Exiftool
Let your coding agent read, strip, or rewrite EXIF/IPTC/XMP metadata on images, video, audio, and documents without leaving the editor.
Overview
io.github.joshmsimpson/exiftool is an MCP server for the Build phase that exposes ExifTool read/write/remove metadata operations to coding agents over stdio.
What is this MCP server?
- Read metadata from 150+ file formats via ExifTool through stdio MCP (PyPI package exiftool-mcp v0.1.6)
- Write and update tag fields agents need for titles, GPS, copyright, or custom XMP
- Remove sensitive metadata before shipping user uploads or public assets
- Stdio transport fits Claude Code, Cursor, and other local MCP hosts
- Pairs with content, SaaS, and mobile apps that accept photos, PDFs, or AV files
- Supports 150+ file formats per server description
- Package exiftool-mcp version 0.1.6 on PyPI with stdio transport
- Repository: github.com/joshmsimpson/exiftool_mcp
What problem does it solve?
Agents cannot safely scrub or audit EXIF and related metadata across dozens of file types without a dedicated tool bridge.
Who is it for?
Indie builders adding upload pipelines, DAM-lite features, or privacy scrubbing to apps that handle real-world media files.
Skip if: Teams that only need cloud image transforms with no local file access or who refuse to install ExifTool on dev machines.
What do I get? / Deliverables
Your agent can query and mutate metadata on local files in agent-driven build and ship workflows before users see leaked GPS or stale tags.
- Agent-callable read/write/remove metadata operations on supported local files
- Repeatable privacy scrub workflows for upload features
- Debuggable tag inspection without leaving the agent session
Recommended MCP Servers
Journey fit
Metadata handling usually shows up while wiring media uploads, CMS exports, privacy scrubbing, or asset pipelines in the product. ExifTool is an integration surface agents call over MCP rather than a standalone app feature—canonical shelf is build → integrations.
How it compares
MCP integration to ExifTool, not a hosted media CDN or a single Cursor skill.
Common Questions / FAQ
Who is exiftool MCP for?
Solo and indie developers who want Claude Code or Cursor agents to manage file metadata during feature work on uploads and exports.
When should I use exiftool MCP?
Use it while building or hardening media handling—reading tags, removing GPS, or fixing copyright before release.
How do I add exiftool MCP to my agent?
Install exiftool-mcp from PyPI (0.1.6), ensure ExifTool is on PATH, and register the server as a stdio MCP entry in Claude Code or your host’s config.