MCP

Your assistant,
on your timeline.

Swamp Dragon has a built-in Model Context Protocol server. Connect Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or any MCP host and describe the edit you want; it cuts, zooms, animates and styles with real editing tools.

Connect your assistant Tool reference

27 tools5 harnessesYour computer local only0 AI fees from us

What's new

New tools, capabilities and fixes for the MCP integration, newest first.

v0.1.0October 29, 2026

MCP integration launches with 27 tools

Swamp Dragon ships with a built-in MCP server. Any assistant that supports stdio MCP servers can read your timeline and edit it with the same operations the editor uses.

New27 tools across reading, cuts and clips, zoom and webcam, text and motion graphics, look and effects, skills, privacy and audio.
NewMotion graphics over MCP: add_graphic places arrows, spotlights, highlights, progress bars and 6 more animated shapes; set_keyframes animates position, scale, rotation and opacity.
Newset_transition adds one of 13 transitions to a single cut or to every cut at once.
Newset_look, set_frame_style and add_effect control color, framing and 12 timed effects.
NewEvery tool that adds something returns its new id as created_id, so follow-up edits can target it directly.
NewWhat it can see: share all projects (including new recordings) or only the projects you select.
NewLive editing: when a project is open, assistant edits appear immediately and are one undo step each.
NewActivity log in Integrations lists every call, its arguments and its result.

How it works

Your assistant never touches your files. It calls tools; the app applies them as ordinary, undoable edits.

Your assistantClaude Code, Codex, Cursor or another harness decides which tools to call.
MCP serverA small stdio program bundled with the app. No AI, no editing logic: it forwards each call.
Local bridgeRuns only on your computer, with a random port and a private token regenerated every time MCP starts.
Swamp DragonChecks the plan and which projects are shared, then applies the same edit operations as the editor.
Your timelineEdits appear live in an open editor, one undo step each, logged in Integrations → Activity.

Capabilities

22 tools on Starter and Pro; all 27 on Unlimited.

Reading

Starter+

list_projectsShared projects with id, name, duration, last update and whether each is open in the editor.
get_timelineThe whole edit: clips, cuts, layers, text, graphics, images, effects, zooms, blurs, markers, frame, look, webcam, audio, export and applied skills.
list_skillsBuilt-in and custom skills with ids and default settings.

Cuts and clips

Starter+

trim_clipRemove a range from every track; later items shift left.
split_clipCut at a time.
set_clipSpeed (0.25–4×) and reverse for the clip at a time.
freeze_frameInsert a still frame for 0.1–60 seconds.
set_transitionOne of 13 transitions on one cut or all cuts.
add_markerAdd a labelled marker.

Zoom and webcam

Starter+

add_zoomEased zoom to a point, 1–4×.
remove_zoomRemove a zoom.
set_webcam_layoutShape, corner, size, border, mirror and background effect.

Text and motion graphics

Starter+

add_textTitles, chapters, lower thirds, captions, callouts, shortcuts and outros with entrance, exit and loop animations.
set_text_styleRestyle or re-animate existing text.
remove_textRemove text.
add_graphic10 animated shapes: rect, ellipse, arrow, line, highlight, spotlight, progress, ripple, underline, bracket.
set_keyframesAnimate position, scale, rotation and opacity of text, images, graphics or the camera.
update_itemChange any field of any item.
remove_itemRemove any item by kind and id.

Look and effects

Starter+

add_effect12 timed effects: shake, zoom punch, flash, glitch, RGB split, blur, mono, invert, pixelate, vignette, film, adjust.
set_frame_stylePadding, background, corner radius, shadow and border.
set_look10 presets and 11 color controls.

Skills, privacy, audio and undo

Unlimited

apply_skillRun a built-in or custom skill with settings.
remove_skillSwitch a skill off and reverse its edits.
add_blurPrivacy blur over a rectangle.
set_audioMic and system audio gain and mute.
undoUndo the last edit in an open project.

Harnesses

Supported assistant apps and exactly how to connect each one. Copy the real snippet from Integrations in the app: it contains the paths for your computer.

Type: Terminal and IDE agent
Format: CLI command
Where it goes: claude mcp add
Check it works: claude mcp list, or /mcp inside Claude Code

CLI command

claude mcp add swamp-dragon \
  -e ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE=1 \
  -e SWAMP_DRAGON_ENDPOINT="/Users/you/Library/Application Support/Swamp Dragon/mcp-endpoint.json" \
  -- "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/MacOS/Swamp Dragon" "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/out/main/mcp.js"

Type: AI code editor
Format: JSON
Where it goes: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
Check it works: Settings → MCP

JSON

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "swamp-dragon": {
      "command": "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/MacOS/Swamp Dragon",
      "args": ["/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/out/main/mcp.js"],
      "env": {
        "ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",
        "SWAMP_DRAGON_ENDPOINT": "/Users/you/Library/Application Support/Swamp Dragon/mcp-endpoint.json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Type: Terminal agent
Format: TOML
Where it goes: ~/.codex/config.toml
Check it works: Restart Codex; the tools appear in its tool list

TOML

[mcp_servers.swamp-dragon]
command = "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/MacOS/Swamp Dragon"
args = ["/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/out/main/mcp.js"]
env = { ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE = "1", SWAMP_DRAGON_ENDPOINT = "/Users/you/Library/Application Support/Swamp Dragon/mcp-endpoint.json" }

