# Napkin

Napkin lets an MCP host request diagrams, infographics, and illustrations from Napkin AI. Use it when an agent needs to create a visual and save the result.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 13
- Author: mindstone
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/mindstone/mcp-servers/tree/HEAD/connectors/napkin
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/napkin

## What it does

The server connects Napkin AI to an MCP host. An agent can submit a visual request, check its progress, then download the finished file. A Napkin AI key must be set as `NAPKIN_API_KEY`; `MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH` can point downloads to a workspace directory.

Separate tools handle generation, status checks, and downloads, while another lists the built-in visual styles. Browsing that style catalog needs neither an API key nor a network request. Napkin's API is in developer preview, so its endpoints and behavior can change.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `NAPKIN_API_KEY`, `MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH`, `NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env NAPKIN_API_KEY=<NAPKIN_API_KEY> --env MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH=<MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH> --env NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS=<NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS> --transport stdio napkin -- npx -y @mindstone/mcp-server-napkin
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add napkin --env NAPKIN_API_KEY=<NAPKIN_API_KEY> --env MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH=<MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH> --env NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS=<NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS> -- npx -y @mindstone/mcp-server-napkin
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "napkin": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@mindstone/mcp-server-napkin"
            ],
            "env": {
                "NAPKIN_API_KEY": "<NAPKIN_API_KEY>",
                "MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH": "<MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH>",
                "NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS": "<NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "napkin": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@mindstone/mcp-server-napkin"
            ],
            "env": {
                "NAPKIN_API_KEY": "<NAPKIN_API_KEY>",
                "MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH": "<MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH>",
                "NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS": "<NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e NAPKIN_API_KEY=<NAPKIN_API_KEY> -e MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH=<MCP_WORKSPACE_PATH> -e NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS=<NAPKIN_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS> napkin npx -y @mindstone/mcp-server-napkin
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- generate an illustration from a text brief
- create an infographic for a document
- check whether a visual request has finished
- save a generated visual to disk
- browse the built-in style catalog

## Example prompts
- Create an architecture diagram from this description.
- Check the progress of my visual request.
- Download the finished visual to the workspace.

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From the same set: [mindstone/mcp-servers](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/mindstone/mcp-servers.md) — 40 cards

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