# dcc-mcp-houdini - AI reference

## Start server

```python
import dcc_mcp_houdini
server = dcc_mcp_houdini.start_server(port=8765)
server.mcp_url  # http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp
dcc_mcp_houdini.stop_server()
```

## Progressive loading

```python
server.find_skills(query="hda")
server.load_skill("houdini-scene")
server.load_skill("houdini-nodes")
server.loaded_skill_count()
server.list_skills()
```

## Public exports

- `HoudiniMcpServer`, `start_server`, `stop_server`, `get_server`
- `HoudiniHost`, `HoudiniCallableDispatcher`, `create_execution_stack`
- `houdini_success`, `houdini_error`, `with_houdini`
- `build_minimal_mode_config`, `build_minimal_mode_for_stages`, `MINIMAL_SKILLS`, `STAGES`, `STAGE_SKILLS`

## Bundled tools

- `houdini_scripting__execute_python`
- `houdini_scripting__get_session_info`
- `houdini_scene__get_scene_info`
- `houdini_scene__list_obj_nodes`
- `houdini_nodes__create_node`
- `houdini_nodes__set_node_parms`
- `houdini_nodes__connect_nodes`
- `houdini_nodes__cook_node`
- `houdini_nodes__layout_children`
- `houdini_nodes__delete_node`
- `houdini_hda__install_hda_file`
- `houdini_hda__list_hda_definitions`
- `houdini_hda__execute_hda`
- `houdini_hda__save_node_as_hda`
- `houdini_automation__run_python_file`
- `houdini_automation__set_frame_range`
- `houdini_automation__save_hip_file`
- `houdini_automation__load_hip_file`
- `houdini_automation__build_node_chain`

## Skill stages

- `bootstrap`: `houdini-scripting` (default loaded)
- `scene`: `houdini-scene` (default loaded)
- `authoring`: `houdini-nodes`, `houdini-hda`
- `pipeline`: `houdini-automation`

## Dev (Windows)

```
just houdini-version=20.5 houdini-dev-build-link-core-win
just houdini-version=20.5 houdini-dev-debug-win
```

## Build and release checks

```
just lint-all
just test
just build-houdini-package platform=win64
python -m twine check dist/*
```

Quickinstall ZIPs contain the adapter wheel, compatible `dcc-mcp-core` wheels,
Houdini package templates, `123.py`, and install scripts.

See `docs/guide/local-mcp-debug.md`, `docs/ci/houdini-docker.md`, and `AGENTS.md`.