Type: Desktop chat app
Format: JSON (mcpServers)
Where it goes: claude_desktop_config.json
Check it works: Restart the app and look for the tools icon

JSON (mcpServers)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "swamp-dragon": {
      "command": "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/MacOS/Swamp Dragon",
      "args": ["/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/out/main/mcp.js"],
      "env": {
        "ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE": "1",
        "SWAMP_DRAGON_ENDPOINT": "/Users/you/Library/Application Support/Swamp Dragon/mcp-endpoint.json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Type: Windsurf, custom agents and more
Format: Command + args + env
Where it goes: Your host's MCP settings
Check it works: Your host's MCP status screen

Command + args + env

command = "/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/MacOS/Swamp Dragon"
args = ["/Applications/Swamp Dragon.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/out/main/mcp.js"]
ELECTRON_RUN_AS_NODE=1
SWAMP_DRAGON_ENDPOINT="/Users/you/Library/Application Support/Swamp Dragon/mcp-endpoint.json"

The examples use macOS paths. On Windows the snippet uses your install folder, for example C:\Users\you\AppData\Local\Programs\Swamp Dragon\Swamp Dragon.exe, and %APPDATA%\Swamp Dragon\mcp-endpoint.json.

Open Integrations and switch on MCP integration.
Choose All projects or Only selected.
Copy your assistant's snippet and add it as shown above.
Restart the assistant and ask it to list your projects.

MCP by plan

Plan	Access	Tools
Free	Not included	0
Starter	Basic	22
Pro	Basic	22
Unlimited	Full	27

Tool reference

Times are timeline seconds; positions are fractions of the frame from 0 to 1. The docs list every parameter.

Tool	What it does	Group	Plan
`list_projects`	Shared projects with id, name, duration, last update and whether each is open in the editor.	Reading	Starter+
`get_timeline`	The whole edit: clips, cuts, layers, text, graphics, images, effects, zooms, blurs, markers, frame, look, webcam, audio, export and applied skills.	Reading	Starter+
`list_skills`	Built-in and custom skills with ids and default settings.	Reading	Starter+
`trim_clip`	Remove a range from every track; later items shift left.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`split_clip`	Cut at a time.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`set_clip`	Speed (0.25–4×) and reverse for the clip at a time.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`freeze_frame`	Insert a still frame for 0.1–60 seconds.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`set_transition`	One of 13 transitions on one cut or all cuts.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`add_marker`	Add a labelled marker.	Cuts and clips	Starter+
`add_zoom`	Eased zoom to a point, 1–4×.	Zoom and webcam	Starter+
`remove_zoom`	Remove a zoom.	Zoom and webcam	Starter+
`set_webcam_layout`	Shape, corner, size, border, mirror and background effect.	Zoom and webcam	Starter+
`add_text`	Titles, chapters, lower thirds, captions, callouts, shortcuts and outros with entrance, exit and loop animations.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`set_text_style`	Restyle or re-animate existing text.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`remove_text`	Remove text.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`add_graphic`	10 animated shapes: rect, ellipse, arrow, line, highlight, spotlight, progress, ripple, underline, bracket.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`set_keyframes`	Animate position, scale, rotation and opacity of text, images, graphics or the camera.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`update_item`	Change any field of any item.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`remove_item`	Remove any item by kind and id.	Text and motion graphics	Starter+
`add_effect`	12 timed effects: shake, zoom punch, flash, glitch, RGB split, blur, mono, invert, pixelate, vignette, film, adjust.	Look and effects	Starter+
`set_frame_style`	Padding, background, corner radius, shadow and border.	Look and effects	Starter+
`set_look`	10 presets and 11 color controls.	Look and effects	Starter+
`apply_skill`	Run a built-in or custom skill with settings.	Skills, privacy, audio and undo	Unlimited
`remove_skill`	Switch a skill off and reverse its edits.	Skills, privacy, audio and undo	Unlimited
`add_blur`	Privacy blur over a rectangle.	Skills, privacy, audio and undo	Unlimited
`set_audio`	Mic and system audio gain and mute.	Skills, privacy, audio and undo	Unlimited
`undo`	Undo the last edit in an open project.	Skills, privacy, audio and undo	Unlimited

Prompts to try

Click to copy. Open the project in the editor first so you can watch.

Privacy and safety

You choose what's visible. Assistants can list and edit only projects you share.
Edits, not files. Tools never change your original recordings or read arbitrary files.
Local only. The bridge accepts connections only from your computer, using a private token; other computers can't reach it.
No frames leave. Assistants see timeline data such as times, text and settings, never video or audio.
Undo everything. With the project open, every assistant edit is one undo step.
Off in one click. Turn off MCP integration and the bridge stops immediately.

Connect your assistant in five minutes.

MCP is included in Starter, Pro and Unlimited.

Download Read the MCP guide

Your assistant,on your timeline.

What's new

MCP integration launches with 27 tools

How it works

Capabilities

Reading

Cuts and clips

Zoom and webcam

Text and motion graphics

Look and effects

Skills, privacy, audio and undo

Harnesses

MCP by plan

Tool reference

Prompts to try

Privacy and safety

Connect your assistant in five minutes.

Your assistant,
on your timeline.