Prepare the server locally
Run this once before adding it to Claude Code.
git clone https://github.com/eliiik/houdini-mcp
cd houdini-mcpThen follow the repository README for any remaining dependency or build steps.
Register it in Claude Code
claude mcp add houdini-mcp -- uv --directory /path/to/houdini-mcp run server.pyReplace any placeholder paths in the command with the real path on your machine.
Make your agent remember this setup
houdini-mcp's config, env vars, and the gotchas you hit — recalled in every future Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex session.
npx conare@latestFree · one command · indexes the sessions already on disk. Set up in the browser instead →
What it does
- Node operations including creation, deletion, and connection
- Parameter control for getting and setting values or expressions
- Geometry inspection for points, primitives, and bounding boxes
- Arbitrary Python and HScript execution within Houdini
- Built-in documentation for HOM reference and scripting
Tools 5
houdini_connectEstablishes a connection to the Houdini RPYC server.houdini_node_createCreates a new node in the Houdini scene.houdini_parm_setSets the value of a specific node parameter.houdini_geo_exportExports geometry data from a node to a file.houdini_executeExecutes arbitrary Python code within the Houdini environment.Try it
Original README from eliiik/houdini-mcp
Houdini MCP Server
Control SideFX Houdini from AI assistants via the Model Context Protocol.
35 tools for node creation, parameter editing, geometry inspection, scene management, and arbitrary Python execution — all driven by natural language through Claude or any MCP-compatible client.
Features
- Node operations — create, delete, rename, connect, layout, cook, find nodes
- Parameter control — get/set values, list parameters, set expressions
- Geometry inspection — read points, primitives, bounding boxes, export
.geo - Scene management — new/open/save scenes, scene info
- Transform tools — get/set object transforms
- Code execution — run arbitrary Python or HScript inside Houdini
- Built-in documentation — 11 comprehensive HOM reference docs + 5 index files, searchable via MCP tools
Prerequisites
Setup
1. Start RPYC server in Houdini
Open Houdini's Python Shell (Windows > Python Shell) and run:
import hrpyc
hrpyc.start_server(port=18811)
Or use the provided helper script:
exec(open("/path/to/houdini-mcp/houdini_setup.py").read())
2. Configure your MCP client
Add to your MCP client configuration (e.g., .mcp.json for Claude Code):
{
"mcpServers": {
"houdini": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["--directory", "/path/to/houdini-mcp", "run", "server.py"]
}
}
}
Replace /path/to/houdini-mcp with the actual path to this repo.
3. Connect
Call the houdini_connect tool first. Then use any of the 35 available tools.
Claude Code Skill (Optional)
The claude-skill/ directory contains a Houdini Python reference skill for Claude Code. To use it:
- Copy
claude-skill/houdini-python.mdto your project's.claude/commands/directory - The skill provides HOM API reference, SOP/DOP/VOP node guides, and scripting patterns
- Invoke with
/houdini-pythonin Claude Code
Tools
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| Connection | houdini_connect, houdini_disconnect |
| Scene | houdini_scene_new, houdini_scene_open, houdini_scene_save, houdini_scene_info |
| Nodes | houdini_node_create, houdini_node_delete, houdini_node_rename, houdini_node_connect, houdini_node_cook, houdini_node_info, houdini_node_children, houdini_node_find, houdini_node_layout, houdini_node_set_flags |
| Parameters | houdini_parm_get, houdini_parm_set, houdini_parm_list, houdini_parm_set_expression |
| Geometry | houdini_geo_info, houdini_geo_read_points, houdini_geo_read_prims, houdini_geo_bbox, houdini_geo_export |
| Transforms | houdini_transform_get, houdini_transform_set |
| Execution | houdini_execute, houdini_hscript |
| Frame | houdini_set_frame |
How it works
┌──────────────┐ MCP (stdio) ┌──────────────┐ RPYC (TCP) ┌──────────────┐
│ AI Client │ ◄─────────────────► │ MCP Server │ ◄────────────────► │ Houdini │
│ (Claude etc) │ │ (server.py) │ │ (port 18811)│
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
The MCP server translates tool calls into RPYC remote procedure calls to Houdini's Python interpreter. Houdini runs an RPYC server (via hrpyc) that exposes the full hou module.
License
MIT