Summary
Frenchie gives your AI agent file parsing and multimodal capabilities through a clean MCP interface. It exposes tools for OCR on PDFs and images, audio and video transcription, Office and CSV extraction to Markdown, and image generation from prompts. Results land in `.frenchie/` as Markdown or image files. The package bundles both stdio and HTTP transports, so it works in local agents like Claude Code and Cursor as well as hosted environments like Claude.ai and ChatGPT that only speak HTTP. You get 100 free credits on signup. The same package also ships Frenchie Method, a text-only workflow orchestrator with requirement analysis, test planning, and PR review commands. Reach for this when you need your agent to read documents, parse spreadsheets, transcribe recordings, or generate images without writing integration code yourself.
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Tools
Public tool metadata for what this MCP can expose to an agent.
6 tools
ocr_to_markdownConvert a PDF or image file to clean Markdown via OCR. Supports PDF, PNG, JPG/JPEG, and WebP. Returns inline Markdown for small files or a jobId for async processing on large files.3 params
Convert a PDF or image file to clean Markdown via OCR. Supports PDF, PNG, JPG/JPEG, and WebP. Returns inline Markdown for small files or a jobId for async processing on large files.
Parameters* required
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
file_pathstringAbsolute local file path. Stdio transport only — over HTTP, upload via upload_file first.
uploaded_file_referencestringObject key returned by the upload_file tool (HTTP transport)
transcribe_to_markdownConvert an audio or video file to a Markdown transcript. Supports MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, and WebM. Long files are chunked and reassembled automatically.4 params
Convert an audio or video file to a Markdown transcript. Supports MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, and WebM. Long files are chunked and reassembled automatically.
Parameters* required
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
languagestringOptional ISO 639-1 language hint (e.g. th, en, ja) for better accuracy
file_pathstringAbsolute local file path. Stdio transport only — over HTTP, upload via upload_file first.
uploaded_file_referencestringObject key returned by the upload_file tool (HTTP transport)
generate_imageGenerate a single image from a text prompt. Supports optional style, size, quality, format, and background controls. Returns a saved local file path (stdio) or a presigned imageUrl that must be downloaded within 30 minutes (HTTP).8 params
Generate a single image from a text prompt. Supports optional style, size, quality, format, and background controls. Returns a saved local file path (stdio) or a presigned imageUrl that must be downloaded within 30 minutes (HTTP).
Parameters* required
sizestringOptional output size
stylestringOptional style direction merged into the provider prompt
formatstringOptional output format
promptstringPlain-language description of the image to generate
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
qualitystringOptional output quality
backgroundstringOptional output background
output_dirstringStdio only. Absolute directory under which .frenchie/<slug>/generated.<ext> is saved. Defaults to the MCP server's process cwd. Pass your workspace root so images don't land in $HOME on GUI-spawned agents.
get_job_resultRetrieve the result of an async OCR, transcription, or image generation job by job_id. Call this after a tool returns status: "processing".2 params
Retrieve the result of an async OCR, transcription, or image generation job by job_id. Call this after a tool returns status: "processing".
Parameters* required
job_idstringJob ID returned from a previous async tool call
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
upload_fileHTTP transport only. Get a presigned S3 upload URL for a local file so the agent can PUT the file and then pass the returned object_key as uploaded_file_reference to ocr_to_markdown or transcribe_to_markdown.4 params
HTTP transport only. Get a presigned S3 upload URL for a local file so the agent can PUT the file and then pass the returned object_key as uploaded_file_reference to ocr_to_markdown or transcribe_to_markdown.
Parameters* required
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
filenamestringOriginal filename with extension (e.g. 'report.pdf').
file_sizeintegerFile size in bytes
mime_typestringMIME type (e.g. 'application/pdf', 'audio/mpeg').
fetch_result_fileHTTP transport only. Get a temporary download URL for a result file stored on the server (used when OCR results reference images via frenchie-result:<objectKey>). URLs expire in 15 minutes.2 params
HTTP transport only. Get a temporary download URL for a result file stored on the server (used when OCR results reference images via frenchie-result:<objectKey>). URLs expire in 15 minutes.
Parameters* required
api_keystringOptional Frenchie API key (fr_...). Falls back to the FRENCHIE_API_KEY env var when omitted.
object_keystringObject key parsed from a frenchie-result:<objectKey> reference
@lab94/frenchie
Frenchie — your agent's best friend.
