Lathe

io.github.seayniclabsPublished by GitHub account seayniclabsv0.4.1Updated Nov 3, 2026

Local file and media tools: images, PDF, audio, video, OCR, batch and metadata. Runs locally.

The publisher's own server: Lathe

VerifiedSTDIODesktop onlyProductivity & Workflow Files & Storage Media & Design

Server details

Identifier: io.github.seayniclabs/lathe
Transport: STDIO
Runtime: Desktop only
Trust: Verified
Published: Oct 29, 2026

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Overview

AI-generated overview

Lathe gives an AI assistant local tools to inspect and convert images, PDFs, audio and video, run OCR, and batch-process files inside one working folder.

What you can do: Inspect images, PDFs, audio and video: dimensions, EXIF, page count, duration, codecs, and server/module status
Edit images: resize, convert, crop, thumbnail, and shrink for web delivery with metadata stripped
Work with PDFs: extract text (OCR for scanned pages), merge, split, compress, and render pages to PNG or JPEG
Handle audio and video: convert audio, grab a video frame, trim a clip, and make a short animated GIF
Extract text from images with OCR, and optionally scrub GPS, camera and author metadata
Run one operation over every file matching a glob, with a dry run first
When to use it: Useful when you keep media files on your own machine and want an assistant to inspect, convert, compress, split or extract from them without uploading anything. It suits photo and document cleanup, PDF text extraction, quick video trims and thumbnails, and repeatable batch conversions.
Requirements: Runs as a local stdio process from the PyPI package lathe-mcp, needing Python 3.11 or newer and uv (or pip). Optional extras pdf and ocr add PDF and OCR support; ffmpeg/ffprobe, tesseract and ghostscript are needed for media, OCR and PDF rendering. Set LATHE_WORKING_DIR to the folder it may read and write; batch and privacy modules are off by default.

Before you install

Writing tools create new files in the working folder; existing files are only replaced when a call passes overwrite=true. batch_process normally asks the person to approve runs of two or more files, but LATHE_BATCH_PREAPPROVED=true removes that prompt. image_optimize strips metadata unless told otherwise. An optional HTTP transport listens on localhost only and needs authentication in front before being exposed.

Installation

In SourceWeft

Open Lathe in the dashboard and add it to a workspace.
Enable the server for the chats that should use its tools.

Desktop only via STDIO. STDIO servers start a local process, so they need the SourceWeft desktop host.

Other MCP clients

Follow the launch instructions in the repository.

README

Lathe

Made by Seaynic Labs. Need tools like this built around your own systems? We do that.

Lathe is an MCP bundle for anyone who handles files and media. It gives your AI assistant local tools for images, PDFs, audio and video, and OCR, plus batch runs and metadata removal. The files stay on your machine.

It is a bundle: one server made of modules, each switched on or off. Modules that arrive in an update and are off by default stay off until you turn them on.

Security card
Network	None. Lathe makes no network connections, and ffmpeg and ffprobe are restricted to local files (-protocol_whitelist file,pipe). --transport http listens on 127.0.0.1 only when you start it that way.
Files	Reads and writes files only inside the working folder (LATHE_WORKING_DIR). Reads its optional config file (~~/.config/lathe/config.toml). Writes one local approval log (~~/.local/state/lathe/approvals.jsonl).
Secrets	No keys, accounts or passwords. Nothing to store, and nothing that leaves the machine.
Read-only tools	8: `image_info`, `pdf_info`, `pdf_extract_text`, `audio_info`, `video_info`, `ocr_image`, `health`, `lathe_modules`
Writes new files	`audio_convert`, `batch_process`, `image_convert`, `image_crop`, `image_optimize`, `image_resize`, `image_thumbnail`, `pdf_compress`, `pdf_merge`, `pdf_split`, `pdf_to_images`, `scrub_metadata`, `video_thumbnail`, `video_to_gif`, `video_trim`: each call writes new files in the working folder and never overwrites an existing one unless the call passes `overwrite=true`. `batch_process` asks the person once per run of two or more files, and nothing else asks.
Startup cost	about 7,600 tokens for a default install (21 tools, 4 skill prompts)
Changes	Tool descriptions are locked by hash (`tool-manifest.lock.json`); CI fails if they change silently.

Modules

Module	What it does	On by default	Needs
`images`	Info, resize, convert, optimize, crop, thumbnail	yes	Pillow (always installed)
`pdf`	Info, text (OCR for scanned pages), merge, render pages, split, compress	yes	`pdf` extra; ghostscript for rendering
`media`	Audio and video info, audio convert, a frame, trim, GIF	yes	ffmpeg and ffprobe
`ocr`	Text from an image	yes	`ocr` extra; tesseract
`batch`	One operation over every file matching a glob, dry run first	no	per operation (see above)
`privacy`	Inspect and remove GPS, camera and author metadata	no	`pdf` extra, for PDFs

Lathe is free and MIT licensed. It has 21 tools by default and 23 with batch and privacy on.

