# Glyphs MCP Desktop 2.0.3

**Released: 2.0.3 · desktop build 59 · Glyphs 4.** Run already-authorized script edits without a forced Save, open Edit tabs and create unsaved document copies directly. Download the [signed and notarized disk image](https://github.com/thierryc/Glyphs-mcp/releases/download/v2.0.3/Glyphs-MCP-2.0.3.dmg) and see the [2.0.3 release qualification](V2.0.3-RELEASE.md) for validation and recovery limits.

The [twenty-tool contract](content/reference/command-set.mdx) includes font creation, native source opening, UFO/OTF/TTF import, window activation and closing with explicit save/discard handling. Version 2.0.3 includes save-free Edit-tab opening and unsaved `duplicate_document` copies; update the bridge and sidecar together through Setup. `save_document` persists an explicitly identified font.

Glyphs MCP connects AI applications to Glyphs 4 through a small native bridge
and a separate MCP server. The installer includes its private Python runtime;
no terminal setup is required for the Glyphs 4 sidecar. Install official Glyphs 4
first and launch it in trial mode or with your license. Install Python through
Glyphs' Plugin Manager and select the **(Glyphs)** framework in Addons before
installing the MCP components.

Open **Glyphs MCP.app** and use **Setup**. **Install All** reconciles Glyphs MCP,
Curve Inspector and Reference Inspector, then configures Codex, Claude Code,
Claude Desktop and Cursor. Bundled component cards also support independent install,
update, removal and retry. Upgrades preserve ports, startup settings and
unrelated agent configuration.

Setup also introduces **Beztrace**, an independent Glyphs image-tracing plugin,
with requirements, its independently signed build 15 release and setup guidance. The app bundles
the universal stable 0.1.1 engine; the Glyphs plugin remains separate. See [Beztrace setup](content/workflows/beztrace.mdx).

The permanent app includes Setup and Project destinations, a static menu-bar
popover, a dedicated troubleshooting-log window, local and public templates,
and a Git diff browser with opt-in font checkpoints. Its
native file tree opens source diffs in unified or split form and can compare
individual `.glyphspackage` glyphs as visual overlays or source text. Automatic
update checks are enabled by default and can be disabled in Settings. Desktop
launch at login is a separate opt-in setting.

In Glyphs, **Edit → Glyphs MCP Server…** opens Start/Stop and port settings.
The compact extension panel displays the project and bridge versions and
"Ready". Its heart button reopens Glyphs' nonmodal Welcome/support panel with
documentation, issue and support links.

The v2 desktop companion includes a six-slide introduction covering
control, connections, prerequisites, v2 changes and community support. It appears
on first interactive launch and can be replayed through **File → Welcome & Support**
or the sidebar. **Skip to setup** and **Start setup** open Setup. Desktop login
launch stays quiet. See [qualification and remaining manual checks](V2-RELEASE.md).

Prepare supported spacing, kerning, slant, start-node, outline and negotiated
closed native-action jobs; run feature compiler diagnostics; or stage verified
static, variable and web-font exports. Conversation edits apply complete results
under the original request; previews, warnings and incomplete coverage wait for
review. Artifact publication remains separately authorized.

Exact kerning assignments use `kerning_edit`: 1–100 glyph/group pairs with
explicit masters and directions, fractional values, and distinct set/remove
operations. Native preparation avoids a font copy and worker startup while
retaining selective recovery. Read-only language proofing offers bounded pairs
to inspect from a pinned MIT dataset; it does not suggest values or launch
collision analysis. See the [kerning guidance](skills/glyphs-mcp-kerning/SKILL.md).
Results offer **Keep changes without saving**, **Save font**, and recovery.
Typed **Undo these changes** covers the recorded edit; script **Restore before
run** restores the complete pre-run memory copy, replacing later unsaved edits
and clearing Undo. It preserves edits made before Run; recovery lasts for the
current Glyphs session.
Keep ends wrapper recovery without saving and preserves native Undo/Redo.
`accept_job` verifies affected targets and saves the whole document when authorized.
Spacing proposals and
reference display ignore differences of at most 0.001 font units. Exact
native history and recovery keep the original values without rounding.

The twenty tools are `get_status`, `list_documents`, `create_document`, `duplicate_document`, `open_document`, `import_document`,
`activate_document`, `open_edit_tab`, `close_document`, `read_entities`,
`start_job`, `compare_fonts`, `get_job`, `apply_job`, `accept_job`, `discard_job`, and
`save_document`, `start_edit_workflow`, `get_edit_workflow`, and
`respond_edit_workflow`. The shared MCP App supports preparation, saving and
review where the host supports interactive Apps; every action also works in
text. Scripts can run on clean, dirty or pathless fonts without saving.
The resulting edit remains unsaved until separately authorized. Cards reuse
matching Script details, and typed results show their intended change. Exact
source stays optional; fresh server checks still guard actions. See
[conversation edits](content/tutorial/conversation-edits.mdx).
See [installation](content/getting-started/installation.mdx) and the
[Glyphs 4 contract](content/reference/command-set-v2.mdx).

