Feature/configurable port

README.md

@@ -72,12 +72,14 @@ Label: "MCP"
    import hou
    import houdinimcp
 
+    _PORT = 9876
+
    if hasattr(hou.session, "houdinimcp_server") and hou.session.houdinimcp_server:
        houdinimcp.stop_server()
        hou.ui.displayMessage("Houdini MCP Server stopped")
    else:
-       houdinimcp.start_server()
-       hou.ui.displayMessage("Houdini MCP Server started on localhost:9876")
+       houdinimcp.start_server(_PORT)
+       hou.ui.displayMessage(f"Houdini MCP Server started on localhost:{_PORT}")
 
 ```
 
@@ -128,12 +130,17 @@ Add an entry:
       "args": [
         "run",
         "python",
-        "C:/Users/<YourUserName>/Documents/houdini19.5/scripts/python/houdinimcp/houdini_mcp_server.py"
+        "C:/Users/<YourUserName>/Documents/houdini19.5/scripts/python/houdinimcp/houdini_mcp_server.py",
+        "--port",
+        "9876"
       ]
     }
   }
 }
 ```
+Note: The port number must match between the shelf tool and Claude Desktop configuration. 
+If you change it in one place, make sure to update it in the other.
+
 if uv run was successful and claude failed to load mcp, make sure claude is using the same python version, use:
 ```cmd
   python -c "import sys; print(sys.executable)"
@@ -152,6 +159,7 @@ you will need a Rapid API key to log in. Create an account at: [RapidAPI](https:
 Subscribe to OPUS API at: [OPUS API Subscribe](https://rapidapi.com/genel-gi78OM1rB/api/opus5/pricing)
 Get your Rapid API key at [OPUS API](https://rapidapi.com/genel-gi78OM1rB/api/opus5)
 add the key to urls.env
-### 4 Acknowledgement
+
+### 6 Acknowledgement
 
 Houdini-MCP was built following [blender-mcp](https://github.com/ahujasid/blender-mcp). We thank them for the contribution.

__init__.py

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import hou
 from .server import HoudiniMCPServer
 
-def start_server():
+def start_server(port=9876):
     if not hasattr(hou.session, "houdinimcp_server") or hou.session.houdinimcp_server is None:
-        hou.session.houdinimcp_server = HoudiniMCPServer()
+        hou.session.houdinimcp_server = HoudiniMCPServer(port=port)
         hou.session.houdinimcp_server.start()
     else:
         print("Houdini MCP Server is already running.")
@@ -15,13 +15,19 @@ def stop_server():
     else:
         print("Houdini MCP Server is not running.")
 
-# Optionally auto-start
-def initialize_plugin():
+# Optional auto-start
+# Note: This requires Houdini GUI mode (won't work in hython/hbatch)
+#
+# Usage:
+#     If you want the MCP server to start automatically when Houdini launches,
+#     add the following to your pythonrc.py:
+#
+#     import houdinimcp
+#     houdinimcp.initialize_plugin(port=9876)  # You can change the port number
+#
+def initialize_plugin(port=9876):
     # Set up default session toggles if desired
     if not hasattr(hou.session, "houdinimcp_use_assetlib"):
         hou.session.houdinimcp_use_assetlib = False
     # Auto-start server if you want:
-    start_server()
-
-# If you want the plugin to auto-load on import:
-initialize_plugin()
+    start_server(port)

houdini_mcp_server.py

@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 
 This is the "bridge" or "driver" script that Claude will run via `uv run`.
 It uses the MCP library (fastmcp) to communicate with Claude over stdio,
-and relays each command to the local Houdini plugin on port 9876.
+and relays each command to the local Houdini plugin on a configurable port.
 """
 import sys
 import os
 import site
+import argparse
 
 # Get the directory where the script is located
 script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
@@ -442,7 +443,7 @@ def send_command(self, cmd_type: str, params: Dict[str, Any] = None) -> Dict[str
         """
         if not self.connect():
             # Instead of raising, return an error dict consistent with API errors
-            error_msg = "Could not connect to Houdini on port 9876."
+            error_msg = f"Could not connect to Houdini on port {self.port}."
             logger.error(error_msg)
             # Return structure similar to API failures
             return {"status": "error", "message": error_msg, "origin": "mcp_server_connection"}
@@ -513,19 +514,20 @@ def send_command(self, cmd_type: str, params: Dict[str, Any] = None) -> Dict[str
 
 # A global Houdini connection object
 _houdini_connection: HoudiniConnection = None
+_houdini_port: int = 9876  # Default port
 
 def get_houdini_connection() -> HoudiniConnection:
     """Get or create a persistent HoudiniConnection object."""
-    global _houdini_connection
+    global _houdini_connection, _houdini_port
     if _houdini_connection is None:
-        logger.info("Creating new HoudiniConnection.")
-        _houdini_connection = HoudiniConnection(host="localhost", port=9876)
+        logger.info(f"Creating new HoudiniConnection on port {_houdini_port}.")
+        _houdini_connection = HoudiniConnection(host="localhost", port=_houdini_port)
 
     # Always try to connect, returns True if already connected or successful now
     if not _houdini_connection.connect():
          # Connection failed, reset _houdini_connection to allow retry next time?
          _houdini_connection = None
-         raise ConnectionError("Could not connect to Houdini on localhost:9876. Is the plugin running?")
+         raise ConnectionError(f"Could not connect to Houdini on localhost:{_houdini_port}. Is the plugin running?")
 
     return _houdini_connection
 
@@ -889,11 +891,23 @@ def get_opus_job_result(batch_job_id: str) -> dict:
 
 def main():
     """Run the MCP server on stdio."""
+    global _houdini_port
+
+    # Parse command line arguments
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Houdini MCP Server Bridge')
+    parser.add_argument('--port', type=int, default=9876,
+                        help='Port to connect to Houdini (default: 9876)')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    # Set the global port variable
+    _houdini_port = args.port
+    logger.info(f"Configured to connect to Houdini on port {_houdini_port}")
+
     # Check necessary RapidAPI variables are set before running
     if not RAPIDAPI_HOST_URL or not RAPIDAPI_HOST or not RAPIDAPI_KEY:
-         logger.critical("RAPIDAPI_HOST_URL, RAPIDAPI_HOST, and RAPIDAPI_KEY environment variables are not set. Please configure urls.env.")
-         logger.critical("Server will not start.")
-         sys.exit(1) # Exit if critical configuration is missing
+        logger.critical("RAPIDAPI_HOST_URL, RAPIDAPI_HOST, and RAPIDAPI_KEY environment variables are not set. Please configure urls.env.")
+        logger.critical("Server will not start.")
+        sys.exit(1) # Exit if critical configuration is missing
 
     logger.info(f"Using RapidAPI Host URL: {RAPIDAPI_HOST_URL}")
     logger.info(f"Using RapidAPI Host Header: {RAPIDAPI_HOST}")