Skills

Skills explain how to do a job well. Your AI assistant reads them as Agent Skills, or as MCP prompts in any MCP app.

Skill	Use it for
`getting-started`	Setup, the install command for each missing piece, `--doctor`, and the approval rules
`pdf`	Turning a Markdown file into a PDF with Chrome or Chromium
`pdf-forms`	Making a PDF with fillable text boxes and checkboxes
`web-image-prep`	Removing location data and shrinking a folder of photos for a website

First five minutes

Install: uvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe --version prints the version. Needs Python 3.11 or newer and uv.
Add Lathe to your client (see Add it to your MCP client). Set LATHE_WORKING_DIR to the folder with your files.
Run lathe --doctor (uvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe --doctor). It prints ok or FIX for each piece and the command that fixes it.
Ask your assistant to call lathe_modules. It lists every module, what is on, and what is missing.

Try these

Paste these into your assistant, after setting LATHE_WORKING_DIR:

Call lathe_modules and tell me which pieces are missing.
Show me the metadata in photos/trip.jpg, then make a copy without it as photos/trip-clean.jpg. (needs LATHE_PRIVACY_ENABLED=true)
Dry-run image_optimize on everything in photos/ into web/, then run it. (needs LATHE_BATCH_ENABLED=true)
Split report.pdf into parts of 5 pages in parts/.
Cut the first 10 seconds of clip.mp4 into clip-10s.mp4, then make a 5-second GIF from it.

Install

Lathe needs Python 3.11 or newer. With uv you don't install anything ahead of time. Choose the extras for the modules you use:

bash

uvx --from lathe-mcp lathe --version                  # images, media and batchuvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe --version       # with PDF and OCR

uvx --from lathe-mcp lathe --version                  # images, media and batchuvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe --version       # with PDF and OCR

Pinned to this release, for a repeatable setup:

Or with pip:

Extras: pdf (pypdf), ocr (pytesseract), full (both). The images module needs nothing extra.

Claude Code plugin

The repository is also a Claude Code plugin. Its .mcp.json pins lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]==0.4.1, and it ships the skills in skills/. The plugin is one way to install; the MCP config below works in any client.

System programs

Lathe starts without these. lathe --doctor and the lathe_modules tool list what is missing and the command for your platform.

Program	Used by	macOS	Debian / Ubuntu
ffmpeg (includes ffprobe)	`media`, `batch` (audio)	`brew install ffmpeg`	`sudo apt install ffmpeg`
tesseract	`ocr`, and `pdf_extract_text` on scanned pages	`brew install tesseract`	`sudo apt install tesseract-ocr`
ghostscript	`pdf_to_images`, `batch` (PDF)	`brew install ghostscript`	`sudo apt install ghostscript`

Settings

Set these as environment variables in your MCP client's config, or in a config file. Lathe starts without any of them.

Variable	What it is
`LATHE_WORKING_DIR`	The folder Lathe reads from and writes to. Default: the folder the server starts in.
`LATHE_MAX_FILE_MB`	Largest input file, in MB. Default 500.
`LATHE_OCR_LANG`	Tesseract language code(s), e.g. `eng` or `eng+fra`. Default `eng`.
`LATHE_<MODULE>_ENABLED`	`true` or `false`. Default `true` for `images`, `pdf`, `media` and `ocr`; `false` for `batch` and `privacy`.
`LATHE_BATCH_PREAPPROVED`	`true` lets a batch run of two or more files go ahead without the approval prompt. Default `false`. Set it only if your client cannot show approval prompts.
`LATHE_APPROVAL_LOG`	Where the approval log is written. Default `~/.local/state/lathe/approvals.jsonl`.

Config file (optional). Lathe also reads ~/.config/lathe/config.toml, or the file named by LATHE_CONFIG. Environment variables win over the file.

toml

[core]working_dir = "/Users/you/Pictures"
[ocr]lang = "eng"
[batch]enabled = true
[privacy]enabled = true

[core]working_dir = "/Users/you/Pictures"
[ocr]lang = "eng"
[batch]enabled = true
[privacy]enabled = true

Add it to your MCP client

Every client below runs Lathe as a local process over stdio. Put the env values only where you need them.

Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json (Settings, Developer, Edit Config)

json

{  "mcpServers": {    "lathe": {      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files", "LATHE_BATCH_ENABLED": "true", "LATHE_PRIVACY_ENABLED": "true" }    }  }}

{  "mcpServers": {    "lathe": {      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files", "LATHE_BATCH_ENABLED": "true", "LATHE_PRIVACY_ENABLED": "true" }    }  }}

Claude Code

bash

claude mcp add lathe -e LATHE_WORKING_DIR=/path/to/your/files -- uvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe

claude mcp add lathe -e LATHE_WORKING_DIR=/path/to/your/files -- uvx --from "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]" lathe

Cursor: ~/.cursor/mcp.json, or .cursor/mcp.json in a project

json

{  "mcpServers": {    "lathe": {      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files" }    }  }}

{  "mcpServers": {    "lathe": {      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files" }    }  }}

VS Code: .vscode/mcp.json (note "servers", not "mcpServers")

json

{  "servers": {    "lathe": {      "type": "stdio",      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files" }    }  }}

{  "servers": {    "lathe": {      "type": "stdio",      "command": "uvx",      "args": ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"],      "env": { "LATHE_WORKING_DIR": "/path/to/your/files" }    }  }}

Sonique, Hermes, OpenClaw, and other clients: any client that launches a stdio MCP server. Command uvx, arguments ["--from", "lathe-mcp[pdf,ocr]", "lathe"], plus the env values above.

Over HTTP. For clients that connect to a URL instead of starting a process:

It serves streamable HTTP at http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp. It listens only on your own machine by default. Put authentication in front of it before exposing it anywhere else.

Tools

Tool	Module	What it does	Asks first
`health`	core	Server version, working folder, and whether each external program is installed	no
`lathe_modules`	core	Which modules are on, what is missing (with the install command), skills, and what each tool needs	no
`image_info`	images	Width, height, format, mode, size, and EXIF tags	no
`image_resize`	images	Resize by width, height or percentage, keeping the aspect ratio	no
`image_convert`	images	Convert to png, jpeg, webp, avif or bmp	no
`image_optimize`	images	Shrink for web delivery; metadata stripped unless `strip_metadata=false`	no
`image_crop`	images	Crop a rectangle	no
`image_thumbnail`	images	Fit inside a square	no
`pdf_info`	pdf	Page count, size, encryption, title, author	no
`pdf_extract_text`	pdf	Text of the pages you name, or of the whole file; OCR for pages without a text layer; long text in parts	no
`pdf_merge`	pdf	Merge PDFs in order	no
`pdf_to_images`	pdf	Render pages to PNG or JPEG at a chosen DPI	no
`pdf_split`	pdf	Split into parts of N pages	no
`pdf_compress`	pdf	Lossless smaller copy: content streams and duplicate objects	no
`audio_info`	media	Duration, format, bitrate, sample rate, channels	no
`audio_convert`	media	Convert to mp3, wav, flac, aac or ogg	no
`video_info`	media	Duration, resolution, codec, frame rate, audio tracks	no
`video_thumbnail`	media	Save one frame at a time in seconds	no
`video_trim`	media	Cut a section (stream copy; cuts land on keyframes)	no
`video_to_gif`	media	Animated GIF from up to 30 seconds of video	no
`ocr_image`	ocr	Text from an image; long text in parts	no
`batch_process`	batch	One operation over every matching file; dry run by default	yes, for runs of 2+ files
`scrub_metadata`	privacy	Inspect (default), or write a copy without GPS, camera or author metadata	no

Every tool returns structured data with a published schema. Long text comes in parts: pass next_offset back as offset. Errors always read lathe.<module>.<code>: <message> Fix: <hint>.

Approval

Only batch_process asks, and only for a run of two or more files. The client shows the person one plan: the operation, the output folder, whether existing outputs may be replaced, the file count and up to ten file names. The person approves or declines once for the whole run. The model cannot answer for the person. A client that cannot show prompts gets approval_unavailable, with the setting that fixes it (LATHE_BATCH_PREAPPROVED=true).

Every other writing tool writes one new file per call without asking. None of them overwrites an existing file unless the call passes overwrite=true.

Files and safety

Working folder. Relative paths resolve against LATHE_WORKING_DIR. Inputs and outputs must stay inside it. Symlinks that point outside are refused.
Nothing is overwritten by accident. An output that already exists is refused unless the call passes overwrite=true. An output can never be the input file.
Batch runs never touch their inputs. batch_process refuses an output folder that is the input folder, and it skips any output that already exists.
Writes are atomic. A file is written under a temporary name and moved into place, so a failure never leaves a half-written file.
Local only. Lathe makes no network connections, and ffmpeg and ffprobe only open local files.
Size limit. Inputs over LATHE_MAX_FILE_MB (500 MB by default) are refused.

Security

See SECURITY.md for how to report a problem and what Lathe does not do. The approval log at ~/.local/state/lathe/approvals.jsonl records each request, approval, decline and refusal. It never records file contents.

tool-manifest.lock.json records a hash of every tool description, prompt and the server instructions. python3 scripts/tool_lock.py --check shows whether anything has changed since the release.

