io.github.blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
Search arXiv papers, download full text, semantic search, citation graphs, and alerts via MCP.
Open source Open in the app JSON README (API)
About
Search arXiv papers, download full text, semantic search, citation graphs, and alerts via MCP.
Details
- Kind
- MCP servers
- Topic
- Government & public data
- Publisher
- blazickjp
- Origin
- official
- Category
- ferramentas
- Transport
- local
- Version
- 0.7.2
- Stars
- 3,139
- Forks
- 253
- Open pull requests
- 6
- Last push
- 2026-08-26T23:16:26Z
- Repository state
- ativo
- Language
- Python
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Added
- 2026-08-29 03:02:31
- Updated
- 2026-08-29 03:02:31
- Origin id
io.github.blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
README
# arxiv-mcp-server
<!-- mcp-name: io.github.blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server -->
[](https://pypi.org/project/arxiv-mcp-server/)
[](https://pypi.org/project/arxiv-mcp-server/)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers/io.github.blazickjp%2Farxiv-mcp-server/versions/latest)
[](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/actions/workflows/tests.yml)
[](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/stargazers)
[](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22arxiv-mcp-server%22%5D%7D)
[](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=eyJ0eXBlIjoic3RkaW8iLCJjb21tYW5kIjoidXZ4IiwiYXJncyI6WyJhcnhpdi1tY3Atc2VydmVyIl19)
[](https://kiro.dev/launch/mcp/add?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22arxiv-mcp-server%22%5D%2C%22disabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22autoApprove%22%3A%5B%5D%7D)
[](#claude-code)
[](#openai-codex)
[](#hermes-agent)
A local MCP server for agent literature work. The differentiator is original-LaTeX section reads, BibTeX from arXiv metadata, and topic watches. Papers stay on disk. The working loop is paper ID → outline → one section → citations. Search is optional.
## Install
The default install is `uvx arxiv-mcp-server`. Command-based integrations need [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/), which provides `uvx`. No repository clone or Python environment setup is required.
```bash
uvx arxiv-mcp-server
```
Add this stdio configuration to clients that accept the `mcpServers` JSON shape, such as Claude Desktop and Kiro. Other clients may use a top-level `servers` object, TOML, or their own settings UI; consult the client's MCP documentation.
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"arxiv": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["arxiv-mcp-server"]
}
}
}
```
The default paper directory is `~/.arxiv-mcp-server/papers`. To choose another directory, append `"--storage-path", "/absolute/path/to/papers"` to `args`.
The supported package is published on PyPI as `arxiv-mcp-server==0.7.2`. An unrelated npm package uses the same name, so do not install this server with npm, pnpm, or `npx arxiv-mcp-server`.
Listed on the [official MCP registry](https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers/io.github.blazickjp%2Farxiv-mcp-server/versions/latest), latest 0.7.2.
## Why this is not a search wrapper
Search, source retrieval, citation graphs, and downloads call their respective external services. What stays local is the literature loop: read author-submitted LaTeX one section at a time, export BibTeX from authoritative arXiv metadata, and keep topic watches on disk. The server runs locally over stdio by default.
<details>
<summary>Per-client recipes (Claude Code, Codex, Hermes, VS Code / Kiro, Claude Desktop, plugins)</summary>
Use the default JSON above unless your client has a one-line helper.
### Claude Code
Add the MCP server for all projects:
```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio --scope user arxiv -- uvx arxiv-mcp-server
```
For the richer plugin integration—which installs the MCP connection plus the bundled arXiv research skill—register this repository as a marketplace and install the plugin:
```bash
claude plugin marketplace add blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
claude plugin install arxiv-mcp-server@arxiv-mcp
```
Verify the direct MCP installation with `claude mcp get arxiv`. Restart Claude Code or run `/reload-plugins` after installing the plugin.
### OpenAI Codex
Add the MCP server:
```bash
codex mcp add arxiv -- uvx arxiv-mcp-server
```
Or install the MCP connection and bundled research skill as a Codex plugin:
```bash
codex plugin marketplace add blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
codex plugin add arxiv-mcp-server@arxiv-mcp
```
Verify the direct MCP installation with `codex mcp get arxiv`. Codex CLI, the Codex IDE extension, and Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app share this MCP configuration.
