ –iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.JTCHE/houdini-mcp

Install

Overview

Description from the maker (original English)

Connect agents to SideFX Houdini: edit the scene, cook, render, see the viewport, read the docs.

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

These three are never merged into one score: opinions, measurements and popularity are different things.

User voiceiNo reviews yetReviews open together with accounts in a later step
Our basic checksi1 of 1 passedChecked from public information; code not scanned yet
UsageiNot measured yet★ –

What you can do with it

We have not written a plain-language summary for this one yet. Below are the facts we read from the registry.

Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Category: Other

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

Before you install

Basic checks: 1 of 1 passed
Runs on your computer with your user’s permissions (files, network, apps).
The registry lists no key to fill in.

You need

PyPIPython’s uv installed (for the uvx command)

Which app do you use?

ClaudeClaude CodeCursorVS CodeChatGPT

Pick your app above. We remember it, so next time the button says “Install in …”.

Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and paste this into claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "houdini": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "houdini-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Run this in your terminal

claude mcp add houdini -- uvx houdini-mcp-server

Open in Cursor

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "houdini": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "houdini-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

Open in VS Code

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .vscode/mcp.json in your project

{
  "servers": {
    "houdini": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "houdini-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

This one runs on your computer, and ChatGPT can only connect to servers on the internet. Pick another app.

Your choice stays on this device in a cookie; no account needed.

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

What it can do

Runs on your computer; the tool list appears in your AI app after you install it.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 7, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified with the GitHub account JTCHE, which owns the repo
… Not checked yet
Still maintained
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
… Not checked yet
Has a licence
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Runs on your computer; we can only read tool lists from internet endpoints

Compared with others in Otheri

More stars than 0% of the other 18336 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 74% of the other 18336 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 18336 servers in this category

Compared with every active server in this category in the registry. Stars count only when the publisher owns the repo.

Common questions

Is Houdini MCP safe?

It passed 1 of 1 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

The registry does not list a required key, though some servers ask you to sign in on first use.

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed –, and the latest version (0.8.1) reached the registry 15 days ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Python (uv) on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: Spec Driven Development, Remote Desktop Commander, NexusWindows

Alternatives

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Reading a card:★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

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README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

Houdini MCP

Connect SideFX Houdini to Claude, Codex, Gemini, Cursor, opencode or pi.

This MCP provides Full Markdown Documentation and Viewport Screenshots support to your agents of choice, enabling strong feedback loops and autonomous workflows.

Install

Windows

powershell -c "irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JTCHE/houdini-mcp/main/bootstrap.bat -OutFile bootstrap.bat; .\bootstrap.bat"

macOS / Linux

curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JTCHE/houdini-mcp/main/bootstrap.sh | bash

uv tool install houdini-mcp-server && houdinimcp-install

The installer adds the plugin to Houdini and the server to your AI clients of choice. Restart both.\ pi also needs pi install npm:pi-mcp-adapter.

Claude plugin

This repository is also a Claude plugin, for Claude Code and for Cowork on your computer. It needs uv. The plugin starts a headless Houdini without setup. To connect the Houdini that you have open, ask Claude to run the houdini-setup skill.

What the plugin runs

uv run --frozen builds an environment from uv.lock in the plugin folder, then starts the MCP server from this repository.
The server talks to Houdini on localhost only. It starts hython, or houdini on request, from your Houdini install, and ffmpeg to encode a flipbook movie.
docs reads the documentation out of your Houdini install with houdinimd-docs. It sends nothing over the network.
houdini-setup writes the HoudiniMCP package into your Houdini preferences folder, after you approve it.
No tool sends data to a remote service. execute runs any Python that Claude writes in your Houdini session.

Tools


Read	`scene_overview` `node_inspect` `geometry_inspect` `stage_inspect` `select` `console`
Edit	`node_edit` `parm_set` `connect` `hda` `batch`
Run	`cook` `render` `pdg` `playbar` `scene_file`
See	`capture`: the viewport, a camera, four views or a flipbook
Code	`execute`: Python, HScript, expressions, VEX check
Docs	`docs`: the Houdini documentation of your build, offline, from houdinimd-docs
Session	`session`: status; starts Houdini headless or with its window

No Houdini open? The server starts a headless hython.

batch builds a whole network in one call, and it is all or nothing: a failed step undoes the steps before it. A build that works comes back with the cooked point and primitive counts, and the nodes with errors.

Warning: execute runs any Python in Houdini. Save your work.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
No Houdini listens for the bridge	Start Houdini, or click Toggle MCP Server on the HoudiniMCP shelf.
No HoudiniMCP shelf	Restart Houdini. `houdinimcp-install --list` shows where the plugin went.
Houdini started from Git Bash has no plugin	Git Bash sets `HOME`. Set the user variable `HOUDINI_USER_PREF_DIR` to `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\houdini__HVER__`.
`capture` says there is no viewport	The session is headless. Call `session` with `action="start_gui"`.
You must have a fixed port	Set `HOUDINIMCP_PORT` for Houdini and for the bridge. Without it, the plugin takes a free port from the operating system and tells the bridge which one.

For agents and scripts

Without a terminal, the installer asks nothing and takes the defaults.

houdinimcp-install --list          # Houdini installs and clients found, as JSON

houdinimcp-install --yes --json # newest Houdini, every client found; JSON report houdinimcp-install --houdini-version 22.0 --harness claude-code --yes houdinimcp-install --dry-run --yes # change nothing houdinimcp-install --uninstall # remove the plugin and every client entry

Flags: --houdini-version none skips the plugin, --prefs-dir PATH names the prefs folder, --harness none|all|KEY (repeatable), --quiet-start stops the first-launch dialogs. The bootstrap scripts pass every flag through.

Manual client setup: run houdinimcp-bridge with no arguments. claude mcp add --transport stdio houdini -- houdinimcp-bridge for Claude Code.

From a clone: uv run python -m bridge.onboarding.install.

Layout: src/houdinimcp/ is the plugin, a TCP server inside Houdini on localhost:9877. src/bridge/ is the MCP server and the installer. Messages are JSON with a 4-byte length prefix. HOUDINIMCP_NO_HEADLESS=1 stops the headless start. Read AGENTS.md before you change code.

Credits

Built on blender-mcp, capoomgit/houdini-mcp, eetumartola/houdini-mcp, Houdini21MCP and fxhoudinimcp. MIT licensed.

Not affiliated with SideFX. Houdini and SideFX are trademarks of SideFX Software Inc.

Houdini MCP

Overview

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

What you can do with it

Install

Before you install

What it can do

Basic checksi

Maker matches the repo

Still maintained

Has a licence

Endpoint responds

Sign-in with OAuth

No hidden instructions in tool descriptions

Compared with others in Otheri

Common questions

Alternatives

Spec Driven Development

Remote Desktop Commander

NexusWindows

README from the maker

Houdini MCP

Install

Tools

Credits