Install Frenchie in your coding agent with one command. Frenchie Kit gives agents file and multimodal capabilities: read PDFs and images, transcribe audio and video, extract Office/CSV files to Markdown, and generate images from text prompts. Frenchie Method gives teams a structured workflow from requirement to release.
Upgrading from 0.1.x or 0.2.x? See MIGRATION.md for the breaking changes in 0.3.0 (stdio metadata-only responses, absolute-path MCP configs, new
mcp --help/--selftestflags).
This package ships:
- Frenchie Kit (
/ocr,/transcribe,/extract,/generate-image,/frenchie-statuscommands + HTTP/stdio MCP guidance) - Frenchie Method (
/frenchie-method,/requirement,/qa-analysis,/implement,/run-test,/pr-review,/release-check, and related workflow commands) - The Frenchie stdio MCP server (
lab94-frenchie mcp) bundled fornpx - An installer that wires skills and MCP config into your agent
Quick start
1. Install the skills
From the root of your project:
npx @lab94/frenchie install
This installs Frenchie Kit and Frenchie Method skills. Method is text-only and works without an API key.
Optional Method config:
npx @lab94/frenchie install --init-method
This creates .frenchie/method.config.json and .frenchie/.gitignore; it does not edit your root .gitignore.
2. Log in for Kit MCP tools when you need file or image capabilities
Create an account at getfrenchie.dev. You get 100 free credits on your first signup, once per email. No card required.
Then connect your local agent:
npx @lab94/frenchie login
The login command opens a browser device-code flow, then writes FRENCHIE_API_KEY into the MCP config the installer created. The full key is never printed.
Fallback if you already have a key from the dashboard:
npx @lab94/frenchie install --api-key fr_your_key_here
To target a specific agent:
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent claude
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent cursor
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent codex
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent vscode
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent gemini
User-level installs (Antigravity, Windsurf, Zed, Claude Desktop) need the --global flag — auto-detect never writes under $HOME:
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent antigravity --global
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent windsurf --global
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent zed --global
npx @lab94/frenchie login --agent claude-desktop --global
Fallback with an existing key:
npx @lab94/frenchie install --agent claude --api-key fr_…
npx @lab94/frenchie install --agent codex --api-key fr_…
npx @lab94/frenchie install --agent antigravity --global --api-key fr_…
npx @lab94/frenchie install --agent claude-desktop --global --api-key fr_…
After login, your agent can call ocr_to_markdown, transcribe_to_markdown, extract_to_markdown, or generate_image. OCR/transcription/extraction results are saved to .frenchie/<name>/result.md automatically; generated images are saved to .frenchie/<slug>/generated.<ext>.
Upgrading later
When a new Frenchie version ships, the pinned package spec inside each MCP config (@lab94/frenchie@0.5.0) needs to point at the new version so npx stops serving a cached older bundle. Two upgrade commands cover everything:
# Project-scoped configs in this directory (.mcp.json, .cursor/mcp.json, .codex/config.toml, etc.)
npx @lab94/frenchie@latest install
# Every $HOME config that already has a frenchie entry — Antigravity, Claude Desktop, Windsurf, Zed,
# and any global Claude Code / Cursor / Codex / Gemini configs you set up. cwd doesn't matter.
npx @lab94/frenchie@latest install --global
install --global is upgrade-mode: it only rewrites frenchie entries that already exist. It will not surprise-install anything new under $HOME. First-time global installs still go through install --agent <name> --global.
3. Restart your agent
The installer prints the restart hint for your agent. After that, ask:
OCR ./report.pdf with Frenchie
…and Frenchie takes it from there.
For workflow orchestration, ask:
/frenchie-method
/frenchie remains the Kit entrypoint in agents that use a single Frenchie command. It is not an alias for Method.
Hosted agents (Lovable, Manus, Claude.ai, ChatGPT.com, Le Chat)
These agents can't run local npm binaries. Use the hosted MCP endpoint instead:
URL: https://mcp.getfrenchie.dev
Header: Authorization: Bearer fr_your_key_here
The same @lab94/frenchie skill files work in HTTP mode — install them once with install --agent <name> and the included SKILL.md will tell the agent to upload files via upload_file before calling OCR/transcription/extraction. Image generation does not need an upload step in HTTP mode; it returns a short-lived imageUrl that the agent should download for the user.
