| name | houdini-hda-automation |
| description | Pipeline skill — HDA library automation and PDG/ROP execution: scan loaded HDA libraries, inspect definitions (inputs, parm templates, sections, version), instantiate digital assets with inputs/parameters, validate cooked nodes, cook TOP/PDG networks, and execute ROP output-driver chains. Pair with houdini-hda for install/save and houdini-render for single-ROP captures. |
| license | MIT |
| compatibility | dcc-mcp-houdini 0.1+, Houdini 20.5+, dcc-mcp-core 0.17+ |
| allowed-tools | Bash Read Write Edit |
| metadata | {"dcc-mcp":{"dcc":"houdini","layer":"domain","stage":"pipeline","version":"1.0.0","tags":["houdini","hda","otl","digital-asset","pdg","top","rop","render","automation","validation","pipeline"],"search-hint":"hda otl digital asset definition instantiate validate cook pdg top tasks rop output driver render chain dependencies automation","tools":"tools.yaml"}} |
houdini-hda-automation
Typed automation tools for Houdini Digital Assets (HDA/OTL) and procedural
batch execution via PDG/TOP networks and ROP output-driver chains. Complements
houdini-hda (which installs/lists/executes/saves HDAs) with library scanning,
definition introspection, instantiation, validation, and graph-level cooking.
Tool groups
hda-query (read-only): scan_hda_libraries, inspect_hda_definition,
validate_hda.hda-edit: instantiate_hda (async — creates and cooks a node).pdg-rop (async): cook_top_network, execute_rop_chain.
Context limitations
- Headless / no license: all tools degrade through structured
skill_error envelopes when hou is unavailable; PDG/ROP cooking still
requires a valid Houdini session.
- Long runs:
instantiate_hda, validate_hda, cook_top_network, and
execute_rop_chain are execution: async with timeout_hint_secs set —
cooking and rendering can be slow; agents should poll rather than block.
- PDG stats:
cook_top_network reports work_item_count on a best-effort
basis via getPDGGraphContext(); it may be null when the context is
unavailable.
- ROP dependencies:
execute_rop_chain honours upstream ROP inputs by
default; pass ignore_inputs=true to render only the named driver.
Tracer-bullet flow
scan_hda_libraries() → find an installed library / node typeinspect_hda_definition("labs::my_asset") → discover inputs + parm namesinstantiate_hda("/obj", "labs::my_asset", parameters={...}, inputs=[...])validate_hda("/obj/my_asset1") → confirm a clean cookcook_top_network("/obj/topnet1/output") or
execute_rop_chain("/out/mantra1", frame_range=[1, 24])
