Palmier Pro: An Open-Source macOS Video Editor Built for AI Agents
Palmier Pro is an open-source, Swift-native video editor for macOS that integrates generative AI and MCP-based agent collaboration directly into the timeline.
What is Palmier Pro?
Palmier Pro is an open-source video editor for macOS (requires macOS 26 Tahoe on Apple Silicon) that reimagines the traditional editing workflow by placing AI and agent collaboration at its core. Built from scratch in Swift, it aims to be a modern, open alternative to tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and CapCut, with a particular focus on integrating generative AI and enabling AI agents (like Claude, Codex, or Cursor) to work alongside human editors on the same timeline.
Why It Matters
Most video editing workflows are still largely manual. While AI tools exist for specific tasks (e.g., text-to-video, upscaling), they are often external to the editor, requiring export, processing, and re-import. Palmier Pro tackles this by embedding generative AI directly into the timeline and exposing a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, allowing AI agents to interact with the project programmatically. This opens up possibilities for automated editing, AI-assisted composition, and collaborative workflows where humans and agents co-edit.
Key Features
Swift-Native Performance
The entire editor is written in Swift, leveraging Apple's ecosystem for performance and tight integration with macOS. This is not a web-based or Electron app; it's a native macOS application designed for responsiveness and low latency.
Built-in Generative AI
Palmier Pro integrates state-of-the-art generative models directly into the timeline editor:
- Seedance
- Kling
- Nano Banana Pro
These models can generate videos and images without leaving the editing environment. The generative AI processing is the only closed-source component; the editor itself, the MCP server, and the agent chat are fully open source under GPLv3.
Agent Integration via MCP
When Palmier Pro is running, it exposes an MCP server at http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp via HTTP. This allows any MCP-compatible agent to connect and interact with the timeline. Here's how to connect popular agents:
Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http palmier-pro http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp
Codex:
codex mcp add palmier-pro --url http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp
Cursor:
Add the following to ~/.cursor/mcp.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"palmier-pro": {
"type": "http",
"url": "http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp"
}
}
}
Claude Desktop: The app bundles an MCP bridge (mcpb) that enables one-click installation of a Desktop Extension. Navigate to Help > MCP Instructions > Install in Claude Desktop.
In-App Agent
Beyond external agents, Palmier Pro includes an in-app agent that can work on the same project, enabling a more integrated collaborative experience.
Pricing and Licensing
- Editor: Free, no login required. You can use it as a standalone video editor.
- MCP Server: Free to use.
- Generative AI Features: Require login and a subscription.
- License: GPLv3 for the open-source components.
Development and Community
Palmier Pro is actively developed with 947 commits, 74 releases (latest v0.6.14), and 23 contributors. The repository includes:
- A
CONTRIBUTING.mdfor development guidelines. - An
AGENTS.mdandCLAUDE.mdfor agent engineering guidance. - A
FAQ.mdfor common questions. - A
docs/readmedirectory with multilingual READMEs.
Community channels include Discord, X/Twitter (@Palmier_io), and Instagram.
Technical Highlights
- Metal Integration: The project includes a
Metaldirectory and aPlugins/MetalCIKernelPluginfor custom compositing and effects (e.g., invert colors, edge roundness, edge softness). - MCP Bridge 2.0: The
mcpbdirectory contains the MCP bridge that survives Palmier restarts on Claude Desktop. - CI/CD: GitHub Actions workflows for building and testing on push and pull requests.
Getting Started
- Download Palmier Pro from the GitHub releases page.
- Open the app and start editing.
- Connect your preferred AI agent via MCP to begin collaborative editing.
Conclusion
Palmier Pro represents a significant step toward integrating AI agents into professional video editing workflows. By combining a native Swift editor with generative AI and an open MCP interface, it offers a unique platform for both human editors and AI agents to collaborate in real-time. Whether you're a developer looking to experiment with agent-driven video editing or a content creator seeking AI-assisted tools, Palmier Pro is worth exploring.