The v2 source targets Glyphs 4 only. Glyphs 3 remains available through the
separate pinned v1.11.0 release and its existing dependency setup. The two
documentation tracks describe these versions separately. V2 is available
as a signed and notarized
[GitHub release](https://github.com/thierryc/Glyphs-mcp/releases/tag/v2.0.3).

Documentation sources: [v2 · 2.0.3](content/glyphs-mcp.md) and
[v1 · 1.11.0](website/versioned_docs/version-1.11.0/glyphs-mcp.md).
The local site build has a version selector; existing v1 URLs stay at `/docs/`,
and v2 is configured at `/docs/v2/`. Both are built together from `website/`.
See [release qualification](V2.0.3-RELEASE.md) for current results and limits.
Historical beta reports remain in [the qualification archive](reports/README.md);
the original beta guides and plans are preserved in the [v2.0.0 source tag](https://github.com/thierryc/Glyphs-mcp/tree/v2.0.0).
Compatibility repository guide: [Glyphs 3 / 1.11.0](legacy/glyphs3/README.md).

For contributors, use [CODEX.md](CODEX.md) and the local packaging instructions
in [macos-installer/README.md](macos-installer/README.md). The published disk image is `Glyphs-MCP-2.0.3.dmg`.
Stable releases retain `Glyphs-MCP-latest.dmg`. The separate `lit/v2-beta` feed delivers the published stable update to existing beta installations.

Author: Thierry Charbonnel. [Documentation](https://ap.cx/gmcp),
[Issues](https://github.com/thierryc/Glyphs-mcp/issues),
[Support](https://github.com/sponsors/thierryc).

New stable versions appear on [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/thierryc/Glyphs-mcp/releases/latest). Use **Check for Updates** in the desktop app to check on demand; beta builds use a separate beta feed. Releases are built, signed and notarized locally; no GitHub Actions are used for release publishing.


Historical lean v2 qualification is indexed in [reports/README.md](reports/README.md).
The RV02 follow-up covers the installed OpenType, precision and native API
guidance. Native Python uses the advertised `python_script` job and
`script.native.v1` without adding tools. Preparation never executes code. An
ordinary task authorizes Run without a separate source review; previews wait.
Dirty, clean and pathless fonts run without Save under `script.recovery.snapshot.v1`
and preparation version 3. Restore before run restores a detached full-font copy,
including earlier unsaved edits; recovery is limited to the current Glyphs session.
Successful edit cards offer a 30-second countdown to Keep changes without
saving, ending the workflow recovery offer. Typed Keep preserves native Undo/Redo. Say **“wait for my answer”** to disable it.
See [script execution and recovery](skills/glyphs/references/python-scripts.md).

Native scripts have no 4,096-surface ceiling while retaining
the complete 4 MiB request budget. Large selectors use incremental read-only
preparation, one pre-run recovery copy and one result workflow. Typed edit and read
limits are unchanged. Qualification is tracked in [the V2 release notes](V2-RELEASE.md).

### Local font checkpoints

The opt-in project setting records exact saved baselines and authorized MCP saves
as font-scoped Git checkpoints. Keep stays unsaved; failed checkpoints can be
retried without another Save. Bounded history, recorded actions, comparison and
whole-font historical reload share the existing twenty tools and app project UI.
See [checkpoint workflow](skills/glyphs/references/git-checkpoints.md).
See the [milestone 6 qualification report](reports/beta8-milestone6/README.md) for
installed editor/app checks, measured costs and remaining limits.

## 2.0.3 release

Already-authorized scripts run directly after preparation, with current-state
recovery and no forced Save. Preview requests still wait. Curve Inspector 0.5.2
explains no-change results, and the versioned agent package exposes its skills
digest. See [2.0.3 qualification](V2.0.3-RELEASE.md).

## Earlier 2.0.2 release

The 2.0.2 release introduced responsive initialization status and compiled-font comparison
through `compare_fonts`. Diffenator and Beztrace have optional managed Setup
cards; their downloads remain gated on independently signed and qualified
distributions. See [compiled comparisons](content/workflows/font-comparison.mdx)
and [2.0.2 qualification](V2.0.2-RELEASE.md).