### Hermes Agent
[](#hermes-agent)
Add the server, approve the discovered tools, and test the saved connection:
```bash
hermes mcp add arxiv --command uvx --args arxiv-mcp-server
hermes mcp test arxiv
```
### VS Code and Kiro
[](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22arxiv-mcp-server%22%5D%7D)
[](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=eyJ0eXBlIjoic3RkaW8iLCJjb21tYW5kIjoidXZ4IiwiYXJncyI6WyJhcnhpdi1tY3Atc2VydmVyIl19)
[](https://kiro.dev/launch/mcp/add?name=arxiv-mcp-server&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22arxiv-mcp-server%22%5D%2C%22disabled%22%3Afalse%2C%22autoApprove%22%3A%5B%5D%7D)
For the richer Kiro Power integration, open the **Powers** panel, choose **Add Custom Power → Import power from GitHub**, and enter:
```text
https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
```
The Power installs the MCP connection from `mcp.json` and adds focused arXiv research guidance. Kiro users who prefer manual configuration can place the generic configuration above in `.kiro/settings/mcp.json` for one workspace or `~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json` for all workspaces.
### Claude Desktop bundle
macOS users can install a bundled `.mcpb` extension from the [v0.7.2 release](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/releases/tag/v0.7.2) or the [latest GitHub release](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/releases/latest):
- Apple Silicon: [`arxiv-mcp-server-darwin-arm64-0.7.2.mcpb`](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/releases/download/v0.7.2/arxiv-mcp-server-darwin-arm64-0.7.2.mcpb)
- Intel: [`arxiv-mcp-server-darwin-x86_64-0.7.2.mcpb`](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/releases/download/v0.7.2/arxiv-mcp-server-darwin-x86_64-0.7.2.mcpb)
Double-click the bundle, drag it into Claude Desktop, or open **Settings → Extensions → Advanced settings → Install Extension…**. The bundle includes the server dependencies and requires CPython 3.11.x.
### Other MCP clients
Other clients may use a top-level `servers` object, TOML, or their own settings UI; consult the client MCP documentation. Direct MCP installation is the shortest path. Install a plugin when you also want the research workflow that steers the client toward focused searches, bounded reads, citation traversal, and section-level LaTeX retrieval.
### Plugin manifests
The same MCP server and research skill are packaged for both major plugin systems:
| Integration | Manifest | Marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | `.claude-plugin/plugin.json` | `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json` |
| OpenAI Codex / ChatGPT Work | `.codex-plugin/plugin.json` | `.agents/plugins/marketplace.json` |
| Kiro Power | `POWER.md` | `mcp.json` |
| Shared MCP launch | `.mcp.json` for Claude and repository-local clients; `.codex-mcp.json` for Codex plugins | `uvx arxiv-mcp-server` |
| Shared research workflow | `skills/arxiv-mcp-server/SKILL.md` | Installed with either plugin |
</details>
## If a desktop client cannot find `uvx`
Desktop applications do not always inherit the same `PATH` as your terminal. If `uvx arxiv-mcp-server` works in a terminal but the client reports that the server failed to connect, find the executable's absolute path:
```bash
# macOS and Linux
command -v uvx
```
```powershell
# Windows PowerShell
(Get-Command uvx).Source
```
Replace `"command": "uvx"` with the returned absolute path, then restart the client. Keep the `args` value unchanged.
## If an existing installation is missing newer tools
`uvx` reuses cached tool environments. Force it to resolve the current PyPI release with a supported interpreter, then restart your MCP client:
```bash
uvx --python 3.11 --refresh-package arxiv-mcp-server arxiv-mcp-server
```
If your client still launches an older environment, add `"--python", "3.11"` before `"arxiv-mcp-server"` in its `args` array.
## Persistent command install
To place `arxiv-mcp-server` on your `PATH` instead of launching it through `uvx`:
```bash
uv tool install arxiv-mcp-server
```
If the command is not immediately available, run `uv tool update-shell` and restart the terminal. Afterward, use `"command": "arxiv-mcp-server"` and omit the package name from `args`.
