# Show HN: Broll – an MCP server that gives coding agents a content studio

> Source: <https://github.com/luke-fairbanks/broll>
> Published: 2026-07-12 16:40:20+00:00

**The content studio MCP for coding agents.** broll gives Claude Code, Codex, and any MCP client real hands for content work: generate media with *your own* API keys, render videos and carousels deterministically with code, and publish through a draft-first outbox.

The model plans. Code renders. Nothing posts without confirmation.

Every developer running a coding agent hits the same wall: the agent can write the marketing plan, but it can't *make* the carousel, cut the video, or post it. Existing tools are credit-metered schedulers built for social media managers. broll is built for developers:

**BYO keys, no markup.** Image/video generation uses your`OPENAI_API_KEY`

/`GEMINI_API_KEY`

directly. broll never proxies your inference or resells credits. A built-in mock provider keeps every workflow runnable before you add any keys.**Deterministic rendering.** Videos and slides are compiled from declarative plans into exact ffmpeg/sharp invocations. Same plan + same inputs = same output. When AI output drifts, the fix is code — so layout, fonts, captions, and branding live in code.**Draft-first publishing.** Posts are reviewable JSON files in an outbox.`publish_post`

requires`confirm: true`

, validates per-platform rules (char limits, media counts, file sizes) before anything leaves the machine, and reports per-platform results. The`export`

platform always works: it writes a ready-to-post bundle.

Requires Node 20+ and ffmpeg (`brew install ffmpeg`

).

```
cd broll
npm install && npm run build
```

Register with Claude Code (or use the checked-in `.mcp.json`

when working inside this repo):

```
claude mcp add broll -- node /path/to/broll/dist/index.js
```

Optional environment:

| Variable | Purpose |
|---|---|
`OPENAI_API_KEY` |
gpt-image-1 image generation |
`GEMINI_API_KEY` |
Imagen images + Veo video generation |
`BLUESKY_IDENTIFIER` / `BLUESKY_APP_PASSWORD` |
live Bluesky posting (use an app password) |
`MASTODON_ACCESS_TOKEN` (+ optional `MASTODON_INSTANCE` ) |
live Mastodon posting — no app review, any instance |
`X_API_KEY` / `X_API_SECRET` / `X_ACCESS_TOKEN` / `X_ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET` |
live X posting (free API tier works) |
`BROLL_HOME` |
workspace location (default `~/.broll` ) |
`BROLL_FFMPEG` / `BROLL_FFPROBE` |
explicit binary paths |

Brand kit: drop a `broll.config.json`

next to where the server runs (see this repo's for an example) — name, handle, colors, font, logo. Every render picks it up automatically.

| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
`broll_status` |
Workspace, ffmpeg, provider + platform readiness. Call first. |
`generate_image` / `generate_video` |
BYO-key generation → workspace assets (mock fallback when keyless) |
`import_asset` / `list_assets` / `probe_asset` |
Bring in and inspect media |
`render_video` |
Declarative RenderPlan → mp4: clips (video/image/color), trims, cover/contain fits, burned-in titles + timed captions, music bed, 9:16 / 1:1 / 4:5 / 16:9 |
`render_carousel` |
Branded slide sets (the Instagram/LinkedIn format): kicker, headline, body, accent bar, page numbers, watermark — layout is 100% code |
`extract_frame` |
Pull a PNG frame so the agent can visually QA its own render |
`create_post_draft` |
Text + media + platforms → validated, reviewable draft in the outbox |
`list_drafts` / `publish_post` |
Inspect the outbox; publish with explicit `confirm: true` |

```
npm run smoke
```

drives the real server through a real MCP client: generates a background, renders a 3-slide carousel and a 9:16 teaser video with captions, extracts a QA frame, then drafts and "publishes" an export bundle — all into `./.broll/`

.

The local server you're looking at stays MIT and free. **broll cloud** adds the parts a local server can't do well: the app-review-walled platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) through broll's own approved credentials, schedules that run while your laptop is closed, and a swipe-to-approve inbox on your phone. ~$29/mo when it ships.

** Join the waitlist → 👍 issue #1** — subscribers get the launch note; comments set the platform build order.

- Nothing is published without a draft file on disk first.
`publish_post`

hard-requires`confirm: true`

— agents are instructed to obtain the user's explicit go-ahead.- Constraint violations block publishing; they never auto-truncate your text.
- Keys are read from your environment and sent only to their own vendor's API.

Early but real: 96 tests including real-ffmpeg integration renders and a full MCP round trip.

- Bluesky video upload
- X chunked video upload
- LinkedIn adapter (needs app review)
- Mastodon adapter
- YouTube Shorts via user OAuth
- Ken Burns / crossfade transitions
- Word-level caption timing from transcripts
-
`npx broll-mcp`

distribution

```
npm test          # unit + integration (real ffmpeg)
npm run typecheck
npm run smoke     # end-to-end artifact check
```

MIT.