mcp-drawthings — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects your coding agent to the Draw Things app on macOS. It handles local text-to-image and image transformation runs using Apple Silicon hardware.
claude mcp add mcp-drawthings -- npx -y mcp-drawthingsWhat mcp-drawthings does
This MCP server acts as an intermediary between LLM assistants and the local Draw Things application on macOS. It converts model instructions into calls against the app's local HTTP API, enabling offline image rendering through Stable Diffusion. Completed outputs are written directly to ~/Pictures/drawthings-mcp by default.
Four tools are available. You can control resolution dimensions, sampler steps, negative prompts, and guidance scale directly in your chat interface through check_status, get_config, generate_image, and transform_image.
Image generation fails immediately if Draw Things is closed or if its HTTP server is turned off. Running this server requires an Apple Silicon Mac and Node.js 18 or above.
What it helps with
- render images locally from text prompts
- modify existing graphics using img2img
- inspect loaded model settings in Draw Things
- save generated artwork directly to local disk
Example prompts for the agent
- Generate a picture of a cyberpunk alley in rain at 768x512 resolution
- Transform
sketch.pngwith prompt 'watercolor landscape' and denoising 0.6 - Check the Draw Things API status and read the active configuration
How to install mcp-drawthings
Platform CLI
claude mcp add mcp-drawthings -- npx -y mcp-drawthingsPlatform CLI
codex mcp add mcp-drawthings -- npx -y mcp-drawthingsConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-drawthings": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-drawthings"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"mcp-drawthings": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"mcp-drawthings"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add mcp-drawthings npx -y mcp-drawthingsStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about mcp-drawthings
How do I install mcp-drawthings in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add mcp-drawthings -- npx -y mcp-drawthings. The agent will configure the package and connect over stdio.
What does mcp-drawthings do?
It lets your AI assistant control the Draw Things application on Apple Silicon Macs. This enables local image synthesis and img2img workflows without cloud subscriptions.
What setup is needed in Draw Things?
Open the Draw Things settings view and enable the API Server toggle. The application must listen on port 7860 so the MCP tool can route requests to it.