## Tools
The server currently exposes 19 tools.
| Tool | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `search_papers` | Search arXiv by query, category, date, and sort order | Default ≤5 compact results (`abstract_mode=snippet`); remote arXiv API |
| `get_abstract` | Fetch metadata and an abstract by arXiv ID | Does not download the paper |
| `download_paper` | Download and convert a paper to local Markdown | HTML first; PDF fallback uses `[pdf]`; `force=true` re-fetches; content bounded to 12,000 chars by default |
| `list_papers` | List papers stored locally | Returns id, title, authors, published; `compact` for IDs only |
| `read_paper` | Read locally stored paper content | Bounded to 12,000 chars by default; supports `start`/`max_chars`/`return_full_text` |
| `get_paper_outline` | Paginated markdown heading outline | Stable hierarchical section IDs |
| `read_paper_section` | Read one bounded markdown section | By outline ID or unique title |
| `search_paper_text` | Bounded passage search in a paper | Source offsets; no Torch required |
| `get_paper_latex` | Retrieve bounded author-submitted LaTeX | Remote arXiv source archive |
| `list_paper_latex_sections` | Return a paginated LaTeX outline | Supports `start` and `max_sections` |
| `get_paper_latex_section` | Read one bounded LaTeX section | Select by outline ID or exact title |
| `citation_graph` | Fetch references and citing papers | Remote Semantic Scholar API (1 call per paper, cached on disk); optional free API key improves reliability |
| `export_citations` | Export BibTeX for one or more arXiv IDs | Authoritative arXiv metadata |
| `watch_topic` | Save or update an arXiv topic watch | Stored locally; omit `categories` to preserve on update, `categories: []` to clear |
| `list_watches` | List saved topic watches | Read-only; does not advance last_checked |
| `check_alerts` | Check saved watches for new papers | Returns papers since the last check |
| `unwatch_topic` | Delete a saved topic watch | Exact topic match; not-found if missing |
| `semantic_search` | Search downloaded papers by semantic similarity | Requires `[pro]` |
| `reindex` | Rebuild the local semantic index | Requires `[pro]` |
### Research alerts (`watch_topic`)
Save standing topic watches with `watch_topic`, inspect them with `list_watches`, poll with `check_alerts`, and remove with `unwatch_topic`.
When updating an existing watch (same `topic` string):
- **Omit** `categories` → **preserve** the stored category filters (and other fields you leave unchanged).
- Pass **`categories: []`** → **clear** category filters.
- Pass a non-empty list → replace the stored filters.
Create path: omitting `categories` stores an empty list (no category filter).
### search_papers query guide
Tool schemas stay short on purpose. Use this section (not the always-loaded MCP description) for query tutorials, category catalogs, and workflow examples.
**Query construction**
- Use quoted phrases for exact matches: `"multi-agent systems"`, `"neural networks"`
- Combine related concepts with OR: `"AI agents" OR "software agents"`
- Field-specific searches: `ti:"exact title phrase"`, `au:"author name"`, `abs:"keyword"`, `cat:cs.LG`
- Exclude with ANDNOT: `"machine learning" ANDNOT "survey"`
- Prefer 2–4 core concepts over long keyword lists
**Advanced patterns**
- Field + phrase: `ti:"transformer architecture"`
- Multiple fields: `au:"Smith" AND ti:"quantum"`
- Exclusions: `"deep learning" ANDNOT ("survey" OR "review")`
- Broad + narrow: `"artificial intelligence" AND (robotics OR "computer vision")`
**Category filtering** (recommended for relevance)
Computer Science: `cs.AI` (AI), `cs.LG` (ML), `cs.CL` (NLP), `cs.CV` (vision), `cs.MA` (multi-agent), `cs.RO` (robotics), `cs.NE` (neural/evolutionary), `cs.IR` (IR), `cs.HC` (HCI), `cs.CR` (security), `cs.DB` (databases)
Statistics & Math: `stat.ML`, `stat.AP`, `math.OC`, `math.ST`
Physics & other: `quant-ph`, `eess.SP`, `eess.AS`, `physics.data-an`
**Effective examples**
- `ti:"reinforcement learning"` with `categories: ["cs.LG", "cs.AI"]`
- `au:"Hinton" AND "deep learning"` with `categories: ["cs.LG"]`
- `"multi-agent" ANDNOT "survey"` with `categories: ["cs.MA"]`
- `abs:"transformer" AND ti:"attention"` with `categories: ["cs.CL"]`
**Dates and sorting**
- Dates use `YYYY-MM-DD` (`date_from` / `date_to`)
- Default `sort_by` is `relevance`; use `date` for newest-first monitoring
- Foundational work: `date_to: "2010-12-31"` with title/abstract field searches
**Result size, abstracts, and pagination**
- Default `max_results` is **5** (cap 50). Pass an explicit value for larger pages.
