Repository Initialization Guide

This document provides instructions for initializing the ardour-mcp repository on GitHub.

Repository Structure

ardour-mcp/
├── .gitignore                    # Git ignore patterns
├── CHANGELOG.md                  # Version history
├── CONTRIBUTING.md               # Contribution guidelines
├── LICENSE                       # MIT License
├── README.md                     # Project overview
├── claude.md                     # AI assistance context
├── pyproject.toml               # Python project config
│
├── docs/                        # Documentation
│   ├── ARCHITECTURE.md          # System architecture
│   ├── DEVELOPMENT.md           # Development guide
│   ├── OSC_API.md              # OSC command reference
│   └── ROADMAP.md              # Development roadmap
│
├── src/                        # Source code
│   └── ardour_mcp/
│       ├── __init__.py         # Package initialization
│       ├── server.py           # Main MCP server
│       ├── osc_bridge.py       # OSC communication (TODO)
│       ├── ardour_state.py     # State management (TODO)
│       └── tools/              # MCP tool implementations
│           ├── __init__.py     # Tool registration (TODO)
│           ├── transport.py    # Transport controls (TODO)
│           ├── tracks.py       # Track management (TODO)
│           ├── session.py      # Session info (TODO)
│           └── recording.py    # Recording controls (TODO)
│
└── tests/                      # Test suite
    ├── __init__.py            # Test package init (TODO)
    ├── test_osc_bridge.py     # OSC bridge tests (TODO)
    ├── test_transport.py      # Transport tests (TODO)
    └── test_tracks.py         # Track tests (TODO)

GitHub Repository Setup

1. Create Repository on GitHub

Go to https://github.com/raibid-labs
Click “New repository”
Repository name: ardour-mcp
Description: “Model Context Protocol server for Ardour DAW - Control Ardour through AI assistants”
Public repository
Do NOT initialize with README (we have one)
Do NOT add .gitignore (we have one)
Do NOT add license (we have one)
Click “Create repository”

2. Initialize Local Repository

# Navigate to the initialized directory
cd /tmp/ardour-mcp-init
 
# Initialize git
git init
 
# Add all files
git add .
 
# Create initial commit
git commit -m "Initial commit: Project structure and documentation
 
- Add comprehensive README with project overview
- Add detailed documentation (architecture, roadmap, OSC API, development guide)
- Add contributing guidelines and code of conduct
- Add MIT license
- Add Python project configuration (pyproject.toml)
- Add basic MCP server template
- Add .gitignore and CHANGELOG
 
This establishes the foundation for the Ardour MCP server project,
the first MCP integration for a major open-source DAW."
 
# Add remote
git remote add origin git@github.com:raibid-labs/ardour-mcp.git
 
# Push to GitHub
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

3. Configure Repository Settings

On GitHub:

About Section:
- Description: ”🎵 Model Context Protocol server for Ardour DAW - Control Ardour through AI assistants”
- Website: (leave empty for now, can add docs site later)
- Topics: mcp, model-context-protocol, ardour, daw, audio, music-production, osc, ai-assistant, open-source
Features:
- ✅ Issues
- ✅ Discussions
- ✅ Projects (optional)
- ✅ Wiki (optional)
Branch Protection (recommended for main branch):
- Require pull request reviews
- Require status checks to pass
- Include administrators
Labels (create these):
- good first issue - Good for newcomers
- help wanted - Extra attention needed
- documentation - Documentation improvements
- enhancement - New feature or request
- bug - Something isn’t working
- question - Further information requested
- wontfix - This will not be worked on

4. Set Up GitHub Actions (Optional)

Create .github/workflows/ci.yml:

name: CI
 
on:
  push:
    branches: [ main ]
  pull_request:
    branches: [ main ]
 
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
        python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
    
    steps:
    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
    
    - name: Install uv
      uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v2
    
    - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
      run: uv python install ${{ matrix.python-version }}
    
