# Chalkcast (pypi · chalkcast)

Author, render and visually verify Manim math animations from natural language

- Trust score: 69/100 (medium)
- Change this week: +4
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-11-05

## Components

- pypi · `chalkcast`: 69/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast)

## Channel facts

- Registry: `pypi`
- Package: `chalkcast`
- Version: `0.1.0`
- Transport: `stdio`

## Trust breakdown

How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically from public evidence about the published package, including repeated runs of it in an isolated sandbox, and we only credit what we can confirm. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-11-05.

- **Supply Chain Security**: 100/100
  - No malware found by supply-chain analysis.
  - No known CVEs affecting this package version or its production dependencies.
  - Runs hatchling.build at install time, a recognised build step with no custom scripting around it.
  - 1 of 29 dependencies flagged as unhealthy.
- **Provenance & Transparency**: 45/100
  - Source repository is publicly reachable at the declared URL.
  - Provenance check failed: no build-provenance attestation is published.
  - Clear OSI-approved license (MIT).
  - Actively maintained (last published 10 days ago).
  - Disclosure check failed: no security disclosure policy was found in the source repository.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 58/100
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (fair).
  - Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 2581 tokens (~122/item across 21 items; 21 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 37/100
  - Stability observed for 11 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.
- **Tool Coverage**: 71/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 0% of tool parameters carry a description.
  - Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.
- **Tool Safety**: 75/100
  - No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.
  - 0 of 2 tool(s) whose name or description implies an irreversible operation declare an MCP destructiveHint annotation; "remove_object" implies "remove" and declares no destructiveHint at all, which the MCP spec reads as destructive by default.
  - An AI judge read all 21 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28).

## Install

### How do I install the Chalkcast MCP server?

Chalkcast runs locally as a PyPI package, launched with uvx chalkcast. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add fredmichel-chalkcast -- uvx chalkcast
```

### Cursor

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fredmichel-chalkcast": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "chalkcast"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "fredmichel-chalkcast": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "chalkcast"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add fredmichel-chalkcast -- uvx chalkcast
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "fredmichel-chalkcast": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": [
        "uvx",
        "chalkcast"
      ],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add fredmichel-chalkcast --command uvx --arg chalkcast
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  fredmichel-chalkcast:
    command: "uvx"
    args: ["chalkcast"]
```

### Netclaw

```json
{
  "McpServers": {
    "fredmichel-chalkcast": {
      "Transport": "stdio",
      "Command": "uvx",
      "Arguments": [
        "chalkcast"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Vellum

