Plainly MCP

How to Install and Use Plainly MCP

Plainly MCP is a server for video automation that works with the Plainly Videos API. It helps connect large language model (LLM) clients to Plainly’s video-making tools. Here’s a simple guide to install and start using Plainly MCP step-by-step.

Prerequisites You Need

Before installing Plainly MCP, you need to have some tools ready. This will make sure everything works well.

Here’s what to have:

• Node.js version 18 or higher — this runs the server
• NPM, which comes with Node.js, for managing packages
• A Plainly account to get your API key for authentication

Make sure you have all these before moving to installation.

How to Install Plainly MCP with NPM

You can easily install Plainly MCP using the NPM package manager. First, you need your Plainly API key.

Let’s start by getting the API key:

1. Open the Plainly Settings page.
2. Create a new API key there.
3. Copy your new API key for the next step.

Now, add this to your editor config to run the server:

{
  "servers": {
    "plainly": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@plainly-videos/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "PLAINLY_API_KEY": "<PLAINLY_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Remember to replace <PLAINLY_API_KEY> with your actual API key.

This command installs and runs the Plainly MCP server on your computer.

How to Install Plainly MCP with Smithery

If you use Smithery, an LLM client management tool, you can install Plainly MCP through it.

Here’s what to do:

1. Visit the Smithery Plainly MCP page.
2. Choose your LLM client (like Claude).
3. Copy the command that Smithery creates for you.

Here is an example command for Claude client:

npx -y @smithery/cli@latest install @plainly-videos/mcp-server --client claude --key <YOUR_SMITHERY_KEY>

Replace <YOUR_SMITHERY_KEY> with your own Smithery API key.

Running this command will set up the Plainly MCP server easily with Smithery.

Running Plainly MCP in Development Mode

If you want to work on Plainly MCP yourself or test new changes, use development mode.

Start by cloning and building the project:

git clone [email protected]:plainly-videos/mcp-server.git
cd mcp-server

yarn install
yarn build

Next, put your Plainly API key in the file .vscode/mcp.json like this:

{
  "servers": {
    "plainly": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["<FULL PATH TO dist/cli.js>"],
      "env": {
        "PLAINLY_API_KEY": "<PLAINLY_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Make sure to replace <FULL PATH TO dist/cli.js> and <PLAINLY_API_KEY> correctly.

Finally, start the server using the config in .vscode/mcp.json.

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By following these steps, you will have Plainly MCP installed and ready to help you automate videos using Plainly’s API and your LLM client. It’s practical and easy once you have your API keys and tools set up.