🚀 Rhino Grasshopper MCP - AI-Powered Computational Design Assistant

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that brings AI capabilities directly into Rhino/Grasshopper workflows, featuring ML-based automatic layout optimization - a capability not found in any other publicly available tool.

🎯 What Makes This Different?

Unlike basic Grasshopper-to-LLM connectors that only generate code, this tool includes:

🧠 ML-Based Auto Layout (Industry First)

• DBSCAN clustering for automatic component grouping

• K-means clustering for fixed group counts

• User pattern learning with persistent preferences

• K-NN position prediction for optimal new component placement

• Wire crossing minimization algorithm

🎓 AI Mentoring System

• Performance prediction: Estimates optimization impact (e.g., "15-30% improvement expected")

• Pattern detection: Identifies inefficient patterns and suggests better alternatives

• Auto-grouping: Analyzes wire connectivity to suggest logical component groups

• Layout anomaly detection: Finds isolated, overlapping, or misaligned components

🔌 Live Rhino Integration

• Real-time connection to running Rhino/Grasshopper instances

• Execute Python code remotely in Rhino

• Get canvas state and trigger solves

• No file-based workflow required

Related MCP server: RhinoMCP

📋 Features Overview

🛠️ Installation

git clone https://github.com/dongwoosuk/rhino-grasshopper-mcp.git
cd rhino-grasshopper-mcp
python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate  # Windows
pip install -e .

⚙️ Configuration

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grasshopper": {
      "command": "path/to/rhino_grasshopper_mcp/.venv/Scripts/python.exe",
      "args": ["-m", "rhino_grasshopper_mcp"]
    }
  }
}

🔌 Live Rhino Connection (Optional)

To enable real-time Rhino/Grasshopper control:

1. Open Rhino 7 or 8

2. Run ScriptEditor in Rhino 8 and select Python 3

3. Open and run rhino_listener/rhino_bridge_listener.py with Python 3. Keep the cloned repository structure: the listener also needs its sibling graph_operations.py and rhino_grasshopper_mcp/port_layout.py. New batch graphs use Elefront EF Data Description (R6); install Elefront before using gh_apply_graph. Do not launch this listener with the legacy EditPythonScript / IronPython editor.

4. You'll see: Rhino Bridge Listener started on localhost:8080

📚 Available Tools

Rhino Bridge (requires listener)

AI Mentoring Tools

Pattern Detection Examples

The suggest_alternatives tool detects these inefficient patterns:

🏗️ Architecture

rhino_grasshopper_mcp/
├── rhino_grasshopper_mcp/
│   ├── bridge.py              # Main MCP server
│   ├── rhino_bridge.py        # TCP client to Rhino
│   ├── gh_file_ops.py         # .gh/.ghx parsing
│   ├── component_library.py   # Component database
│   ├── code_generator.py      # Code templates
│   └── mentoring/
│       ├── ml_layout_learner.py        # DBSCAN/K-means
│       ├── advanced_layout_learner.py  # Advanced learning
│       ├── persistent_layout_learner.py # User patterns
│       ├── performance_predictor.py    # Optimization prediction
│       ├── alternative_suggester.py    # Pattern detection
│       ├── auto_grouper.py             # Wire-based grouping
│       ├── wire_crossing_detector.py   # Crossing detection
│       └── crossing_minimizer.py       # Layout optimization
├── rhino_listener/
│   └── rhino_bridge_listener.py  # Run IN Rhino
└── pyproject.toml

🤖 ML Layout System Details

How It Works

1. Feature Extraction: Analyzes component positions, types, and connections

2. Clustering: Groups components using DBSCAN or K-means

3. Pattern Learning: Stores user preferences in layout_preferences.json

4. Position Prediction: Uses K-NN to suggest optimal positions for new components

5. Anomaly Detection: Identifies layout issues (isolated nodes, overlaps, wrong flow direction)

Supported Analyses

# Example: ML clustering analysis
result = ml_layout_analysis(gh_file_path, method="dbscan")
# Returns: clusters, anomalies, optimization suggestions

# Example: Position prediction
result = predict_component_position(gh_file_path, "Panel", near_component="Slider")
# Returns: predicted X, Y coordinates based on learned patterns

🎯 Use Cases

• Design Automation: Let AI handle repetitive Grasshopper tasks

• Code Review: Get suggestions for optimizing definitions

• Learning: AI mentoring for Grasshopper best practices

• Layout Cleanup: Automatic organization of messy definitions

• Team Standards: Consistent component arrangement across projects

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Built on the Model Context Protocol by Anthropic

• Grasshopper by David Rutten / McNeel

• scikit-learn for ML algorithms

📬 Contact

Dongwoo Suk - Computational Design Specialist

• GitHub: dongwoosuk

• LinkedIn: dongwoosuk

Graph and layout update

See upgrade notes and validation for measured-port layout, batch graph tools, Rhino 8 Python 3 defaults and Elefront Name View descriptions. Keep the repository folder structure when updating the listener.