```bash
assistant mcp add fredmichel-chalkcast -t stdio -c uvx -a chalkcast
```

### Other

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "fredmichel-chalkcast": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "chalkcast"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-11-05 (score 69, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 33 to 37. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 10 days of observed history at the previous scan, 11 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-11-03 (score 68, +16)

- [security improvement] Malware scan: unverified → pass

### 2026-11-01 (score 52, −14)

- [security regression] Malware scan: pass → unverified

### 2026-10-30 (score 66, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 13 to 17. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 4 days of observed history at the previous scan, 5 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-27 (score 65, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 3 to 7. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 1 days of observed history at the previous scan, 2 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-25 (score 64)

First indexed and scored.

## MCP tools (21)

### `open_project` (~95 tokens)

Start a project session and make it the current one (later calls without
project_id target it). quality: low (480p) | medium (720p) | high (1080p).
fps: frame rate, default 15/30/60 for low/medium/high. theme: chalkboard|whiteboard|dark.

Input parameters:

- `fps`
- `quality` (string)
- `theme` (string)

### `inspect_project` (~29 tokens)

Current project state: scenes, objects, steps, parameters and open obligations.

Input parameters:

- `project_id`

### `close_project` (~43 tokens)

Release a project session (default: the current one). If others are open, the
most recently opened becomes current; the result names it.

Input parameters:

- `project_id`

### `add_scene` (~58 tokens)

Append a scene to the project; it becomes the default target of later calls
without scene_id. The title is a label for you (it is not drawn: use add_text).

Input parameters:

- `project_id`
- `title` (string)

### `add_parameter` (~102 tokens)

Declare a continuous scene parameter (e.g. time t). Use it by name in plot
expressions or shape anchors (expr='sin(x - t)'), then animate it smoothly with
add_step(kind='tween', param=name, value=...). Curves, areas and anchored shapes
that use it are redrawn every frame.

Input parameters:

- `name` (string, required)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `value` (number)

### `add_equation` (~112 tokens)

Add a LaTeX equation (math mode, e.g. tex=r'e^{i\pi}+1=0'). Dirac notation
(\ket{n}, \bra{n}, \braket{a}{b}, \expval{A}) and physics macros work.

Input parameters:

- `color`
- `project_id`
- `scale` (number)
- `scene_id`
- `tex` (string, required)
- `x` (number)
- `y` (number)

### `add_plot` (~292 tokens)

Add axes with functions of x. Each function: {'expr': 'sin(x)', 'color': 'YELLOW'}.
Expressions use x, bare math functions (sin, exp, sqrt, sign, ...), np.<fn>, and
declared scene parameters; they are validated now. Sampling is adaptive (dense,
no spline overshoot on jumps, curves split at poles and clipped to the axes);
optional overrides: 'smooth': bool, 'dx': step. x_label/y_label are LaTeX.
Defaults: x_range [-5, 5, 1], y_range [-3, 3, 1]; a [min, max] range gets a
readable tick step (4-8 ticks, starting at min, or at 0 if 0 is inside the range);
the result echoes the ranges used. Curves
without a color get distinct colors suited to the theme. The axes are centred at
(x, y); labels hang off them. Without functions you get bare axes.

Input parameters:

- `functions`
- `height` (number)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `show_numbers` (boolean)
- `width` (number)
- `x` (number)
- `x_label`
- `x_range`
- `y` (number)
- `y_label`
- `y_range`

### `add_text` (~86 tokens)

Add a title/label/callout (plain text, any language). The rendered size is
font_size x scale.

Input parameters:

- `color`
- `font_size` (number)
- `project_id`
- `scale` (number)
- `scene_id`
- `text` (string, required)
- `x` (number)
- `y` (number)

### `add_shape` (~278 tokens)

Add primitive geometry: circle|square|rectangle|triangle|arrow|dot|line, centred
at (x, y) (default 0, 0). size (default 1): circle = diameter, square = side,
triangle = circumradius, dot = 10 x radius (minimum radius 0.05), line/arrow =
length (horizontal).
rectangle: width x height (default 1 x 0.5) instead of size.
line/arrow: give x1,y1,x2,y2 for an explicit segment (any direction) instead of
size/x/y. Anchor in a plot's coordinates with plot_id + at_x + at_y expressions
instead of x/y (they may use scene parameters, so a dot can track <x>(t) while a
tween runs). Arguments that do not apply to the chosen shape are rejected.

Input parameters:

- `at_x`
- `at_y`
- `color`
- `height`
- `plot_id`
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `shape` (string)
- `size`
- `width`
- `x`
- `x1`
- `x2`
- `y`
- `y1`
- `y2`

### `add_area` (~149 tokens)

Shade the area between a plotted function and the x-axis on [x_min, x_max] (the
integral). [x_min, x_max] must lie within the plot's x_range, y = 0 must be on the
axes, and the function must be defined and inside y_range there (otherwise an
error says what to widen). It follows its plot (move the plot, not it).

Input parameters:

- `color`
- `function_index` (integer)
- `opacity` (number)
- `plot_id` (string, required)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `x_max` (number)
- `x_min` (number)

### `add_riemann` (~156 tokens)

Riemann rectangles (left endpoints, fill opacity 0.6, one color) under a plotted
function on [x_min, x_max] within the plot's x_range; (x_max - x_min)/dx must be a
whole number, y = 0 must be on the axes and the function inside y_range there.
Smaller dx = finer; transform coarse->fine to show convergence. They follow
their plot.

Input parameters:

- `color`
- `dx` (number)
- `function_index` (integer)
- `plot_id` (string, required)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `x_max` (number)
- `x_min` (number)

### `add_step` (~316 tokens)

Append a timed beat. kind: write|transform|highlight|fade|camera_move|wait|tween.
