---
title: "Install CoDesign MCP by hand in any agent"
description: "Set up the CoDesign MCP server by hand in Claude Code, Codex, Antigravity, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, Zed, or any other MCP client."
url: "https://codesign.co/mcp/other-clients/"
type: "page"
---

> This is the markdown version of [Install CoDesign MCP by hand in any agent](https://codesign.co/mcp/other-clients/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://codesign.co/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://codesign.co/llms.txt).

---

# Install CoDesign MCP by hand

Set CoDesign up yourself, step by step. Claude Code, Codex, Antigravity and Gemini CLI can install the plugin, which brings the design skills and handbook along with the MCP server. Every other client registers the server on its own: it is the same local server everywhere, and only the command or the config file differs.

**The command every agent ends up running**

```bash
npx -y @imgly/codesign-mcp@latest stdio
```

## Install with the plugin in four steps

For Claude Code, Codex, Antigravity and Gemini CLI. It brings the MCP server along with the design skills and handbook.

### Step 01: Check your client runs local servers

CoDesign runs on your own machine and talks over stdio. A client that only connects to remote MCP servers over HTTP cannot start it, and no amount of config will change that.

On Windows, run your agent inside WSL for now. Clients that start `npx` directly fail there with `spawn npx ENOENT`, and a native Windows launcher is on the way.

### Step 02: Get Node 22.15 or newer

Run this in a terminal.

**Check the installed Node version**

```bash
node --version
```

If it prints nothing, or a version below v22.15, install Node with the line that matches your machine, then open a new terminal so the updated PATH takes effect. With no package manager to hand, the installer at [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/) does the same job.

**macOS, with Homebrew**

```bash
brew install node
```

**Linux or WSL, or anywhere nvm is already set up**

```bash
nvm install --lts && nvm use --lts
```

### Step 03: Install the plugin

Pick your agent. The plugin bundles the MCP server with the design skills and the design handbook, so there is no server to register separately.

#### Claude Code

1\. In Claude Code, install the plugin from the Anthropic Directory

```text
/plugin install codesign@anthropic-plugin-directory
```

Or run /plugin directory codesign and install it from Discover. In the terminal: claude plugin install codesign@anthropic-plugin-directory.

#### Codex

1\. In the terminal, add the marketplace

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add imgly/codesign
```

2\. Install the plugin

```bash
codex plugin add codesign@imgly-codesign
```

#### Antigravity

1\. In the terminal, clone the plugin repo

```bash
git clone https://github.com/imgly/codesign
```

2\. Install the plugin folder

```bash
agy plugin install ./codesign/plugins/codesign
```

#### Gemini

1\. In the terminal, install the extension

```bash
gemini extensions install https://github.com/imgly/codesign
```

### Step 04: Start your agent, then start the onboarding

Start your agent, or restart it if it was already open, so it loads the plugin. Claude Code is the exception: its in-session install loads the plugin straight away. Then send the message below. It runs a short guided flow that explains what CoDesign does and produces one finished design. No account is needed. Signing in to a free IMG.LY account is optional and only adds AI image generation.

**Send this once your agent has started**

```text
start the CoDesign onboarding
```

## Install without the plugin in four steps

For any MCP client that runs local servers. You register the MCP server on its own, without the bundled skills.

### Step 01: Check your client runs local servers

CoDesign runs on your own machine and talks over stdio. A client that only connects to remote MCP servers over HTTP cannot start it, and no amount of config will change that.

On Windows, run your agent inside WSL for now. Clients that start `npx` directly fail there with `spawn npx ENOENT`, and a native Windows launcher is on the way.

### Step 02: Get Node 22.15 or newer

Run this in a terminal.

**Check the installed Node version**

```bash
node --version
```

If it prints nothing, or a version below v22.15, install Node with the line that matches your machine, then open a new terminal so the updated PATH takes effect. With no package manager to hand, the installer at [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/) does the same job.

**macOS, with Homebrew**

```bash
brew install node
```

**Linux or WSL, or anywhere nvm is already set up**

```bash
nvm install --lts && nvm use --lts
```

### Step 03: Register the server

Pick your agent. Keep `@latest` so npx re-resolves the package instead of reusing a stale cached copy, and keep `stdio`, which selects the transport. If you merge a JSON block into an existing file, keep any servers that are already there.

#### Claude Code

Run in a terminal

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user codesign -- npx -y @imgly/codesign-mcp@latest stdio
```

#### Codex

Run in a terminal

```bash
codex mcp add codesign -- npx -y @imgly/codesign-mcp@latest stdio
```

#### Antigravity

Run in a terminal

```bash
agy mcp add codesign -- npx -y @imgly/codesign-mcp@latest stdio
```

#### Gemini

Merge into ~/.gemini/settings.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Cursor

Merge into .cursor/mcp.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Windsurf

Merge into ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### VS Code

Merge into .vscode/mcp.json (the key is servers, not mcpServers)

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}
```

#### Zed

Merge into Zed's settings.json (under context_servers)

```json
{
  "context_servers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Other clients

For a client that reads a JSON config file

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesign": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@imgly/codesign-mcp@latest", "stdio"]
    }
  }
}
```

For a client that takes a command instead

```bash
npx -y @imgly/codesign-mcp@latest stdio
```

### Step 04: Restart the client, then start the onboarding

A newly registered stdio server is not live in the session that registered it, so restart your client first. Then send the message below. It runs a short guided flow that explains what CoDesign does and produces one finished design. No account is needed. Signing in to a free IMG.LY account is optional and only adds AI image generation.

**Send this once your client has restarted**

```text
start the CoDesign onboarding
```

## Free local MCP server: Client not cooperating?

Ask in the Discord and someone will take a look. If your agent can run commands, hand it the [install guide for agents](https://codesign.co/mcp/install.md) and it can do the rest itself.

[See what CoDesign does](https://codesign.co/index.md)

[Join the Discord](https://discord.gg/csKBCspApm)

---

## More Resources

- **[CoDesign MCP](https://codesign.co/mcp.md)** - An AI design agent that runs as a free local MCP server and returns editable design files, not flat images
- **[Install guide](https://codesign.co/mcp/install.md)** - Add CoDesign to Claude Code, Codex, or any other agent
- **[IMG.LY](https://img.ly/)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design