Rhino CLI

A three-tier HTTP server for controlling Rhino 3D from the command line with robust process management and health monitoring.

Architecture

Client (rhino CLI) → HTTP → Go Server → TCP → Python Server (in Rhino)

The Go server manages Rhino as a subprocess, provides REST API on port 9090, handles request queuing with 4 workers, and monitors Rhino health every 30 seconds with auto-restart on failures.

Key Features:

• Detached Rhino subprocess with zombie prevention
• Multi-layer health checks (HTTP + process PIDs)
• Graceful shutdown with timeout and force-kill fallback
• TCP/Unix socket support for Python server communication

Learn more about the architecture →

Installation

go build -o rhino cmd/rhino/main.go

Quick Start

Prerequisites: Run rhino doctor --fix to disable autosave before starting.

# Start server (port 9090)
rhino server

# Check if server is running
rhino ping

# Start MCP server for Claude Desktop
rhino mcp

# Execute Python code
rhino exec --code "rs.AddPoint([0,0,0]); sc.doc.Views.Redraw()"

# Evaluate expressions
rhino eval --expr "rs.UnitSystem()"

View all commands →

Documentation

• Architecture - How the server and manager work
• API Reference - HTTP endpoints
• MCP Server - Model Context Protocol integration
• Claude Desktop Setup - Configure Claude Desktop
• Configuration - Environment variables
• Commands - CLI command reference
• Troubleshooting - Common issues

Development

# Build
go build -o rhino cmd/rhino/main.go

# Test
./rhino server
./rhino exec --code "print('Hello from Rhino')"