write/highlight/fade: all targets animate together, over `duration` (a plot's axes
and curves are drawn together; highlight is a brief 1.2x pulse in the theme's
accent color). An object driven by a parameter cannot be written, highlighted
or faded in the same beat as a tween of that parameter (Manim freezes it).
transform: one target morphs into `to` (the target keeps its id afterwards).
camera_move: zoom is absolute (1 = the full frame, 2 = twice as close); focus_x/
focus_y recentre the camera, omitted = keep the current centre.
tween: animate scene parameter `param` to `value` continuously (linear in time).
with_previous=true plays this step at the same time as the previous one (e.g. move
a curve and a dot together); not after a wait. `note` is a label for you (not
drawn). Arguments that do not apply to `kind` are rejected.

Input parameters:

- `duration` (number)
- `focus_x`
- `focus_y`
- `kind` (string, required)
- `note` (string)
- `param`
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `targets`
- `to`
- `value`
- `with_previous` (boolean)
- `zoom`

### `update_object` (~301 tokens)

Change an existing object in place (only the fields you pass). Use it to
reposition, rescale, recolor, retype text/LaTeX, replace plot functions or
ranges, or adjust an area/Riemann interval -- no need to rebuild the scene.
Explicit line/arrow segments move by their endpoints x1, y1, x2, y2.
Everything is validated first: on error nothing changes. A plot's color is the
default color of its curves without one (axes keep the theme ink). Areas, Riemann
sums and anchored shapes follow their plot: move the plot instead.

Input parameters:

- `at_x`
- `at_y`
- `color`
- `dx`
- `font_size`
- `functions`
- `height`
- `object_id` (string, required)
- `opacity`
- `project_id`
- `scale`
- `scene_id`
- `show_numbers`
- `size`
- `tex`
- `text`
- `width`
- `x`
- `x1`
- `x2`
- `x_label`
- `x_max`
- `x_min`
- `x_range`
- `y`
- `y1`
- `y2`
- `y_label`
- `y_range`

### `remove_object` (~116 tokens)

Delete an object. If steps or other objects (areas, anchored shapes) depend on
it, nothing is removed unless cascade=true, which also removes the dependent
objects and takes the removed ids out of steps (a step left with nothing to
animate is deleted; other targets of a shared step stay). The reply lists exactly
what was deleted or changed, and any object left without a step.

Input parameters:

- `cascade` (boolean)
- `object_id` (string, required)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`

### `remove_step` (~69 tokens)

Delete one step of the timeline (later steps are renumbered). A with_previous
step that was joined to the removed one starts its own beat; it is listed in
regrouped_steps.

Input parameters:

- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `step_index` (integer, required)

### `inspect_render` (~88 tokens)

Verify a scene WITHOUT rendering video (~1-2 s): builds the real Manim objects
and measures them -- LaTeX/expression compile errors, off-screen objects, label
collisions, curve fidelity (drawn vs true function), legibility, timing.
Call it after authoring and fix what it reports before render_scene.

Input parameters:

- `project_id`
- `scene_id`

### `fix_scene` (~91 tokens)

Automatically repair measured problems that have a mechanical fix: objects
pushed back inside the frame, labels moved to the nearest free spot, curve
sampling corrected, too-small text enlarged. Repeats measure->fix up to
max_rounds, reports every change, and lists what still needs the author.

Input parameters:

- `max_rounds` (integer)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`

### `render_scene` (~50 tokens)

Render one scene to video + sampled frames, then run verification lanes.
The scene is measured first; if it cannot compile, no render is attempted.

Input parameters:

- `project_id`
- `scene_id`

### `render_frame` (~32 tokens)

Fast single-still preview of a scene (last frame).

Input parameters:

- `project_id`
- `scene_id`

### `export_gif` (~86 tokens)

Export the latest render of a scene as a shareable GIF, resampled to `width`
pixels wide at `fps` (defaults keep GIFs small). Blocked by open error
obligations of that render and by edits made since it.

Input parameters:

- `fps` (integer)
- `project_id`
- `scene_id`
- `width` (integer)

### `inspect_environment` (~32 tokens)

Which providers are present (Manim, LaTeX, ffmpeg, vision) and what degrades without each.

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: Provenance, Install scripts, Dependencies. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-11-05: 69
- 2026-11-04: 68
- 2026-11-03: 68
- 2026-11-02: 52
- 2026-11-01: 52
- 2026-10-31: 66
- 2026-10-30: 66
- 2026-10-29: 65
- 2026-10-28: 65
- 2026-10-27: 65
- 2026-10-26: 64
- 2026-10-25: 64

## Common questions

### What is the Chalkcast MCP server?

Chalkcast is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as io.github.FredMichel/chalkcast. Author, render and visually verify Manim math animations from natural language. This page covers its PyPI package (chalkcast).

### Is the Chalkcast MCP server safe to use?

Chalkcast scores 69 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. We found no known CVEs affecting it as of 5 November 2026. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.

### What tools does the Chalkcast MCP server expose?

Chalkcast exposes 21 tools: open_project, inspect_project, close_project, add_scene, add_parameter, and 16 more. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 2,581 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.

### Is the Chalkcast MCP server still maintained?

Chalkcast is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 5 November 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.

### What licence is the Chalkcast MCP server under?

Chalkcast declares the MIT licence, which is OSI-approved. That covers the source only, and says nothing about the cost of any service it calls.

## Links

- PyPI project: https://pypi.org/project/chalkcast/
- Socket report: https://socket.dev/pypi/package/chalkcast
- Repository: https://github.com/FredMichel/chalkcast
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/fredmichel-chalkcast/chalkcast