What you get
Frenchie Kit
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/ocr <file> | Parse a PDF or image into Markdown |
/transcribe <file> | Parse audio or video into a Markdown transcript |
/extract <file> | Parse DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TSV, or PPTX into Markdown |
/generate-image <prompt> | Generate a single image from a text prompt |
/frenchie-status | Check credits and recent jobs |
Under the hood, Frenchie exposes these MCP tools:
ocr_to_markdowntranscribe_to_markdownextract_to_markdowngenerate_imageget_job_resultupload_file(HTTP mode only)fetch_result_file(HTTP mode only)
Frenchie Method
Slash notation is the canonical Method command name. Claude Code reads command
files directly. Codex Desktop gets the same entries through wrapper skills such
as requirement and qa-analysis; restart Codex after install before trying
/requirement. Hosts without slash support can use natural language such as
Frenchie Method requirement ....
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/frenchie-method | Route a task through Method from requirement to release |
/method-check | Validate Method config, artifacts, gates, and next action |
/requirement | Turn a request into scoped requirements |
/qa-analysis / /test-case | Design proof before implementation planning |
/sa-analysis / /implementation-plan | Analyze architecture and implementation approach |
/implement | Execute from Method artifacts using the current agent |
/run-test | Run repo-declared verification and write a test report |
/pr-review / /review-pr | Review the result, tests, security, and artifact drift |
/release-check | Read-only release readiness gate |
Method stores optional workflow artifacts under .frenchie/docs/feature/. install --init-method also writes a visible skillTriggers skeleton in .frenchie/method.config.json; command keys are empty slots teams can fill with installed agent skills, for example "requirement": ["brainstorming"]. Teams decide whether to commit or ignore Method config and artifacts.
Invocation — how to call Frenchie in each agent
Every agent handles MCP a little differently. /ocr is a Claude Code-only slash command; Method slash commands are host-dependent and use Codex wrapper skills outside Claude Code. Other agents use natural language, @-mention, or a server-name slash command. All facts below are dogfood-verified.
| Agent | Invoke | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | /ocr TOR.pdf | docs |
| Cursor | Use Frenchie to OCR TOR.pdf | docs |
| Codex (Desktop / CLI / IDE) | Kit: /frenchie TOR.pdf · @frenchie ocr TOR.pdf; Method: /requirement after restart, or Frenchie Method requirement ... | docs |
| Antigravity | /frenchie TOR.pdf (invokes by server name) | docs |
| VS Code Copilot | /frenchie TOR.pdf | docs |
| Claude Desktop | Use Frenchie to OCR TOR.pdf | docs |
| Windsurf | OCR TOR.pdf via Frenchie | docs |
| Gemini CLI | OCR TOR.pdf with Frenchie | docs |
| Zed | OCR TOR.pdf via Frenchie | docs |
Something not working? See the symptom-first troubleshooting guide — every error we've hit in dogfood has a canonical entry.
Pricing
Simple numbers. No subscriptions.
File extraction pricing: DOCX 0.5 credits per page, XLSX 0.5 credits per sheet, CSV/TSV 0.5 credits per file, PPTX 1 credit per slide.
| Action | Cost |
|---|---|
| OCR | 1 credit per page |
| Transcription | 2 credits per minute |
| DOCX extraction | 0.5 credits per page |
| XLSX extraction | 0.5 credits per sheet |
| CSV/TSV extraction | 0.5 credits per file |
| PPTX extraction | 1 credit per slide |
| Image generation | 20 credits per image |
$1 = 100 credits. Credits don't expire.
Privacy
Files are processed and deleted. Results expire about 30 minutes after first delivery. If you need a durable copy, save the Markdown when it comes back.
Supported formats
OCR: PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, WebP
Transcription: MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, WebM
File extraction: DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TSV, PPTX
Image generation: PNG, JPEG, WebP output from text prompts
Need help?
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Keep your Mac awake while Claude Code and 40+ AI agents run. Sleeps when they're idle.
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Install now →On Capafy, your Skill runs online 24/7 as an agent product, and you get paid every time someone uses it.
Start earning →Configuration
FRENCHIE_API_KEY*secretYour Frenchie API key (starts with fr_). Create one at https://getfrenchie.dev/dashboard/api-keys — first signup comes with 100 free credits.
FRENCHIE_DEFAULT_LANGUAGEOptional ISO 639-1 language hint (e.g. 'th', 'en', 'ja') applied to transcribe_to_markdown when the tool input does not specify a language. Tool-level language always wins.
Registryactive
Package@lab94/frenchie
TransportSTDIO, HTTP
AuthRequired
UpdatedMay 7, 2026