# AE MCP Server - Project Summary
## What We Built
A complete Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants to control Adobe After Effects through a reliable file-based communication system.
## Final Architecture
```
Claude/AI Assistant
↓
MCP Server (Node.js)
↓
File System Bridge
↓
CEP Extension (in After Effects)
↓
ExtendScript Execution
```
## Key Components
### 1. MCP Server (`src/`)
- **stdio-server.ts** - Main server supporting both socket and file communication
- **file-communicator.ts** - File-based command/response system
- **scriptGenerator.ts** - Converts commands to ExtendScript
- **Tool definitions** - Project, composition, layer, render, and batch tools
### 2. CEP Extension (`cep-extension/`)
- **Panel UI** - Visual interface for monitoring commands
- **Auto-processing** - Polls for commands every 200ms
- **Error handling** - Comprehensive error reporting
- **Installation scripts** - Easy setup for macOS and Windows
### 3. Communication Flow
1. Commands written to `~/Documents/ae-mcp-commands/`
2. JSON format with ID and script
3. Extension processes and writes `.response` file
4. Server reads response and returns to client
## What Works
✅ **Project Management** - Create, open, save projects
✅ **Compositions** - Create and modify with any settings
✅ **Layers** - All types including solids, text, shapes, nulls
✅ **Animation** - Keyframe support for all properties
✅ **Rendering** - Queue management and rendering
✅ **Batch Operations** - Process multiple items efficiently
## Key Decisions
1. **File-based over WebSocket** - More reliable, simpler to debug
2. **CEP Extension** - Better UX than background scripts
3. **200ms polling** - Good balance of responsiveness and CPU usage
4. **JSON command format** - Easy to debug and extend
5. **Comprehensive error handling** - Every command has proper error responses
## Setup Process
1. Build: `npm install && npm run build`
2. Install extension: `cd cep-extension && ./install.sh`
3. Enable in After Effects: Window > Extensions > AE MCP Bridge
4. Configure MCP client with file bridge enabled
5. Ready to use!
## Files Kept
### Core Implementation
- All TypeScript source files in `src/`
- CEP extension in `cep-extension/`
- Build configuration files
### Documentation
- **README.md** - Comprehensive documentation
- **SETUP.md** - Quick setup guide
- **cep-extension-guide.md** - CEP development reference
- **Technical docs** - Requirements and design documents
### Examples
- Configuration examples for Claude Desktop and Cline
- Usage examples
## Files Removed
- All WebSocket implementations (15+ files)
- Redundant file bridge implementations (20+ files)
- Duplicate documentation (10+ files)
- Test and debug scripts
- Temporary configuration files
## Lessons Learned
1. **File-based communication is reliable** - No connection issues
2. **CEP has limitations** - Node.js context issues, but panel UI is worth it
3. **Simple is better** - 200ms polling works great
4. **Error handling is critical** - Every failure needs proper response
5. **Documentation matters** - Clear setup guides prevent issues
## Future Improvements
1. Add more effects and presets support
2. Implement expression controls
3. Add media import capabilities
4. Support for plugins and scripts
5. Better progress reporting for long operations
## Conclusion
The AE MCP Server successfully bridges AI assistants with After Effects, providing a reliable and extensible platform for creative automation. The file-based approach proved more robust than WebSocket alternatives, and the CEP extension provides excellent visibility into the system's operation.
Total files: ~50 (down from 150+)
Total lines of code: ~5,000
Setup time: < 5 minutes
Reliability: Excellent
