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Houdini MCP

An illustration titled "Houdini MCP", showing multiple agentic platforms connected to Houdini, symbolizing a link

PyPI Version License: MIT Python 3.10+ MCP Compatible Houdini 22.0

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: 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

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.

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