Anno

Anno is a local-first HTML review workspace for AI coding agents. It opens an isolated copy of a local HTML file in a browser, supports direct text and formatting edits, element comments, area annotations, and slide-aware review, then returns a durable handoff that an agent can claim and resolve into a verified standalone HTML file.

The repository contains one shared MCP server and host-neutral skill, native plugin manifests where a host supports them, and copy-ready MCP templates for Cursor, Google Antigravity, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot, and Meta Muse Code. DeepSeek Harness support is maintained separately in philmingdao/anno-dsh-native, an in-process native plug-in built with DeepSeek Harness; Muse Code support remains experimental.

Highlights

• Local-only HTTP editor bound to 127.0.0.1

• Source files are never overwritten

• Direct text, typography, color, position, page-note, element, and area editing

• Durable, idempotent agent handoffs

• Legacy compatibility with existing needs_codex sessions

• Shared MCP and SKILL.md implementation across supported hosts

• Simplified Chinese and English UI, light and dark themes

Related MCP server: lucius

Screenshots

The review editor opens an isolated copy of your HTML in the browser. Edit text and styles directly, leave element or area comments, and hand the collected changes back to the agent in one click.

Requirements

• Node.js 22 or newer

• A host that supports local stdio MCP servers and can access local files

• A browser for the review editor

Supported agent tools

Codex, Claude Code, WorkBuddy, and CodeBuddy use packaged plugin manifests. Cursor, Google Antigravity, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot CLI/Chat, and Muse Code connect to the same local stdio MCP server through host-specific configuration templates. DeepSeek Harness uses the independent native anno-dsh-native repository, which integrates directly with the DSH profile, tool registry, and agent lifecycle without an MCP bridge.

See Agent tool integrations for copy-ready configuration and host limitations.

One-command install

No clone or build is required. The installer detects available agent tools, lets you choose them interactively, merges only the anno entry into existing JSON/JSONC configuration, installs the shared skill, creates a timestamped backup before changes, and runs an MCP handshake.

npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 setup

For unattended or host-specific installation:

npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 setup --host cursor
npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 setup --host cursor,windsurf,copilot
npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 setup --host antigravity --scope project

Use the same command on macOS, Linux, and Windows. Node.js 22+ is the only shared prerequisite. Verify or safely remove Anno with:

npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 doctor --host cursor
npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 uninstall --host cursor

DeepSeek Harness has a dedicated native implementation in a separate repository. Install the current source directly from GitHub:

dsh plugin --profile web add github:philmingdao/anno-dsh-native
dsh web

See philmingdao/anno-dsh-native for installation, architecture, compatibility, and source-checkout testing. That plug-in was developed and validated through DeepSeek Harness itself and is the maintained DeepSeek solution for Anno.

Codex, Claude Code, WorkBuddy, and CodeBuddy are installed through their native plugin systems. Cursor receives a native plugin-compatible MCP/Skill layout; Antigravity receives a complete native plugin bundle; Windsurf receives MCP plus Skill configuration; and Copilot receives MCP plus Skill configuration. Muse Code requires the confirmed config path because its public configuration contract is not stable:

npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 setup --host muse --config /absolute/path/to/mcp.json

Native shortcuts are also available:

copilot plugin install philmingdao/anno:plugins/anno

After Anno is accepted into Cursor Marketplace, Cursor users can install the repository's native plugin directly from the marketplace. Antigravity CLI can install the packaged directory with agy plugin install /path/to/host-plugins/antigravity when working from a downloaded package.

Manual configuration fallback

The universal installer is recommended. These version-pinned templates are retained for managed environments that require review and manual merging:

Copilot CLI can also be configured directly through MCP:

copilot mcp add anno --env ANNO_HOST=copilot -- npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 mcp

Restart or refresh the host's MCP server list after saving. GitHub's cloud coding agent cannot expose Anno's loopback review URL; use Copilot locally. Muse Code support remains experimental because its public MCP configuration contract is not yet stable.

Use the MCP server directly

Any stdio MCP client can launch:

npx -y @philmingdao/anno@0.4.0 mcp

Development

npm install
npm test
npm run pack:check

The core MCP package lives in plugins/anno. The DeepSeek Harness implementation is maintained in the independent anno-dsh-native repository. Generated dependencies and local review sessions are not committed.

Data and privacy

Anno processes HTML and annotations locally. The editor binds only to loopback and validates host and origin headers. Generic hosts store sessions under ~/.anno; Codex keeps its compatible default under ~/Library/Application Support/Codex/anno on macOS. Set ANNO_DATA_DIR to choose another directory.

Anno does not upload reviewed files. The connected agent host may process the draft and annotations according to that host's own data policy.

Compatibility

See docs/compatibility.md for host-specific behavior and limitations.

License

MIT. The bundled WDXL Lubrifont font remains covered by its separate SIL Open Font License in plugins/anno/assets/OFL-WDXL-Lubrifont.txt.