Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
A direct command skips the review prompt. Inspect the source before running it.
NEVER guess parameter names. Call td_get_par_info for the op type FIRST. Your training data is wrong for TD 2025.32.
If tdAttributeError fires, STOP. Call td_get_operator_info on the failing node before continuing.
NEVER hardcode absolute paths in script callbacks. Use me.parent() / .
scriptOp.parent()
Prefer native MCP tools over td_execute_python. Use td_create_operator, td_set_operator_pars, td_get_errors etc. Only fall back to td_execute_python for complex multi-step logic.
Call td_get_hints before building. It returns patterns specific to the op type you're working with.
Restart Hermes session to pick up the new MCP server
After setup, verify:
nc -z 127.0.0.1 40404 && echo"twozero MCP: READY"
Environment Notes
Non-Commercial TD caps resolution at 1280×1280. Use outputresolution = 'custom' and set width/height explicitly.
Codecs:prores (preferred on macOS) or mjpa as fallback. H.264/H.265/AV1 require a Commercial license.
Always call td_get_par_info before setting params — names vary by TD version (see CRITICAL RULES #1).
Workflow
Step 0: Discover (before building anything)
Call td_get_par_info with op_type for each type you plan to use.
Call td_get_hints with the topic you're building (e.g. "glsl", "audio reactive", "feedback").
Call td_get_focus to see where the user is and what's selected.
Call td_get_network to see what already exists.
No temp nodes, no cleanup. This replaces the old discovery dance entirely.
Step 1: Clean + Build
IMPORTANT: Split cleanup and creation into SEPARATE MCP calls. Destroying and recreating same-named nodes in one td_execute_python script causes "Invalid OP object" errors. See pitfalls #11b.
Use td_create_operator for each node (handles viewport positioning automatically):
Get param names for an OP type (replaces discovery)
td_get_hints
Get patterns/tips before building
td_get_focus
What network is open, what's selected
Read/Write:
Tool
What
td_read_dat
Read DAT text content
td_write_dat
Write/patch DAT content
td_read_chop
Read CHOP channel values
td_read_textport
Read TD console output
Visual:
Tool
What
td_get_screenshot
Capture one OP viewer to file
td_get_screenshots
Capture multiple OPs at once
td_get_screen_screenshot
Capture actual screen via TD
td_navigate_to
Jump network editor to an OP
Search:
Tool
What
td_find_op
Find ops by name/type across project
td_search
Search code, expressions, string params
System:
Tool
What
td_get_perf
Performance profiling (FPS, slow ops)
td_list_instances
List all running TD instances
td_get_docs
In-depth docs on a TD topic
td_agents_md
Read/write per-COMP markdown docs
td_reinit_extension
Reload extension after code edit
td_clear_textport
Clear console before debug session
Input Automation:
Tool
What
td_input_execute
Send mouse/keyboard to TD
td_input_status
Poll input queue status
td_input_clear
Stop input automation
td_op_screen_rect
Get screen coords of a node
td_click_screen_point
Click a point in a screenshot
td_screen_point_to_global
Convert screenshot pixel to absolute screen coords
The table above covers the 32 tools used in typical creative workflows. The remaining 4 tools (td_project_quit, td_test_session, td_dev_log, td_clear_dev_log) are admin/dev-mode utilities — see references/mcp-tools.md for the full 36-tool reference with complete parameter schemas.
Key Implementation Rules
GLSL time: No uTDCurrentTime in GLSL TOP. Use the Values page:
# Call td_get_par_info(op_type="glslTOP") first to confirm param names
td_set_operator_pars(path="/project1/shader", parameters={"value0name": "uTime"})
# Then set expression via script:# op('/project1/shader').par.value0.expr = "absTime.seconds"# In GLSL: uniform float uTime;
Fallback: Constant TOP in rgba32float format (8-bit clamps to 0-1, freezing the shader).
Feedback TOP: Use top parameter reference, not direct input wire. "Not enough sources" resolves after first cook. "Cook dependency loop" warning is expected.
Resolution: Non-Commercial caps at 1280×1280. Use outputresolution = 'custom'.
