Kdenlive MCP

Local-first video editing through the Model Context Protocol. Kdenlive MCP keeps a versioned JSON project as the source of truth, applies revision-checked timeline edits, compiles deterministic MLT, queues renders, generates previews, and verifies outputs using the Kdenlive/MLT and FFmpeg installation already on your computer.

Public preview: Milestones 0-4, 6, and 7 are implemented. Local AI analysis (Milestone 5) remains planned and unavailable.

What works

• Canonical projects with atomic revisions, checkpoints, undo, and redo.

• Media ingest with allowed-root containment and managed/external modes.

• Clip placement, linked A/V, ripple edits, properties, keyframes, effects, transitions, text, captions, and markers.

• Durable preview/export jobs, progress, cancellation, restart recovery, and bounded artifacts.

• Output duration, stream, A/V sync, loudness, clipping, black, and freeze checks.

• MCP over stdio or authenticated loopback Streamable HTTP.

• Automatic Kdenlive/MLT/FFmpeg discovery and an actionable doctor command.

• Editable Kdenlive 26.04.x and OTIO 0.18.1 export, plus reviewed import plans.

• Versioned editing recipes and advisory, durable timeline diagnostics.

Related MCP server: mcpCut

Quick start

Requirements: Node.js 22+, pnpm 9, and Kdenlive or separate MLT/FFmpeg tools.

Powershell:

git clone https://github.com/AMMIROSOH/Kdenlive-mcp.git
cd Kdenlive-mcp
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass
.\scripts\install.ps1 -AddToPath
kdenlive-mcp --doctor

Linux:

git clone https://github.com/AMMIROSOH/Kdenlive-mcp.git
cd Kdenlive-mcp
./scripts/install.sh
~/.local/share/kdenlive-mcp/kdenlive-mcp-*/kdenlive-mcp --doctor

Then add the stdio command to your MCP client with an absolute allowed root:

kdenlive-mcp --root /path/to/video-workspace --client-id my-mcp-client

See the complete installation and client configuration guide.

Safety model

• Files are limited to configured roots; symlink/traversal escapes are rejected.

• Mutations require the exact current revision and remain undoable per client.

• Render processes use argument arrays, no shell, bounded output/time, and a restricted environment.

• HTTP binds only to loopback and requires a generated bearer token.

• Kdenlive, MLT, and FFmpeg binaries are not redistributed by this repository.

Read the threat model and security policy before exposing the server to additional software.

Documentation

• Installation

• Tutorial

• MCP reference

• Architecture and data ownership

• Runtime support

• Troubleshooting

• Roadmap

• Contributing

Development

pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
pnpm check
pnpm doctor
pnpm render:acceptance
pnpm mcp:acceptance
pnpm docs:check
pnpm sbom
pnpm release:acceptance -- --platform windows

License

Apache-2.0 for this repository. External Kdenlive/MLT/FFmpeg installations retain their own licenses; see third-party notices.

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