- `abstract_mode`: `snippet` (default, ~280 chars, marked `… [truncated]` when cut), `full` (complete abstract), or `none` (omit abstracts). Other metadata (title, authors, categories, dates, URLs) is always returned.
- Responses report `total_results` (corpus hits), `returned`, `has_more`, `start`, `next_start`, and `abstract_mode`
- Pass `start=next_start` with the same `abstract_mode` for the next page
- arXiv enforces ~3 seconds between requests (handled server-side); on rate-limit errors wait ~60s
### Search and inspect a paper
Ask your MCP client to call `search_papers` with:
```json
{
"query": "\"Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks\"",
"categories": ["cs.LG", "cs.AI"],
"sort_by": "date"
}
```
Defaults return up to five compact results with abstract snippets. Use `"abstract_mode": "full"` when you need complete abstracts in the search response, or call `get_abstract` for a single paper after a compact search:
```json
{
"paper_id": "2404.19756"
}
```
Do not call `get_abstract` again for papers already returned with `abstract_mode=full`.
### Download and read full text
Call `download_paper` with:
```json
{
"paper_id": "2404.19756"
}
```
Omitting `max_chars` returns a bounded first chunk (default **12,000** paper characters). Cached papers are returned immediately. Pass `"force": true` to re-download and overwrite the local markdown and sidecar (also happens automatically when the HTML extractor version changes).
Then page through the cached content with `read_paper`:
```json
{
"paper_id": "2404.19756",
"start": 0
}
```
Or continue from a prior chunk:
```json
{
"paper_id": "2404.19756",
"start": 12000
}
```
Large-content responses include `content_length`, `returned_chars`, `next_start`, `is_truncated`, and (when truncated) `next_retrieval` with the next-call instruction. Pass `next_start` into the next call's `start` to continue reading. Pass an explicit `max_chars` to override the default chunk size, or `"return_full_text": true` to opt into the previous unbounded full-paper response.
#### Migration notes (bounded content default)
Previously, omitting `max_chars` on `download_paper` / `read_paper` returned the **entire** paper. That default is now a **12,000-character** chunk so a single MCP tool call cannot flood the client context window.
| Need | Call |
|---|---|
| First bounded chunk (new default) | `{ "paper_id": "…" }` |
| Continue reading | `{ "paper_id": "…", "start": <next_start> }` |
| Custom chunk size | `{ "paper_id": "…", "max_chars": 5000 }` |
| Old unbounded behavior | `{ "paper_id": "…", "return_full_text": true }` |
Clients that already passed `max_chars` are unchanged. Only callers that relied on the omitted-`max_chars` = full-text behavior need to add `return_full_text: true` or page via `next_start`.
### Read original LaTeX by section
Call `get_paper_latex` with:
```json
{
"paper_id": "1706.03762"
}
```
Get the first page of its section outline with `list_paper_latex_sections`:
```json
{
"paper_id": "1706.03762",
"start": 0,
"max_sections": 100
}
```
Then call `get_paper_latex_section` using an ID from that outline:
```json
{
"paper_id": "1706.03762",
"section_id": "3.2",
"max_chars": 12000
}
```
LaTeX archives are validated, size-limited, and cached locally before content is returned.
## Optional dependencies
Choose the install variant that matches the features you need:
```bash
# Base server
uv tool install arxiv-mcp-server
# Base server plus PDF conversion
uv tool install "arxiv-mcp-server[pdf]"
# Base server plus local semantic search
uv tool install "arxiv-mcp-server[pro]"
```
If the base tool is already installed, reinstall the selected variant:
```bash
uv tool install --force "arxiv-mcp-server[pdf]"
```
The `pdf` extra installs `pymupdf4llm` and `pymupdf-layout` for papers without usable arXiv HTML. The `pro` extra adds local embedding dependencies for `semantic_search` and `reindex`; semantic search only operates on papers already downloaded to the configured storage directory.
