tdmcp — TouchDesigner MCP server

Name: tdmcp — TouchDesigner MCP server
Author: Pantani

by Pantaniversion 0.13.2i★ –iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.Pantani/tdmcp

Install

Overview

Description from the maker (original English)

Build real visual systems in TouchDesigner from plain language with Claude, Cursor or Codex.

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).
You fill in yourself: TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE, TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON

You need

npmNode.js installed (for the npx 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": {
    "tdmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dpantani/tdmcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE": "your-value",
        "TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Run this in your terminal

claude mcp add tdmcp --env TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE=your-value --env TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON=your-value -- npx -y @dpantani/tdmcp

Fill in the empty values before running it.

Open in Cursor

Or copy the settings yourself

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tdmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dpantani/tdmcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE": "your-value",
        "TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

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": {
    "tdmcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@dpantani/tdmcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE": "your-value",
        "TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

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.

Values you fill in

TDMCP_TOOL_PROFILE env
Tool exposure profile. Glama and MCP directory scanners use directory for a compact build/inspect surface; choose full for the complete installed runtime or safe to hide destructive/raw-code tools.
TDMCP_RAW_PYTHON env
Keep client-authored Python escape-hatch tools hidden by default in registry scans; choose on only for a trusted local runtime.

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 Pantani, 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 18334 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 20% of the other 18334 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 18334 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 tdmcp — TouchDesigner MCP server 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 (0.13.2) reached the registry 3 months ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Node.js on your computer.

What can I use instead?

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

Alternatives

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

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Runs on your computer★ 440MITUpdated 14 months ago

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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.

MindDesigner (tdmcp) — TouchDesigner MCP server

tdmcp is a [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) (MCP) server for [TouchDesigner](https://derivative.ca) — build TouchDesigner from plain language. You describe a visual to an AI assistant (Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex); the AI builds the actual network of nodes inside your project, checks it for errors, and shows you a preview.

*"Create a feedback tunnel from noise with blur and displace, then add bloom and

output it to a window."*

…and the nodes appear, wired up, in your /project1.

It works because it pairs two things every other tool was missing:

Real knowledge — an embedded reference of 629 operators, 68 Python classes, workflow patterns, GLSL techniques and tutorials, so the AI uses real TouchDesigner operators instead of guessing.
Real execution — a small bridge running inside TouchDesigner that actually creates, connects, inspects and previews nodes — with a create → verify → preview loop so the AI can see and fix its own work. Every generated network is auto-arranged into a readable left→right layout.

📖 Documentation

Full guides and reference live on the docs site → [https://pantani.github.io/tdmcp/](https://pantani.github.io/tdmcp/)

For artists / musicians	For developers
What is tdmcp?	Architecture
Install (no terminal)	Tools reference
Your first visual	Environment variables
Shader Park	CLI & local copilot
Prompt cookbook	Bridge & REST API
Recipe gallery	Roadmap
Troubleshooting	Deployment

🇧🇷 Portuguese documentation: https://pantani.github.io/tdmcp/pt/

How it works

Three pieces talk to each other on your computer:

   You + your AI            tdmcp server               TouchDesigner

(Claude / Cursor) ─▶ (a small program) ─▶ (the bridge inside TD) "make a feedback builds real nodes tunnel from noise" in /project1

Your AI assistant — where you type what you want.
The tdmcp server — a small Node program that gives the AI a set of TouchDesigner "tools" and the operator knowledge base. You install it once.
The bridge — a tiny piece that runs *inside* TouchDesigner so the server can actually drive it. You switch it on once per machine.

What you'll need

[TouchDesigner](https://derivative.ca/download) — the free non-commercial edition is fine.
An MCP-capable AI assistant: Claude Desktop (easiest), Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor.

Node.js is only needed for the build-from-source path ([Node 20+](https://nodejs.org)). The one-click Claude Desktop extension needs nothing extra — the server is bundled inside the .mcpb extension file.

Get started

You set up two sides: your AI (so it gets the tdmcp tools) and TouchDesigner (so the AI can drive it).

🤖 Easiest — let your AI install it. Using Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor? Paste this one message in:

Install and connect tdmcp for me using the official install guide:

https://pantani.github.io/tdmcp/guide/install Do every step yourself; only stop when you need me to do the TouchDesigner bridge step.

