# plonk

Gives AI agents tools to manage macOS windows, trigger local OCR, grab screenshots, and save workspaces. Requires the Plonk menu bar app.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 17
- Author: ostapondo
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/ostapondo/Plonk/tree/HEAD/mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-20
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/plonk

## What it does

The `plonk-mcp` package operates as a bridge to the Plonk menu bar tool on macOS 13 or newer. Every tool call fails if the companion app is not already running. Running the server requires Node 18+, while the desktop binary installs via `brew install --cask ostapondo/plonk/plonk`.

Once connected, agents inspect monitors via `get_state`, position windows using monitor fractions from 0 to 1, or snap apps into designated zones. The `extract_text` tool parses screen text locally, avoiding image uploads. Agents can also capture hidden application windows directly through `take_screenshot`.

All traffic stays on loopback at `127.0.0.1:43917` without telemetry. The server reads the security secret from `~/Library/Application Support/Plonk/token` automatically. Because of this, both Plonk and your MCP client must run under the same macOS user account.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add plonk -- npx -y plonk-mcp
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add mcp -- npx -y plonk-mcp
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "plonk-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "plonk-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add mcp npx -y plonk-mcp
```

## When to use it
- arrange windows across displays using coordinate fractions
- save and restore application workspaces
- capture screenshots of occluded windows without raising them
- extract on-screen text with bounding boxes locally
- prevent macOS from sleeping during long tasks

## Example prompts
- Place the browser on the left 60% of the screen and terminal on the right
- Save the current window layout as a workspace named review
- Take a screenshot of the main monitor and check for UI glitches

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md