🟢 Beginner–Intermediate ⚙️ Type: AI Video Editor / MCP Server 💸 Free & Open Core (GPL-3.0) ⭐ Trending on GitHub
What is Palmier Pro?
Palmier Pro is a groundbreaking, Swift-native video editor built specifically for the age of generative AI. Backed by Y Combinator, it solves the most frustrating loop in modern AI video production: generating a clip on a web app like Runway or Luma, downloading the MP4, importing it into Premiere Pro, realizing it doesn’t fit the cut, and repeating the process dozens of times.
Palmier Pro brings the generation directly onto the timeline. It natively integrates state-of-the-art models like Kling V3, Seedance 2.0, Veo 3.1, and Grok Imagine. You can generate video, images, and audio seamlessly alongside your traditional imported footage.
However, the absolute killer feature is its built-in Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. Palmier Pro is “the video editor your agents can edit.” When the app is open, it exposes your timeline to your local AI coding assistants (like Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Codex). You can literally prompt your AI agent to “Review my timeline, find the silent gaps, generate B-roll of a futuristic city using Kling, and insert it to match the beat of the music.” The agent will autonomously drive the video editor on your behalf!
Who is it for?
- AI Filmmakers and Content Creators who are tired of managing a folder full of 50 downloaded MP4 generation attempts and want a unified, storyboard-first timeline.
- Startup Founders and Marketers looking to rapidly generate cinematic product launch videos or ad creatives without hiring an entire production studio.
- AI Tooling Enthusiasts using Cursor or Claude Code who want to explore programmatic, agent-driven video editing workflows via the MCP standard.
- Mac Power Users who want a fast, native (non-Electron) video editor that feels at home on Apple Silicon.
What makes it special?
- True Native App — It is not a clunky web wrapper. It is written completely in Swift, providing the buttery smooth scrubbing and timeline performance you expect from Final Cut or Premiere, optimized specifically for Apple Silicon.
- Agentic Timeline Control (MCP) — The editor exposes an HTTP MCP server at
port 19789. This allows any modern LLM to read your project tracks, trim clips, apply transitions, and orchestrate generations without you touching the mouse. - Model Agnostic Generation — You are not locked into one AI company’s “look.” Palmier Pro integrates multiple industry-leading generation models simultaneously, allowing you to pick the right aesthetic for each specific shot.
- Open Core Philosophy — The core multi-track video editor and the MCP communication layer are entirely free and open-source. You only pay (via credits) when you use their cloud endpoints to actually generate new AI media.
Requirements before you start
Palmier Pro is an incredibly powerful, native application, which means it has strict hardware requirements:
- Hardware: Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) is absolutely required. It will not run on Intel Macs.
- OS: macOS 26 (Tahoe) or newer.
- An MCP Client (Optional) — To use the agentic editing features, you must have an MCP-compatible assistant installed, such as Cursor, Claude Desktop, or Claude Code.
- An Account (Optional) — Using the basic editor is free and requires no login. Generating AI media requires a Palmier account and generation credits.
Step-by-step installation
Step 1 — Download and Install
You can compile the app from the GitHub source code, but the easiest way is to download the compiled `.dmg` directly from their website:
Go to palmier.io, download the macOS installer, and drag Palmier Pro into your Applications folder.
Step 2 — Connect Your Agent (Cursor)
If you want to allow Cursor to edit your video timeline, you must connect the MCP server. With Palmier Pro open on your Mac:
- In Palmier Pro, go to the top menu bar: Help > MCP Instructions > Install in Cursor.
- Alternatively, manually edit your
~/.cursor/mcp.jsonfile and add the following entry:
{
"mcpServers": {
"palmier-pro": {
"type": "http",
"url": "http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcp"
}
}
}Step 3 — Connect Your Agent (Claude Code)
If you prefer to drive the editor using Anthropics’s terminal assistant, open your terminal and run:
claude mcp add --transport http palmier-pro http://127.0.0.1:19789/mcpStep 4 — Direct the Edit
Make sure Palmier Pro is open in the background with a project loaded. Open your connected AI agent (like Cursor’s Composer or Claude Code) and type a prompt like:
“Look at the Palmier Pro timeline. I have a 10-second audio track. Generate three distinct, 3-second cinematic shots of a cyberpunk city using Veo 3.1 and arrange them sequentially on the video track to match the audio.”
Switch back to Palmier Pro and watch the AI populate and arrange your timeline!
Common errors and fixes
| Error | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
MCP Error: Connection Refused at 127.0.0.1:19789 | Your AI agent is trying to communicate with Palmier Pro, but the application is either closed or the internal server hasn’t initialized. | Palmier Pro must be actively running on your Mac for the MCP server to exist. Ensure the app is open and you have a project file loaded before prompting your agent. |
| Cannot install on Windows or Intel Macs | The application is failing to launch or install because your system does not meet the strict hardware and OS requirements. | Palmier Pro is deeply integrated with macOS 26 (Tahoe) native APIs and Apple Silicon architecture. There is currently no workaround for Windows, Linux, or older Intel-based Macs. |
| Generations fail or prompt for payment | While the video editor itself is free, making API calls to cloud models (like Kling or Seedance) costs money. | You must create an account via the app’s interface and purchase generation credits, or subscribe to one of their Pro tiers (which include monthly credit allocations). |
Free vs Paid comparison
| Feature | Palmier Free Tier (Open Source Editor) | Palmier Pro / Commercial Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Core Video Editing | ✅ Free (No account required) | Included |
| MCP / Agent Integrations | ✅ Free (Use your own local agents) | Included |
| AI Video/Image Generation | ❌ Requires paid credits | 🟢 Subscription tiers (e.g., 5,000 credits/mo) |
| Export Options | ✅ MP4, ProRes, NLE XML (Premiere/DaVinci) | Included |
Bottom line: Palmier Pro is arguably the most exciting development in video editing since the NLE (Non-Linear Editor) was invented. By exposing the timeline via the Model Context Protocol, it transforms video editing from a purely manual, mouse-driven task into an automatable, code-driven workflow. If you have an M-series Mac and use Cursor or Claude, downloading the free editor just to test the MCP integration is highly recommended.
Alternatives — 3 similar tools
1. Adobe Premiere Pro (with Firefly)
The industry standard for video editing. Adobe is rapidly integrating their Firefly generative AI models directly into the Premiere Pro timeline for features like Generative Extend and Object Removal. However, it lacks an open MCP server for custom AI agents to operate the timeline, and it carries a heavy monthly subscription fee.
2. RunwayML
Runway is the pioneer of generative AI video. While their Gen-3 Alpha model is incredible, Runway currently operates primarily as a cloud-based web application. You generate clips on their site and then have to download and arrange them in a dedicated editor, missing the seamless native timeline integration of Palmier Pro.
3. Luma Dream Machine
Another massive player in the AI video generation space, known for highly realistic physics and movement. Like Runway, it is a web-based generation tool. However, Luma recently released robust developer APIs, meaning you can programmatically generate video using their endpoints, but you still need to build your own timeline UI to arrange the results.
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