# Houdini MCP

Connects AI agents to SideFX Houdini to inspect networks, run renders, capture viewports, and browse offline documentation.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 13
- Author: JTCHE
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/JTCHE/houdini-mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/houdini-mcp

## What it does

This server connects AI assistants to SideFX Houdini builds 20.5, 21.0, and 22.0 across a local TCP socket. When no Houdini interface is open, it spins up a headless `hython` instance. Agents gain access to tools for inspecting geometry, adjusting node parameters, cooking networks, running PDG graphs, and evaluating Python or VEX expressions.

The `batch` tool constructs entire node graphs within a single call. If an operation fails mid-build, it reverts earlier modifications immediately. Generating visual flipbook previews relies on having `ffmpeg` installed on your system.

The `execute` tool runs raw Python code directly inside the target session. All server traffic stays strictly confined to `localhost`.

## Requirements
- Needs: Python and uv (commands run via uvx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add houdini-mcp -- uvx houdini-mcp-server
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from houdini-mcp-server <command>

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add houdini-mcp -- uvx houdini-mcp-server
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from houdini-mcp-server <command>

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "houdini-mcp": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "houdini-mcp-server"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from houdini-mcp-server <command>

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "houdini-mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "houdini-mcp-server"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from houdini-mcp-server <command>

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add houdini-mcp uvx houdini-mcp-server
```
uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from houdini-mcp-server <command>

## When to use it
- inspect geometry attributes and primitives in an active Houdini scene
- build node networks via single-pass transactional batch commands
- capture viewport angles and record flipbook video sequences
- query offline documentation for specific Houdini builds using docs
- trigger node cooking, PDG tasks, and frame rendering remotely

## Example prompts
- Inspect the primitive count and attributes on node geo1
- Generate a procedural terrain network using the batch tool
- Take a viewport snapshot from camera cam1 and run cook

## Similar
- [Houdini](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/houdini.md) — skill · 1800 installs
- [roblox-animation-vfx](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/roblox-animation-vfx.md) — skill · 2300 installs
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- [roblox-vfx](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/roblox-vfx.md) — skill · 637 installs
- [unreal-niagara](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/unreal-niagara.md) — skill · 5400 installs

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