Zenith — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Zenith lets an AI agent create, check, edit, and render plain-text .zen design files as PNG, SVG, or PDF.
claude mcp add zenith -- npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcpWhat Zenith does
Zenith uses readable .zen files based on KDL as the source for design work. Through MCP, an agent can author and revise these files, run validation, and render the result as a pixel-consistent PNG, a self-contained SVG, or a print-ready PDF. The same document is rendered deterministically each time.
The server is provided through the npm package @zenitheditor/zenith-mcp. In Claude Code, the connection starts with npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcp. That requirement matters: the configured command depends on npx being available. Zenith’s document format covers posters, decks, books, social graphics, and diagrams.
What it helps with
- create a design document in
.zen - validate a
.zenfile before export - revise a layout through an AI agent
- render a design as PNG, SVG, or PDF
Example prompts for the agent
- Create a
.zenposter design and prepare it for rendering. - Validate this
.zenfile, fix its issues, and render a PNG. - Revise the presentation design and export a print-ready PDF.
How to install Zenith
Platform CLI
claude mcp add zenith -- npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcpPlatform CLI
codex mcp add zenith -- npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcpConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"zenith": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@zenitheditor/zenith-mcp"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"zenith": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@zenitheditor/zenith-mcp"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add zenith npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcpStep 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 Zenith
How do I install Zenith in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add zenith -- npx -y @zenitheditor/zenith-mcp.
What does Zenith do?
Zenith gives an agent a way to create, validate, and edit .zen design documents, then render them as PNG, self-contained SVG, or PDF.
What format does Zenith use for design files?
The source is a human-readable KDL-based .zen text file. Its output can be a PNG, SVG, or print-ready PDF.
