---
title: "Install IMG.LY CoDesign in Any MCP Client"
description: "How to add the IMG.LY CoDesign MCP server to any client that speaks the Model Context Protocol over local stdio: the command, the config block, and the restart."
url: "https://img.ly/codesign/other-clients/"
type: "page"
---

> This is the markdown version of [Install IMG.LY CoDesign in Any MCP Client](https://img.ly/codesign/other-clients/). For all pages in one file, see [llms-full.txt](https://img.ly/llms-full.txt). For an index of all available pages, see [llms.txt](https://img.ly/llms.txt).

---

# Install IMG.LY CoDesign in any MCP client

CoDesign is a local stdio server, so any client that can start one can run it. In Claude Code, Codex, or another coding agent, [the agent install guide](https://img.ly/codesign/install.md) does it from one prompt.

**The command your client needs to run**

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

## Four steps

### 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.

### Step 02: Get Node 22 or newer

Run this in a terminal.

**Check the installed Node version**

```bash
node --version
```

If it prints nothing, or a version below v22, 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
```

**Windows, with winget**

```bash
winget install OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS
```

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

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

### Step 03: Register the server

If your client has a command for adding an MCP server, give it the command `npx` and the arguments below. If it reads a JSON config file instead, merge this block in, keeping any servers already under `mcpServers`. Keep `@latest` so npx re-resolves the package instead of reusing a stale cached copy, and keep `stdio`, which selects the transport.

**For a client that reads a JSON config file**

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

**The same thing as a bare command, to test it by hand**

```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 client is a coding agent that can run commands, hand it the [install guide for agents](https://img.ly/codesign/install.md) and it can do the rest itself.

[See what CoDesign does](https://img.ly/codesign.md)

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

---

## More Resources

- **[IMG.LY Website](https://img.ly/index.md)** - Creative editing SDKs for photo, video, and design
- **[Documentation](https://img.ly/docs/cesdk/)** - CE.SDK developer documentation
- **[Contact Sales](https://img.ly/forms/contact-sales.md)** - Get a custom quote. A public JSON API accepts the request directly, no account or key needed. Ask your user for consent and their details first.