Pantani/tdmcp

**tdmcp is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server
for TouchDesigner** — 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 → **
| 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:**
How it works
Three pieces talk to each other on your computer:
1. **Your AI assistant** — where you type what you want.
2. **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.
3. **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** — 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+**).
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:
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**,
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.**
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?