{ "markdown": "# ae-mcp\n\nEnglish | [简体中文](README.zh-CN.md)\n\n\n \"ae-mcp\n\n\n**One-line setup prompt — paste this into Claude Code or another AI agent:**\n\n```text\nInstall the ae-mcp ZXP and the native plug-in for my platform from the latest\nrelease, open Window > Extensions > ae-mcp in After Effects, then connect\nClaude Code with `claude mcp add --transport http ae http://127.0.0.1:11488/mcp`;\nfor a stdio-only client, configure `npx -y ae-mcp-jkdg`. Keep the panel open and\nstart a new client session before testing `ae_status`.\n```\n\nae-mcp connects an After Effects CEP panel to AI clients through a local MCP\nendpoint. The panel hosts the service at `http://127.0.0.1:11488/mcp`; the\nhost is a Node process using Express, and After Effects state is reached\nthrough ExtendScript and the frozen native AEGP plane.\n\n## Install and first run\n\n1. Install the signed ZXP in After Effects.\n2. Install the matching native plug-in beside the After Effects plug-ins\n selected for the host — the `.aex` on Windows, the `AeMcpNative.plugin`\n bundle on macOS. Keep the version pair from the same release. The same\n ZXP installs on both systems; it bundles the OpenCode runtime for Windows\n (`runtime/opencode/opencode.exe`, about 60 MB), which the panel uses only\n on Windows, while macOS falls back to an `opencode` found on PATH. Only\n this native plug-in is built per platform, and `ae_nativeExec` is the one\n tool that needs it. [Install](docs/INSTALL.md) has the exact per-platform\n destination, and the macOS bundle additionally needs its download\n quarantine cleared before After Effects will load it.\n3. Start After Effects and open **Window > Extensions > ae-mcp**. Keep the panel\n open while an external client uses MCP.\n4. Configure one of the two supported external connection forms below.\n\nThe panel itself is the MCP service. No separate repository server is needed.\nExternal clients must run on the same machine as After Effects because the\ndefault endpoint is loopback.\n\n## Client connections\n\nClaude Code uses the URL transport:\n\n```bash\nclaude mcp add --transport http ae http://127.0.0.1:11488/mcp\n```\n\nClaude Desktop can use the published connector through the system Node\ninstallation, without needing access to the installed extension directory.\nThis `npx -y ae-mcp-jkdg` form wraps the same dependency-free\n`host/stdio-shim.js`:\n\n```json\n{\n \"mcpServers\": {\n \"ae\": {\n \"command\": \"npx\",\n \"args\": [\"-y\", \"ae-mcp-jkdg\"]\n }\n }\n}\n```\n\nAlternatively, Claude Desktop can run the dependency-free stdio shim shipped\nin the installed extension. Set `command` to the system Node executable and\npoint `args` at the extension directory's `host/stdio-shim.js`:\n\n```json\n{\n \"mcpServers\": {\n \"ae\": {\n \"command\": \"node\",\n \"args\": [\"/host/stdio-shim.js\"],\n \"env\": {\n \"AE_MCP_HTTP_URL\": \"http://127.0.0.1:11488/mcp\"\n }\n }\n }\n}\n```\n\nClaude Desktop therefore needs a system Node installation. The shim keeps one\nstdio request queue and forwards MCP responses to the panel host.\n\n## Panel capabilities\n\nThe CEP host advertises 13 public MCP tools:\n\n| Area | Tools |\n| --- | --- |\n| Status | `ae_status` |\n| ExtendScript and recovery | `ae_exec`, `ae_execRecover` |\n| Read and visual verification | `ae_read`, `ae_previewFrame`, `ae_validateExpressions` |\n| Project checkpoints | `ae_checkpoint`, `ae_revert` |\n| Frozen native AEGP | `ae_nativeExec` |\n| Tool Library and skills | `ae_toolSearch`, `ae_toolUse`, `ae_toolSave`, `ae_skillUse` |\n\nSuccessful `ae_exec` and `ae_execRecover` scripts are captured as deduplicated,\nrerunnable Tool Library candidates. `ae_toolSave` promotes or creates reusable\nJSX and prompt-skill artifacts; the Tools page manages candidates and saved\nartifacts, including import/export. Usage counters and funnel events show what\ngets replayed or retained, while the placeholder guard points compacted\nconversations back to exact candidates and stops repeated placeholder retries.