For older papers that require PDF conversion, run the package with its PDF extra:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"arxiv": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"--from",
"arxiv-mcp-server[pdf]",
"arxiv-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
```
## Built-in prompts
The server provides seven MCP prompt workflows. Prompt availability depends on the client; the server provides workflow instructions but does not run a separate model.
| Prompt | Required arguments | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| `research-discovery` | `topic` | Map terminology, searches, papers, research clusters, and a reading path |
| `deep-paper-analysis` | `paper_id` | Analyze one paper in depth |
| `summarize_paper` | `paper_id` | Summarize methods, results, and limitations |
| `compare_papers` | `paper_ids` | Compare multiple papers |
| `literature_review` | `topic` | Synthesize a topic and optional paper set |
| `literature-synthesis` | `paper_ids` | Synthesize themes, methods, timelines, or gaps across papers |
| `research-question` | `paper_ids`, `topic` | Formulate grounded, falsifiable research questions |
## Streamable HTTP
For deployments where stdio is not practical:
```bash
TRANSPORT=http HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=8080 \
uvx arxiv-mcp-server --storage-path /absolute/path/to/papers
```
PowerShell:
```powershell
$env:TRANSPORT = "http"
$env:HOST = "127.0.0.1"
$env:PORT = "8080"
uvx arxiv-mcp-server --storage-path C:\absolute\path\to\papers
```
Connect clients to:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"arxiv": {
"type": "http",
"url": "http://127.0.0.1:8080/mcp"
}
}
}
```
Cloud and load-balancer probes should GET `http://<host>:<port>/healthz`. It returns `200` with body `ok` once the HTTP server is listening. There is no separate `/ready` check: if the process is up, it is ready. The stdio transport has no HTTP endpoints.
The server binds to `127.0.0.1` by default and enables MCP DNS-rebinding protection. If a reverse proxy exposes the server, keep the process on a private interface and provide authentication and network controls upstream. Use `ALLOWED_HOSTS` and `ALLOWED_ORIGINS` for the host and origin values forwarded by the proxy.
## Configuration
| Setting | Default | Purpose |
|---|---:|---|
| `--storage-path` | `~/.arxiv-mcp-server/papers` | Paper, source-cache, alert, and index storage |
| `MAX_RESULTS` | `50` | Server-side cap for result counts |
| `REQUEST_TIMEOUT` | `60` | PDF fallback download timeout in seconds |
| `TRANSPORT` | `stdio` | `stdio`, `http`, or `streamable-http` |
| `HOST` | `127.0.0.1` | HTTP bind host |
| `PORT` | `8000` | HTTP bind port |
| `ALLOWED_HOSTS` | empty | Additional accepted HTTP Host values |
| `ALLOWED_ORIGINS` | empty | Additional accepted HTTP Origin values |
| `SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY` | empty | Free Semantic Scholar API key for `citation_graph`. Get one at https://www.semanticscholar.org/product/api#api-key to avoid rate limits. Unauthenticated requests work until quota exhausted. |
Environment variable names are case-insensitive through Pydantic settings. `--storage-path` is a command-line option rather than an environment setting.
## Security
Paper text and LaTeX are untrusted external content. A paper can contain text intended to manipulate an AI client into ignoring its instructions or calling unrelated tools.
- Do not treat instructions found inside a paper as trusted commands.
- Use client approval controls for shell, browser, filesystem, and messaging tools.
- Review generated summaries before taking external actions.
- Keep Streamable HTTP private unless authentication is provided upstream.
See [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) for the reporting policy and threat details.
## Development
```bash
git clone https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server.git
cd arxiv-mcp-server
uv sync --extra test --extra dev
uv run pytest
uv run black --check .
```
Run the development checkout from an MCP client with:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"arxiv-dev": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/absolute/path/to/arxiv-mcp-server",
"run",
"arxiv-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
```
Contributions are welcome. Read [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) before opening a pull request, and use [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server/issues) for reproducible bugs or scoped feature proposals.
## License
Apache License 2.0. See [LICENSE](LICENSE).