It clones, builds and wires everything up; the only manual step is pasting one line into TouchDesigner (Step 2 below).

🟢 Claude Desktop — one-click `.mcpb` (no terminal, no Node). Download [tdmcp.mcpb](https://github.com/Pantani/tdmcp/releases/latest/download/tdmcp.mcpb), then in Claude Desktop open Settings → Extensions and install it (drag it in or Install from file). Leave host/port at 127.0.0.1 / 9980. Full walkthrough: the install guide.

🛠️ Claude Code / Codex / Cursor — build from source.

git clone https://github.com/Pantani/tdmcp.git

cd tdmcp npm run setup # installs, builds, and prints the exact line to connect your client

Turn on the bridge inside TouchDesigner (everyone)

Easiest — no Textport. Download tdmcp_bridge_package.tox from the latest release, drag it into your /project1 network, and click Install on the component. The package self-bootstraps and starts the bridge on port 9980. ✅

Prefer a one-line Textport command?

Open the Textport (Dialogs → Textport and DATs), paste this one line and press Enter:

import urllib.request; exec(urllib.request.urlopen("https://github.com/Pantani/tdmcp/raw/v0.13.2/td/bootstrap.py").read().decode())

You should see [tdmcp] bridge running on port 9980 (/project1/tdmcp_bridge).

Either way it's safe and reversible — it adds one tidy component; remove it later with from mcp import install; install.uninstall(). Other install methods (module path, terminal, Palette package) are in the bridge docs.

Make something

With TouchDesigner open and your AI connected, ask in plain language:

*"Create an audio-reactive particle galaxy and show me a preview."*

The AI builds the network, checks it for errors, and returns a thumbnail. Iterate: *"make it warmer," "add a feedback trail," "output it fullscreen."* More ideas in the prompt cookbook.

Not connecting? The two most common fixes: make sure the bridge is on

(curl http://127.0.0.1:9980/api/info returns JSON), and **restart your AI

client** after adding the server. Full

troubleshooting.

What you can do

509 tools across three layers, plus foundation primitives, CLI automation, library/packaging, AI session memory and Obsidian vault integrations — from one-line artist generators (create_feedback_network, create_audio_reactive, create_particle_system, create_generative_art, …) to building blocks (create_control_panel, animate_parameter, create_external_io for OSC/MIDI/DMX/NDI, …) down to atomic node CRUD and inspection. Many systems arrive already playable, with a control panel you can tweak, preset, or map to a controller. See the full, always-current tools reference and the recipe gallery.

Optional: Creative RAG

A local, opt-in creative repertoire of open-licensed artworks/artists/techniques the AI can search for inspiration. Off by default. Repertoire, not policy — no bridge, DMX or Python exec. Enable with TDMCP_RAG_ENABLED=1 plus a local Ollama install, then tdmcp creative-rag {sync|index|search}. Full guide: docs/CREATIVE_RAG.md.

Security

The bridge runs arbitrary Python inside your TD process and listens on port 9980 on all interfaces — treat it like an open door to that machine. Run it only on a trusted network, and for untrusted networks turn on bridge auth (TDMCP_BRIDGE_TOKEN) and/or disable the exec endpoints (TDMCP_BRIDGE_ALLOW_EXEC=0). Details: Security.

Links & community

Glama MCP directory — tdmcp's listing: https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/Pantani/tdmcp
awesome-touchdesigner — the community-curated TouchDesigner list: https://github.com/monkeymonk/awesome-touchdesigner
Docs site — https://pantani.github.io/tdmcp/ · Roadmap — docs/ROADMAP.md

Contributing & development

Build with npm install && npm run build; run npm test, npm run typecheck, npm run lint. Work on the docs with npm run docs:dev (the tools reference is generated by scripts/gen-tool-docs.ts). See CONTRIBUTING.md, CHANGELOG.md, and the roadmap.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

tdmcp — TouchDesigner MCP server

Overview

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

What you can do with it

Install

Before you install

Values you fill in

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

ProAgentStore

README from the maker

MindDesigner (tdmcp) — TouchDesigner MCP server

📖 Documentation

How it works

What you'll need

Get started

Turn on the bridge inside TouchDesigner (everyone)

Make something

What you can do

Optional: Creative RAG

Security

Links & community

Contributing & development

License