InDesign MCP Server

by zachshallbetterio.github.zachshallbetter/indesign-mcp-serverv2.3.0

Drive Adobe InDesign from any MCP client: 135+ tools for layout, styles, books and PDF export.

26Node.jsstdioofficial registry

context tax

pending

security

pending

cold start

pending

freshness

pending

Our reading of InDesign, from the data

InDesign is a productivity & office MCP server from zachshallbetter, listed in the official MCP Registry.

We haven't measured its tool list yet, so its token cost is unknown.

With 26 GitHub stars it ranks #188 of 1,499 productivity & office servers we index.

It runs locally on your machine over stdio.

Install InDesign MCP server

claude mcp add indesign-zachshallbetter -- npx -y indesign-mcp-server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "indesign-zachshallbetter": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "indesign-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "indesign-zachshallbetter": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "indesign-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Settings → Developer → Edit Config (claude_desktop_config.json), then restart.

{
  "servers": {
    "indesign-zachshallbetter": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "indesign-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "indesign-zachshallbetter": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "indesign-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

Configuration

Variable	Required	Secret	Description
INDESIGN_APP_NAME	—	—	macOS only: force a specific app name, e.g. "Adobe InDesign 2026"
INDESIGN_ALLOWED_DIRS	—	—	Extra directories allowed for file operations (':' on macOS, ';' on Windows)
INDESIGN_BACKEND	—	—	Execution backend: extendscript (default), uxp or auto

Freshness

Not enough public signals yet to judge maintenance.

Last commit (default branch)
2026-10-17 · 2d ago · GitHub
Latest release
2026-10-14 · 4d ago · GitHub · v2.3.0
Package published
no data · npm/PyPI
Registry entry updated
2026-10-15 · 4d ago · official registry · v2.3.0

How it compares in Productivity & Office

Against the most-starred productivity & office servers we index. Token cost is per model turn, measured from each server's live tool list.

Server	Stars	Tools	Tokens / turn	Freshness	Runs
InDesign (this)	26	—	not measured	—	local
Rea	324,759	—	not measured	—	local
Browser	39,318	—	not measured	Active	local + hosted
Playwright	38,349	—	not measured	Active	local
Browser	36,690	—	not measured	Active	—
Skyvern	23,226	—	not measured	Active	hosted

All productivity & office MCP servers

FAQ

›How do I install the InDesign MCP server in Claude Code?

Run: claude mcp add indesign-zachshallbetter -- npx -y indesign-mcp-server. For Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop and Windsurf, use the install tabs above.

›Does InDesign require an API key?

No required environment variables are declared in its published metadata.

›Can I use InDesign as a remote (hosted) MCP server?

No hosted endpoint is published; it runs locally over stdio.

›Is InDesign in the official MCP registry?

Yes, as io.github.zachshallbetter/indesign-mcp-server.

Sources and method

Official MCP Registry entry: updated 2026-10-15
GitHub repository: fetched 2026-10-19
Package registry (npm / PyPI): listed
Last checked against all sources: 2026-10-19

The description, packages and links come from the maintainer's own published metadata. Token cost, security signals, freshness and the reading above are MCPSkillHub's own measurements; see the methodology. Spot an error? Request a correction or claim the listing.