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
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.
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.
Warning:
executeruns any Python in Houdini. Save your work.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Nothing listens on port 9877 | 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". |
| Port 9877 is busy | Set HOUDINIMCP_PORT. |
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
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.
1 maintainer
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