TouchDesigner MCP
This is an implementation of an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for TouchDesigner. Its goal is to enable AI agents to control and operate TouchDesigner projects.
Overview
TouchDesigner MCP acts as a bridge between AI models and the TouchDesigner WebServer DAT, enabling AI agents to:
- Create, modify, and delete nodes
- Query node properties and project structure
- Programmatically control TouchDesigner via Python scripts
Installation
Please refer to the Installation Guide.
If you are updating, please refer to the procedure in the Latest Release.
MCP Server Features
This server enables AI agents to perform operations in TouchDesigner using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Tools
Tools allow AI agents to perform actions in TouchDesigner.
| Tool Name | Description |
|---|---|
create_td_node | Creates a new node. |
delete_td_node | Deletes an existing node. |
describe_td_tools | Generates a manifest of the available TouchDesigner tools. |
exec_node_method | Calls a Python method on a node. |
execute_python_script | Executes an arbitrary Python script in TouchDesigner. |
get_td_class_details | Gets details of a TouchDesigner Python class or module. |
get_td_classes | Gets a list of TouchDesigner Python classes. |
get_td_info | Gets information about the TouchDesigner server environment. |
get_td_module_help | Gets Python help() documentation for TouchDesigner modules/classes. |
get_td_node_errors | Checks for errors on a specified node and its children. |
get_td_node_parameters | Gets the parameters of a specific node. |
get_td_nodes | Gets nodes under a parent path, with optional filtering. |
get_top_image | Captures the current output of a TOP node as an image. |
update_td_node_parameters | Updates the parameters of a specific node. |
Prompts
Prompts provide instructions for AI agents to perform specific actions in TouchDesigner.
| Prompt Name | Description |
|---|---|
Search node | Fuzzy searches for nodes and retrieves information based on name, family, or type. |
Node connection | Provides instructions to connect nodes within TouchDesigner. |
Check node errors | Checks for errors on a specified node, and recursively for its children. |
Resources
Not implemented.
Developer Guide
Looking for local setup, client configuration, project structure, or release workflow notes? See the Developer Guide for all developer-facing documentation.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting version compatibility
The MCP server and the TouchDesigner component are versioned on two independent axes: the npm package version and the API version (the contract between the MCP server and the .tox component). Each release declares the API version it ships with (expectedApiVersion) and the minimum it supports (minApiVersion, currently 1.3.0). The connected component's API version is compared against those two values — the npm package version itself never gates compatibility, so updating the MCP server alone never invalidates a supported component.
| API Server (component) | Condition | Behavior | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| = expected API version | Matches the shipped .tox | ✅ Works silently | Compatible |
| ≥ minimum, < expected | Older component | ⚠️ "Update Recommended" notice appended to responses, continues | Warning |
| > expected, same MAJOR | Newer component | ⚠️ Warning to update the MCP server, continues | Warning |
| MAJOR above expected | Newer API generation | ❌ Execution stops — update the MCP server | Error |
| < minimum (or missing) | Too old | ❌ Execution stops — update the component | Error |
-
To resolve compatibility errors:
- Download the latest touchdesigner-mcp-td.zip from the releases page.
- Delete the existing
touchdesigner-mcp-tdfolder and replace it with the newly extracted contents. - Remove the old
mcp_webserver_basecomponent from your TouchDesigner project and import the.toxfrom the new folder. - Restart TouchDesigner and the AI agent running the MCP server (e.g., Claude Desktop).
-
For developers: When developing locally, run
npm run versionafter editingpackage.json(or simply usenpm version ...). This keeps the Python API (pyproject.toml+td/modules/utils/version.py),mcpCompatibility.expectedApiVersion, MCP bundle manifest, and registry metadata in sync so that the runtime compatibility check succeeds.
For a deeper look at how the MCP server enforces these rules, see Version Compatibility Verification.
Troubleshooting connection errors
TouchDesignerClientcaches failed connection checks for 60 seconds. Subsequent tool calls reuse the cached error to avoid spamming TouchDesigner and automatically retry after the TTL expires.- When the MCP server cannot reach TouchDesigner, you now get guided error messages with concrete fixes:
ECONNREFUSED/ "connect refused": start TouchDesigner, ensure the WebServer DAT frommcp_webserver_base.toxis running, and confirm the configured port (default9981).ETIMEDOUT/ "timeout": TouchDesigner is responding slowly or the network is blocked. Restart TouchDesigner/WebServer DAT or check your network connection.ENOTFOUND/getaddrinfo: the host name is invalid. Use127.0.0.1unless you explicitly changed it.
- The structured error text is also logged through
ILogger, so you can check the MCP logs to understand why a request stopped before hitting TouchDesigner. - Once the underlying issue is fixed, simply run the tool again—the client clears the cached error and re-verifies the connection automatically.
Contributing
We welcome your contributions!
- Fork the repository.
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature). - Make your changes.
- Add tests and ensure everything works (
npm test). - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature'). - Push to your branch (
git push origin feature/amazing-feature). - Open a pull request.
Please always include appropriate tests when making implementation changes.
License
MIT