\n\nThe panel also provides approval modes, activity history, diagnostics, log\nexport, and built-in Claude, Codex, and OpenCode channels. Persistent host state\ndefaults to `~/.ae-mcp`; developers and tests can relocate it with\n`AE_MCP_STATE_DIR`.\n\nThe public MCP tools are served by the CEP host. Writes should be followed by\nan independent readback; potentially side-effecting failures must be\nreconciled before retry, and Undo must be executed and verified separately.\n\n## Development\n\nInstall the two Node workspaces and build the panel:\n\n```bash\n(cd plugin/host && npm ci)\n(cd plugin/panel && npm ci && npm run build)\n```\n\nFor a local CEP deployment, use the platform-specific script after the host\nand panel are built:\n\n```powershell\n.\\scripts\\install-plugin-dev.ps1\n```\n\n```bash\n./scripts/install-plugin-dev-macos.sh\n```\n\nThe Adobe After Effects C/C++ Plug-in SDK is a developer-supplied input and\nmust remain outside this repository. Verify it before building the native\nplug-in:\n\n```bash\nnode scripts/package/ae-sdk-input.mjs verify-input --platform macos-arm64\n```\n\nFor the frozen native plane, build into a new directory outside the repository.\nThe installer keeps transaction state under `native-plugin-dev-v1`; retain the\nreturned transaction ID if you install the result:\n\n```bash\nAE_SDK_ARCHIVE=/absolute/path/AfterEffectsSDK.zip\nAE_SDK_ROOT=/absolute/path/AfterEffectsSDK\nBUILD_DIR=/private/tmp/ae-mcp-native-dev\nTRANSACTION_ID=\"paste-the-transaction-id-here\"\nnode native/ae-plugin/build-macos.mjs \\\n --sdk-archive \"$AE_SDK_ARCHIVE\" \\\n --sdk-root \"$AE_SDK_ROOT\" \\\n --output \"$BUILD_DIR\"\n# The install state root is native-plugin-dev-v1.\nnode native/ae-plugin/install-dev-macos.mjs install --artifact-dir \"$BUILD_DIR\"\nnode native/ae-plugin/install-dev-macos.mjs rollback \\\n --transaction \"$TRANSACTION_ID\"\n```\n\nThe native plane is frozen; generated AEGP protocol files are checked in and\nthe capability-package code-generation pipeline is not part of normal\ndevelopment.\n\n## Tests and packaging\n\nRun focused Node contracts locally:\n\n```powershell\nnode --test scripts/package/test/verify-windows-zxp-stage.test.mjs\nnode --test scripts/package/test/zxp-payload-audit.test.mjs\n```\n\nThe Windows ZXP staging command copies the panel, host, JSX, shared modules,\nicons, generated host assets, and the pinned OpenCode runtime staged by\n`node scripts/package/fetch-opencode-runtime.mjs`. It verifies the host's\nexact Express `4.22.2` dependency and signs the ZXP once:\n\n```powershell\n.\\scripts\\package-zxp.ps1 -SkipSigning\n```\n\nThe signed ZXP must contain no nested native binary; the bundled\n`opencode.exe` is the one explicitly allowed executable. The packaging script\nfails above 80 MB, and a release with the runtime is roughly 60 MB.\n\nSee [Install](docs/INSTALL.md), [Reference](docs/REFERENCE.md),\n[Tool Library](docs/TOOL_LIBRARY.md), [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE_DIRECTION.md),\n[Workflow](docs/WORKFLOW.md), and [Release](docs/RELEASE.md) for maintained\noperational and developer details.\n\n## License\n\nae-mcp is released under the MIT License; see [LICENSE](LICENSE). Adobe's\n`CSInterface.js` retains its upstream license notice.\n", "bytes": 7320, "sha": "7806b0d26690c14cc376f19059ff48a81fd237bcd1e858950465a98bda245556", "repo_slug": "junkdoge-joe/after-effects-mcp", "fonte": "repo", "truncated": false, "api": "https://agentalog.com/api/listings/mcp_io_github_junkdoge_joe_ae_mcp_d06a8610/readme" }