| name | houdini-lookdev |
| description | Authoring skill — lookdev and shader-network operations: inspect materials, libraries, shader nodes and assignments; get/set shader parameters with type-aware validation; inspect and rewire shader connections; reset assignments; and manage adapter-owned material presets. Pair with houdini-materials for material creation/assignment. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | dcc-mcp-houdini 0.1+, Houdini 20.5+, dcc-mcp-core 0.19.45+ |
| allowed-tools | Bash Read Write Edit |
| metadata | {"dcc-mcp":{"dcc":"houdini","layer":"domain","stage":"authoring","version":"1.0.0","tags":["houdini","lookdev","material","shader","vop","matnet","karma","materialx","preset","authoring"],"search-hint":"material shader lookdev parameter connect disconnect assignment preset save load karma materialx vop","tools":"tools.yaml"}} |
houdini-lookdev
Typed lookdev tools that complement houdini-materials (which creates and
assigns materials). Most tools are affinity: main; the filesystem-only preset
tools list_presets / delete_preset are affinity: any.
Tool groups
lookdev-query (read-only): list_materials, list_assignments,
get_material_parms, get_shader_connections.lookdev-edit: set_material_parms, connect_shader,
disconnect_shader (destructive), reset_material (destructive).presets: save_preset, list_presets, load_preset, delete_preset
— JSON files under ~/.dcc-mcp/houdini/material_presets/ (override with
DCC_MCP_HOUDINI_MATERIAL_PRESET_DIR).
Context limitations
- Karma / MaterialX: MaterialX subnets live under a
matnet/mat library;
pass the exact material_path (the surface output node). Parameter names
differ from principledshader, so prefer get_material_parms to discover
names before set_material_parms.
- VOP networks:
connect_shader / disconnect_shader operate on node
input slots; use get_shader_connections to read inputNames() first.
- Presets store evaluated parameter values only (not node graphs); loading
onto a different
material_type is allowed but reported as a warning.
Tracer-bullet flow
houdini_materials__create_material(material_name="clay")get_material_parms("/mat/clay") → discover parm namesset_material_parms("/mat/clay", {"basecolor": [0.8,0.4,0.2], "rough": 0.6})houdini_materials__assign_material("/obj/geo1", "/mat/clay")save_preset("/mat/clay", "warm_clay") → load_preset onto another material
