mcp-server

cli-anything-zotero

Name: cli-anything-zotero
Author: PiaoyangGuohai1

CLI server for Zotero 7/8/9 — let AI manage your library. 70+ CLI commands for search, import, PDF, BibTeX, notes, and more. Works with Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.

139 stars16 forksPythonUpdated 7/28/2026100% free · open source

What it does

Turns your Zotero library into a local AI‑accessible server, letting you query, import, annotate, and export items via simple CLI commands.

When to use it

•You need to fetch citations or PDFs from Zotero on the fly while writing a pitch deck.
•Your AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) must add notes or tags to new papers automatically.
•You want to generate a BibTeX bibliography for a research‑heavy product roadmap without leaving the terminal.

Ready-to-paste prompt

In ChatGPT, ask:
```
Use the cli-anything-zotero tool to find the latest PDF on “retrieval‑augmented generation”, download it to the `~/research` folder, and create a note titled "Key takeaways" containing a 3‑bullet summary.
```

Heads up: The server only works with Zotero 7‑9 libraries that have the “Sync automatically” option enabled; otherwise newly added items won’t be visible until you sync manually.

Saves to your device

Use with Claude

New

Skip the builder — one click puts this in Claude, Cursor, Antigravity and more.

✅ Light setup

Installs with a command or two; your AI agent can do it for you.

Try it instantly — no install

Claude Code

mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills/cli-anything-zotero && curl -fsSL https://workflowstacks.com/api/skills/cli-anything-zotero/claude-skill -o ~/.claude/skills/cli-anything-zotero/SKILL.md

Open in another AI app

Opens the app with this repo with the prompt ready to go — no copy-paste needed.

Connect the whole catalog (MCP)

claude mcp add --transport http workflowstacks https://workflowstacks.com/api/mcp

Adds a WorkflowStacks connector to Claude Code: search and load any skill here by chatting.

How cli-anything-zotero works

Codeflow

Free to inspect

Cli-anything-zotero is a medium Python project (~13k lines across 36 code files, plus 6 test files). Setup is light: installs like a normal app. Reading the code is optional. Last commit 3 months ago, Apache-2.0 license, has a test suite.

Size

Medium codebase

~13k lines · 36 code files · ~2 h to skim

Setup

One-command install

Installs like a normal app. Reading the code is optional.

Runs on

Python

No API keys detected

Python 100%

Where to start reading

1
README.md
Start here — what it does and how to install it
2
pyproject.toml
Dependencies and the commands it exposes

What's in each folder

docs/Documentation6 files

templates/Templates1 files

cli_anything/Folder44 files

READMEHas testsDocumentedNo CIApache-2.0 licenseUpdated 3 mo ago