CLI Anything Zotero
PiaoyangGuohai1/cli-anything-zotero
Full-featured CLI for Zotero reference management. An agent skill from PiaoyangGuohai1/cli-anything-zotero.
Use Zotero Desktop to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full…
Install Zotero
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zotero --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .claude/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zotero --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .agents/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zotero --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .cursor/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zotero --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .gemini/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zoteroInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .github/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install congcongwang0122/zotero-skill zotero --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "zotero" agent skill from https://github.com/congcongwang0122/zotero-skill/tree/main into .opencode/skills/zotero/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "zotero", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
zotero- GitHub stars
- 200
- Token cost
- ~1.6k tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 411 words
- Files
- 8 (incl. scripts, references, assets)
- Skills in repo
- 1
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- None found
At a glance
Use Zotero Desktop to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full…
- Works in 4 steps: Find the PDF local path → Locate the PDF file → Read PDF content with pdfplumber → …
- The user mentions Zotero
- SKILL.md covers Connection Setup, Direct HTTP API Usage, Reading PDFs from Zotero and Python Helper Script, plus 4 more sections
- Runs Python scripts from its folder; calls curl
What it does
Zotero is an agent skill from congcongwang0122/zotero-skill. Use Zotero Desktop to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full text and PDF content when requested, and import BibTeX/RIS records into Zotero through the connector server. Use when the user mentions Zotero, citations, references.bib, BibTeX export, local Zotero API, localhost:23119, or adding citations from a Zotero library.
Its SKILL.md is about 1.6k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 11 other files, including scripts, reference files and assets (for example `README.md`, `agents/openai.yaml` and `references/local-api-routes.md`).
It sits in Research & Science, covering Citation management. It works with Zotero, LaTeX and Python. The repository describes itself as: 「帮我整理总结一下 Zotero 中 XXX 栏所有的文献，并生成一个一万字的综述」—— 这句话，现在真的可以被实现了。
When your agent uses it
- The user mentions Zotero
- Local Zotero API
- Localhost:23119
- Adding citations from a Zotero library
Example prompts
- “/zotero”
Requirements
- Python 3
Workflow steps
4 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
- Find the PDF local path
- Locate the PDF file
- Read PDF content with pdfplumber
- Alternative: Use Codex bundled Python
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit a3dbd6c. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
Ships 1 file in scripts/ (Python), which the agent can run.
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
curl
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use curl, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Zotero loads about 1.6k tokens when it runs, and up to ~2.1k if it reads all its reference files. Until then it costs about 116 tokens; SKILL.md has 411 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); the scripts in this folder are not scanned.
SKILL.md
Without a licence we can't republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 411 words (~1,617 tokens).
“Use this skill to operate a user's local Zotero Desktop library.”
- name
- zotero
Files
SKILL.md and 7 other files (scripts, references, assets) in the repository root of congcongwang0122/zotero-skill.
- SKILL.md
- .gitattributes
- README.md
- agents/openai.yaml
- assets/icon.png
- references/local-api-routes.md
- scripts/zotero.py
- 使用示例.jpg
Open the folder on GitHubat commit a3dbd6c
Compare with similar skills
Zotero next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zotero this skillcongcongwang0122/zotero-skill | 200 | — | ~1.6k | Automated safety check: Pass | None | |
| CLI Anything ZoteroPiaoyangGuohai1/cli-anything-zotero | 138 | — | ~2.6k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| NSFC Literature Review WriterHuiyuLi-2000/Chinese-Grant-Writer-Skills | 439 | 1 repos | ~1.4k | Automated safety check: Notes | MIT | |
| Arxiv MCP Serverblazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server | 3.2k | — | ~353 | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Bib Search Citationbahayonghang/academic-writing-skills | 500 | — | ~2.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | None | |
| Arxiv Paper Writeryunshenwuchuxun/latex-paper-skills | 267 | — | ~3.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
Similar skills
NSFC Literature Review Writer
HuiyuLi-2000/Chinese-Grant-Writer-Skills
Writes the research-status literature review and critique section of an NSFC grant proposal, backed by a bundled multi-source literature search.
Arxiv MCP Server
blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server
A skill your agent uses when finding, comparing, reading, or monitoring arXiv papers, including requests for abstracts, citation graphs, original LaTeX, section-level technical details, or…
Bib Search Citation
bahayonghang/academic-writing-skills
Search and cite from local BibTeX/BibLaTeX .bib libraries, including Zotero exports.
Arxiv Paper Writer
yunshenwuchuxun/latex-paper-skills
Writes ML/AI review and survey papers for arXiv using the IEEEtran LaTeX template with verified BibTeX citations.
Zotero Taxonomy Curator
ganzoth/zotero-taxonomy-curator
Domain-configurable Zotero-to-Obsidian literature curation and paper close-reading skill.
Related
Categories
Questions about Zotero
What does Zotero do?
Use Zotero Desktop to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full…. Zotero is an agent skill from congcongwang0122/zotero-skill. Use Zotero Desktop to enable/probe the local API, search a local Zotero library, list items/collections/tags, export BibTeX, insert citation keys into LaTeX or Markdown drafts, read indexed full text and PDF content when requested, and import BibTeX/RIS records into Zotero through the connector server.
When should I use Zotero?
Zotero fits situations like: the user mentions Zotero; local Zotero API; localhost:23119; adding citations from a Zotero library.
How do I install Zotero in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (the congcongwang0122/zotero-skill repository) into .claude/skills/zotero in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Zotero in Codex?
Run `npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (the congcongwang0122/zotero-skill repository) into .agents/skills/zotero in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Zotero in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add congcongwang0122/zotero-skill --skill zotero -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/zotero, .gemini/skills/zotero, .github/skills/zotero and .opencode/skills/zotero in your project.
What does Zotero need to run?
Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Zotero needs Python for the scripts in its folder and the command-line tools its instructions call (curl). Our summary lists: Python 3.
Does Zotero access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use curl, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Zotero safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. The check reads SKILL.md only: the scripts in the folder are not scanned, so read them before running anything.
What licence does Zotero use?
No licence was found for Zotero or its repository. Without one, default copyright applies: ask the author before reusing or redistributing it.
How many tokens does Zotero use?
About 1.6k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 6.5k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full. Its references folder adds about 468 tokens, read only when the agent opens those files.
What are the alternatives to Zotero?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Zotero: CLI Anything Zotero (PiaoyangGuohai1/cli-anything-zotero, 138 stars), NSFC Literature Review Writer (HuiyuLi-2000/Chinese-Grant-Writer-Skills, 439 stars), Arxiv MCP Server (blazickjp/arxiv-mcp-server, 3.2k stars) and Bib Search Citation (bahayonghang/academic-writing-skills, 500 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Zotero?
congcongwang0122 (a GitHub user) maintains it in congcongwang0122/zotero-skill, which has 200 GitHub stars. The repository was last updated on August 14, 2026.
Source: congcongwang0122/zotero-skill on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.