    - name: Install dependencies
      run: uv sync --all-extras
    
    - name: Run tests
      run: uv run pytest
    
    - name: Check formatting
      run: uv run ruff format --check src/ tests/
    
    - name: Lint
      run: uv run ruff check src/ tests/

5. Create Initial Issues

Create these issues to track Phase 1 work:

Issue #1: Implement OSC Communication Bridge

## Description
Implement the `osc_bridge.py` module to handle bidirectional OSC communication with Ardour.
 
## Tasks
- [ ] Create ArdourOSCBridge class
- [ ] Implement OSC client (command sender)
- [ ] Implement OSC server (feedback receiver)
- [ ] Set up threading for async feedback
- [ ] Add connection error handling
- [ ] Add logging and debug output
- [ ] Write unit tests
 
## References
- See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md for design
- See docs/OSC_API.md for OSC commands
- See docs/DEVELOPMENT.md for setup
 
## Labels
enhancement, good first issue (for tests/docs parts)

Issue #2: Implement State Management

## Description
Implement the `ardour_state.py` module to cache Ardour's state from OSC feedback.
 
## Tasks
- [ ] Create ArdourState class
- [ ] Define state data model
- [ ] Implement feedback handlers
- [ ] Add state update methods
- [ ] Implement state query interface
- [ ] Add state validation
- [ ] Write unit tests
 
## Dependencies
Requires #1 (OSC bridge) to be completed first
 
## Labels
enhancement

Issue #3: Implement Transport Control Tools

## Description
Implement transport control MCP tools in `tools/transport.py`.
 
## Tasks
- [ ] transport_play()
- [ ] transport_stop()
- [ ] transport_record()
- [ ] goto_start()
- [ ] goto_end()
- [ ] goto_marker(marker)
- [ ] get_transport_position()
- [ ] Unit tests
 
## Dependencies
Requires #1 (OSC bridge) and #2 (state management)
 
## Labels
enhancement, good first issue

6. Create Discussions

Create welcome discussion in Discussions:

Title: “Welcome to Ardour MCP! 🎵“

Welcome to the Ardour MCP project!
 
This is the first MCP integration for a major open-source DAW. We're building a bridge between professional audio production and AI assistance.
 
## What This Project Does
 
Ardour MCP allows you to control the Ardour DAW using natural language through AI assistants like Claude:
- "Start playback in Ardour"
- "Create a new audio track called 'Vocals'"
- "Set track 1 volume to -6dB"
 
## Current Status
 
We're in **Phase 1 (MVP)** - building the foundation:
- ✅ Project structure and documentation
- 🚧 OSC communication layer
- 🚧 Core MCP tools
- 📋 State management
 
See [ROADMAP.md](docs/ROADMAP.md) for details.
 
## How to Get Involved
 
- Check out [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines
- Look for issues labeled `good first issue`
- Join discussions about features and design
- Help improve documentation
- Test and report bugs
 
## Resources
 
- [Ardour Manual](https://manual.ardour.org/)
- [MCP Specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)
- [Development Guide](docs/DEVELOPMENT.md)
 
Let's build something amazing together! 🚀

Next Steps After Repository Creation

Share the project:
- Post to Ardour forums
- Share on Hacker News / Reddit
- Tweet about it
- Add to MCP server registries
Start development:
- Begin with Issue #1 (OSC bridge)
- Set up development environment
- Write first tests
- Implement first tools
Build community:
- Respond to issues and discussions
- Welcome contributors
- Review pull requests
- Keep roadmap updated

Repository Management Tips

Commit often with clear messages
Tag releases following semver (v0.1.0, v0.2.0, etc.)
Update CHANGELOG.md for each release
Keep documentation in sync with code
Be responsive to community contributions
Celebrate milestones when reached!

Support

If you need help with repository setup:

GitHub’s repository documentation
GitHub’s collaborating guide

Ready to create impact in the open-source audio + AI community! 🎵✨

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