1Install imagic and start the trial
The MCP server ships with imagic Max, and the free 7-day trial unlocks everything with no card. Download it from the desktop page first, because Windsurf (Devin Desktop) needs something to talk to.
If you installed with pip rather than the packaged app, MCP is an optional extra: pip install imagic[mcp].
2Add imagic to Windsurf (Devin Desktop)
This targets the Devin Local agent, which is the default in new tabs.
devin mcp add imagic -- imagic-mcp
Configuration
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) reads Devin CLI config, or ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json for the legacy Cascade agent.
The top-level key is mcpServers.
{
"mcpServers": {
"imagic": {
"command": "imagic-mcp"
}
}
}Where that file lives
| Windows | %APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json |
|---|---|
| macOS | ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json |
| Linux | ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json |
Where to find it in the interface
The MCPs icon in the top right of the Cascade panel, or Devin Settings, then Cascade, then MCP Servers.
3Ask for a cull
Restart Windsurf (Devin Desktop) if it was already running, then point it at a shoot:
Cull the shoot in D:/Shoots/eva_tom, apply my style, and export the keepers.
Windsurf (Devin Desktop) will call scan_directory, analyze_photos, apply_my_style and export_photos in turn. Every one of those runs on your machine: the agent sends instructions, never your photos.
Things that catch people out
- Cognition renamed Windsurf to Devin Desktop, and the documentation now redirects accordingly. Most guides you will find online are written against the old name.
- The much-quoted ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json reaches the legacy Cascade agent only. It will not affect the default agent in a new tab.
- Cascade caps at 100 tools in total across all servers.
- Enterprise users have to enable MCP manually, and once an admin allowlists any server, every server not on the list is blocked.
What imagic can do once it is connected
That is 18 tools in total, covering the library, culling, editing and your learned style. See the full tool reference, or the workflows for what to actually ask for.
Setting up a different client?
Try it on a real shoot
The 7-day trial includes imagic Max, the MCP server and every tool on this page. No card required.
Configuration verified against Cognition's documentation. If Windsurf (Devin Desktop) changes its setup and this page falls behind, tell us and we will fix it.