Large shaders: Write GLSL to /tmp/file.glsl, then use td_write_dat or td_execute_python to load.
Extensions:ext0object format is "op('./datName').module.ClassName(me)" in CONSTANT mode. After editing extension code with td_write_dat, call td_reinit_extension.
Script callbacks: ALWAYS use relative paths via me.parent() / scriptOp.parent().
Cleaning nodes: Always list(root.children) before iterating + child.valid check.
Recording / Exporting Video
# via td_execute_python:
root = op('/project1')
rec = root.create(moviefileoutTOP, 'recorder')
op('/project1/out').outputConnectors[0].connect(rec.inputConnectors[0])
rec.par.type = 'movie'
rec.par.file = '/tmp/output.mov'
rec.par.videocodec = 'prores'# Apple ProRes — NOT license-restricted on macOS
rec.par.record = True# start# rec.par.record = False # stop (call separately later)
H.264/H.265/AV1 need Commercial license. Use prores on macOS or mjpa as fallback.
Extract frames: ffmpeg -i /tmp/output.mov -vframes 120 /tmp/frames/frame_%06d.png
TOP.save() is useless for animation — captures same GPU texture every time. Always use MovieFileOut.
Before Recording: Checklist
Verify FPS > 0 via td_get_perf. If FPS=0 the recording will be empty. See pitfalls #38-39.
Verify shader output is not black via td_get_screenshot. Black output = shader error or missing input. See pitfalls #8, #40.
If recording with audio: cue audio to start first, then delay recording by 3 frames. See pitfalls #19.
Set output path before starting record — setting both in the same script can race.
Audio-Reactive GLSL (Proven Recipe)
Correct signal chain (tested April 2026)
AudioFileIn CHOP (playmode=sequential)
→ AudioSpectrum CHOP (FFT=512, outputmenu=setmanually, outlength=256, timeslice=ON)
→ Math CHOP (gain=10)
→ CHOP to TOP (dataformat=r, layout=rowscropped)
→ GLSL TOP input 1 (spectrum texture, 256x2)
Constant TOP (rgba32float, time) → GLSL TOP input 0
GLSL TOP → Null TOP → MovieFileOut
TimeSlice must stay ON for AudioSpectrum. OFF = processes entire audio file → 24000+ samples → CHOP to TOP overflow.
Set Output Length manually to 256 via outputmenu='setmanually' and outlength=256. Default outputs 22050 samples.
DO NOT use Lag CHOP for spectrum smoothing. Lag CHOP operates in timeslice mode and expands 256 samples to 2400+, averaging all values to near-zero (~1e-06). The shader receives no usable data. This was the #1 audio sync failure in testing.
DO NOT use Filter CHOP either — same timeslice expansion problem with spectrum data.
Smoothing belongs in the GLSL shader if needed, via temporal lerp with a feedback texture: mix(prevValue, newValue, 0.3). This gives frame-perfect sync with zero pipeline latency.
CHOP to TOP dataformat = 'r', layout = 'rowscropped'. Spectrum output is 256x2 (stereo). Sample at y=0.25 for first channel.
Math gain = 10 (not 5). Raw spectrum values are ~0.19 in bass range. Gain of 10 gives usable ~5.0 for the shader.
No Resample CHOP needed. Control output size via AudioSpectrum's outlength param directly.
GLSL spectrum sampling
// Input 0 = time (1x1 rgba32float), Input 1 = spectrum (256x2)
float iTime = texture(sTD2DInputs[0], vec2(0.5)).r;
// Sample multiple points per band and average for stability:
// NOTE: y=0.25 for first channel (stereo texture is 256x2, first row center is 0.25)
float bass = (texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.02, 0.25)).r +
texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.05, 0.25)).r) / 2.0;
float mid = (texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.2, 0.25)).r +
texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.35, 0.25)).r) / 2.0;
float hi = (texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.6, 0.25)).r +
texture(sTD2DInputs[1], vec2(0.8, 0.25)).r) / 2.0;
See references/network-patterns.md for complete build scripts + shader code.
