SkillFoxx

seerai MCP

The MCP server of the seerai Zotero plugin gives outside agents 46 tools: library and scholarly search, reviews and a workspace.

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  • Last commit
  • MIT
MCP server

Broad access

Why this level

  • The `workspace_bash`, `terminal` and `execute_code` tools run commands and code on your machine.
  • File write and edit tools change the contents of the workspace folder.
All reasons and checks

dralkh/seeraiAuthor:dralkh

Install

Manual install

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "seerai-zotero": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/seerai-mcp.cjs"]
    }
  }
}

The `claude_desktop_config.json` fragment from the server README; replace the path with yours.

Access and checks

How we review

Broad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.

  • The `workspace_bash`, `terminal` and `execute_code` tools run commands and code on your machine.
  • File write and edit tools change the contents of the workspace folder.

This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.

What it does

seerai adds an AI assistant to Zotero 8-10 for working with papers: chat over selected works, search across 11 scholarly sources at once, semantic search over PDFs, structured data extraction and PRISMA-style systematic reviews. The plugin ships an MCP server in `mcp-server/`, through which Claude Desktop and other clients reach the same library. The server exposes 46 tools. Among them are `search_library`, `read_item_content`, `search_external`, `import_paper`, `semantic_search` and `systematic_review`, plus workspace and execution tools such as `workspace_bash`, `terminal` and `execute_code`. Clients connect through the built `seerai-mcp.cjs` file, which talks to the plugin's local address inside a running Zotero.

Who it is for. Researchers on Zotero running a systematic review who want Claude to search for sources and read the library instead of asking for pasted text.

Good fit when

  • A literature review is built from PubMed, arXiv and Semantic Scholar, and finds go straight into the library.
  • Passages in collection PDFs are searched by meaning rather than keywords.
  • A data table is extracted from papers by given columns and edited inside Zotero.
  • Claude Desktop should see notes, collections and tags with no manual exports.

Not a fit when

  • You need a light read-only library server: this one ships command-execution tools.
  • Zotero older than version 8 or no plugin: the server will not work.
  • The library holds confidential material and the model is hosted by a third party.

Example request

Find papers on systematic reviews in my library, then look for fresh preprints on the topic in arXiv and PubMed and show what the library still lacks.

MCP

Transport
stdio
Authentication
not required

Limitations

The server works only while Zotero 8-10 runs with the seerai plugin installed, and it needs Node.js 18 or newer. The plugin is installed from the `.xpi` file in releases, and `seerai-mcp.cjs` alone does nothing. The 46 tools include `workspace_bash`, `terminal`, `execute_code` and file writes, so connect the server only to a client you trust. The built-in chat uses the AI providers and search services you choose, with your own keys.

How to disable. Remove the `seerai-zotero` entry from the client configuration and restart it. Disable or remove the plugin in Zotero under Tools, Add-ons.

FAQ

How do I check that the server sees Zotero?

Open `http://127.0.0.1:23119/seerai/health` while Zotero runs. A status ok with the tool count means the plugin is listening.

Which tool groups exist?

Library and external search, RAG text search, collection and note organization, systematic reviews, workspace, files and terminal, and skill management.

Do skills need a separate install?

No. The plugin bundles about 148 skills in the `skills/` folder, and the agent loads them on demand through the skills tool.

Does the server work without Claude Desktop?

Yes. Any MCP client that runs `node` with `seerai-mcp.cjs` will do. The plugin can also launch local CLI agents such as Codex and Claude Code.

Which versions are needed?

Zotero 8-10 with the seerai plugin installed and Node.js 18 or newer for the `seerai-mcp.cjs` file.

Discussion

No questions or reviews yet.

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README in short

The plugin brings chat, scholarly search, RAG and reviews into Zotero, and the server in `mcp-server/` exposes the same tools outside. The plugin's local address bridges the client and the open library.

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