Develop

bash

uv venv -p 3.11 .venv && uv pip install -p .venv/bin/python -e '.[dev]'.venv/bin/pytest -qpython3 scripts/check_skills.py.venv/bin/python scripts/tool_lock.py --check.venv/bin/python scripts/security_card.py --check

uv venv -p 3.11 .venv && uv pip install -p .venv/bin/python -e '.[dev]'.venv/bin/pytest -qpython3 scripts/check_skills.py.venv/bin/python scripts/tool_lock.py --check.venv/bin/python scripts/security_card.py --check

The tests generate their own fixtures. Tests that need ffmpeg, tesseract or ghostscript are skipped when the program is missing.

License

MIT. Made by Seaynic Labs. Third-party libraries and programs are listed in CREDITS.md.

Built by Seaynic Labs. We build tools like this around a business's own systems: local-first, with a person approving every change. See custom integrations.

Source: README.md at commit faa9114

Tools

image_info

Image metadata: width, height, format, mode, file size, and EXIF tags (capped).

Parametersinput_pathrequired

image_resize

Resize an image by width, height, or percentage. Keeps the aspect ratio when only one dimension is given. Output format comes from the output extension.

Parameterswidthheightoverwriteinput_pathrequiredpercentageoutput_pathrequired

image_convert

Convert an image to png, jpeg, webp, avif or bmp. The output extension must match.

Parametersformatrequiredoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

image_optimize

Shrink an image for web delivery. Metadata is stripped unless strip_metadata=false.

Parametersqualityoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequiredstrip_metadata

image_crop

Crop a rectangle from an image. x and y are pixels from the top-left corner.

Parametersxrequiredyrequiredwidthrequiredheightrequiredoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

image_thumbnail

Make a thumbnail that fits inside a square of the given size, keeping the aspect ratio.

Parameterssizeoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

pdf_info

PDF metadata: page count, file size, encryption, title, author and creator.

Parametersinput_pathrequired

pdf_extract_text

Extract text from a PDF, or from some pages ("2-5"). Pages with no text layer are read with OCR when it is installed. Long text comes in parts: pass next_offset as offset to continue.

Parameterspagesoffsetmax_charsinput_pathrequiredocr_fallback

pdf_merge

Merge several PDFs, in the order given, into one new PDF.

Parametersoverwriteinput_pathsrequiredoutput_pathrequired

pdf_to_images

Render PDF pages to PNG or JPEG files in a folder, at a chosen DPI. Needs ghostscript.

Parametersdpipagesformatoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_dirrequired

pdf_split

Split a PDF into parts of N pages each. Writes new PDFs into a folder and never overwrites one unless overwrite=true.

Parametersoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_dirrequiredpages_per_file

pdf_compress

Write a smaller copy of a PDF. Lossless: it recompresses content streams and removes duplicate objects; images are not re-encoded. Writes one new file; never overwrites unless overwrite=true.

Parametersoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

audio_info

Audio metadata: duration, format, bitrate, sample rate, channels and codec.

Parametersinput_pathrequired

audio_convert

Convert audio to mp3, wav, flac, aac or ogg. A video input keeps only its audio. The output extension must match the format.

Parametersformatrequiredoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

video_info

Video metadata: duration, resolution, codec, frame rate, bitrate and audio tracks.

Parametersinput_pathrequired

video_thumbnail

Save one frame of a video as a PNG or JPEG, at a time in seconds.

Parametersoverwritetimestampinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

video_trim

Cut a section out of a video into a new file (stream copy, so it is fast and lossless; cuts land on keyframes). Never overwrites unless overwrite=true.

Parametersendstartoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

video_to_gif

Make an animated GIF from part of a video (up to 30 seconds, palette-optimized). Writes one new file; never overwrites unless overwrite=true.

Parametersfpsstartwidthdurationoverwriteinput_pathrequiredoutput_pathrequired

ocr_image

Extract the text from an image with OCR. Long text comes in parts: pass next_offset as offset to continue. lang overrides LATHE_OCR_LANG.

Parameterslangoffsetmax_charsinput_pathrequired

health

Server status, version, working directory, and whether each external piece is installed.

Takes no parameters.

lathe_modules

Which modules are on, which pieces are missing (with the install command), and what each tool does. Pass a module name for its settings too.

Parametersmodule

Version history

v0.4.1LatestOct 29, 2026

Score

90% of the applicable checks met

How complete this listing is, computed from the registry entry, the endpoint and public sources. Not a rating of the server and not a statement that it is safe or working today: reachability is a dated check, and no installs or reviews go into the score.

Reached in the last 30 days25 pts
Auth declared10 pts
Declare the credential headers in the registry entry, or keep the endpoint answering the probe so its auth can be classified.
Tools listedRequired15 pts
DescriptionRequired15 pts
Logo10 pts
Documentation15 pts
License10 pts

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