Building Node Graphs with AI (MCP)

SynapseRack ships with a built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server. When enabled, AI tools running on the same computer (Claude Code, Codex CLI, etc.) can create, connect, tidy and group nodes in the graph you currently have open.

Tell your AI “build me this effect chain” and it wires actual nodes into your rack — that is what this feature is for.

This feature is a preview. Only AI tools on the same machine can connect — browser-based Claude/ChatGPT and phones cannot reach it.

Enabling

1. Open the MCP Server window from the SynapseRack menu and turn the server ON
2. Use the displayed URL (default: http://127.0.0.1:8765) in your client configuration

For security, the MCP server turns OFF automatically when the app restarts (the port number is remembered). Turn it ON each time you want to use it.

Client setup

The easiest way

You don’t need to edit any config file — just paste the URL into Claude Code or Codex and ask it to connect. The AI sets everything up for you:

http://127.0.0.1:8765/
Please connect to this MCP server.

Claude Code

Add this to your project’s .mcp.json (or use claude mcp add):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "synapserack": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:8765"
    }
  }
}

Other clients

Any MCP client that accepts an HTTP URL can use the same URL directly.

Available tools

The tools visible to the AI client. They always operate on the active graph open in the node editor.

Tool	What it does
graph_state	Returns every node (id, type, position, ports) and every connection in the current graph
graph_node_types	Lists every creatable node type (the same list as the node browser)
graph_create_node	Creates a node
graph_delete_node	Deletes a node
graph_connect / graph_disconnect	Connects / disconnects ports (with the same type validation as GUI drag-connect)
graph_tidy	”Tidies” the graph — aligns nodes into columns while respecting the current placement; it never re-arranges everything
graph_group	Folds the given nodes into a Group (same as Ctrl+G, boundary ports generated automatically)

The Apps SDK development tools (list_apps / invoke / read_console / reload_app) are served by the same server.

Good to know

• Everything the AI does can be undone with Cmd/Ctrl+Z. Changes land in the same history as GUI edits
• While a group operation (group / ungroup / paste / import) is running, and while a project load or undo/redo is being applied, tool calls return a temporary error (retry after it finishes)
• Parameter values can be set through modules.set via invoke

If it does not connect

• Check that SynapseRack is running and the MCP Server is ON
• After restarting the app the server is OFF again — turn it back ON from the MCP Server window
• Check that the port in your URL matches the one SynapseRack displays
• Restart the AI client (most clients read their config at startup)