Agent skill

Jabref Reference Guide

by wentorai in wentorai/research-plugins

Guide to JabRef open-source BibTeX and BibLaTeX reference manager

MITAuto-check: notesResearch & Science

Install Jabref Reference Guide

skills CLI
$ npx skills add wentorai/research-plugins --skill jabref-reference-guide -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install wentorai/research-plugins jabref-reference-guide --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/wentorai/research-plugins.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/writing/citation/jabref-reference-guide .claude/skills/jabref-reference-guide && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
jabref-reference-guide
GitHub stars
298
Used in
1 other repo
Token cost
~1.8k tokens
SKILL.md length
867 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
428
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Guide to JabRef open-source BibTeX and BibLaTeX reference manager

  • Works in 3 steps: Visit https://www.jabref.org and… → Run the installer and follow the setup… → Launch JabRef and create a new BibTeX or…
  • Tasks that involve Citation management
  • SKILL.md covers Overview, Installation and Setup, Core Features and LaTeX Writing Workflow, plus 2 more sections
  • Calls brew and winget

What it does

Jabref Reference Guide is an agent skill from wentorai/research-plugins. Guide to JabRef open-source BibTeX and BibLaTeX reference manager

Its SKILL.md is about 1.8k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Research & Science, covering Citation management. It works with LaTeX and Linux. The repository describes itself as: 350+ academic research skills, MCP configs, and plugins for Research-Claw and AI agents. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Tasks that involve Citation management

Example prompts

  • “/jabref-reference-guide”

Workflow steps

3 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.

  1. Visit https://www.jabref.org and download the installer for your platform
  2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
  3. Launch JabRef and create a new BibTeX or BibLaTeX database

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit bf44b3c. 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

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • brew
    • winget

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    Links to these hosts (documentation or services it may open):

    • jabref.org
    • github.com
    • docs.jabref.org
    • blog.jabref.org
    • ctan.org

    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

Jabref Reference Guide loads about 1.8k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 22 tokens; SKILL.md has 867 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~22
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.8k

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: notes

The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.

  • NoteRuns commands with sudoSKILL.md:34
    - Linux (Snap): `sudo snap install jabref`

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); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from wentorai/research-plugins at commit bf44b3c, republished under its MIT licence (© wentorai). 867 words, ~1,758 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/jabref-reference-guide/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
jabref-reference-guide
description
Guide to JabRef open-source BibTeX and BibLaTeX reference manager

JabRef Reference Manager Guide

Overview

JabRef is an open-source, cross-platform reference manager with over 4,000 GitHub stars, specifically designed for researchers who work with BibTeX and BibLaTeX bibliographies. Written in Java, it runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a graphical interface for managing bibliographic databases that integrates seamlessly with LaTeX-based writing workflows.

Unlike general-purpose reference managers that treat BibTeX export as an afterthought, JabRef is built from the ground up around the BibTeX format. Every feature, from the entry editor to the search system, understands BibTeX entry types and field semantics natively. This means researchers who write primarily in LaTeX get a tool that speaks their language without the impedance mismatch of converting between proprietary formats.

JabRef supports both BibTeX and BibLaTeX formats, handles cross-references, string constants, and preambles, and provides powerful tools for maintaining bibliography quality. It can fetch metadata from online databases, check entries for completeness, detect duplicates, and generate citation keys following customizable patterns. For researchers who prefer to keep their bibliographic data in plain-text BibTeX files under version control, JabRef is the reference manager of choice.

Installation and Setup

JabRef can be installed through multiple methods:

Direct Download:

  1. Visit https://www.jabref.org and download the installer for your platform
  2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
  3. Launch JabRef and create a new BibTeX or BibLaTeX database

Package Managers:

  • macOS: brew install --cask jabref
  • Linux (Snap): sudo snap install jabref
  • Linux (Flatpak): flatpak install org.jabref.jabref
  • Windows: winget install JabRef.JabRef

Initial Configuration:

  • Go to Options > Preferences > General
  • Set your default bibliography mode (BibTeX or BibLaTeX)
  • Configure the default encoding (UTF-8 recommended)
  • Set up the citation key generator pattern under Preferences > Citation Key Generator:
    • Default: [auth][year] produces keys like Smith2024
    • Custom example: [auth:lower][year][veryshorttitle:lower] produces smith2024deep
  • Configure external tool integration:
    • Set your LaTeX editor path for push-to-editor functionality
    • Configure your PDF viewer for opening attachments
    • Set up the external file directory for organizing linked PDFs

Core Features

Entry Management: JabRef provides a table view and an entry editor for managing bibliography entries. The entry editor shows all fields relevant to the selected entry type (article, book, inproceedings, etc.) and validates field content against BibTeX specifications.

Online Database Search: Search and import references from multiple academic databases directly within JabRef:

  • CrossRef for DOI-based metadata
  • Google Scholar for broad academic search
  • IEEE Xplore for engineering and computer science
  • arXiv for preprints
  • DBLP for computer science bibliography
  • Springer and other publisher databases
  • ISBN lookup for books
  • INSPIRE-HEP for high-energy physics

Duplicate Detection: JabRef identifies potential duplicate entries using configurable similarity algorithms that compare titles, authors, years, and other fields. The merge dialog allows you to combine duplicates while preserving the most complete metadata from each entry.

Group Management: Organize entries into hierarchical groups based on:

  • Manual assignment (drag and drop)
  • Keyword matching (automatic based on BibTeX keywords field)
  • Search expressions (dynamic groups based on field content)
  • Referenced entries (cross-reference chains)

Quality Checks: Run integrity checks on your database to identify:

  • Missing required fields for each entry type
  • Inconsistent formatting (e.g., mixed abbreviation styles for journal names)
  • Broken file links to PDFs or other attachments
  • Invalid DOIs, ISBNs, or other identifiers
  • Entries without citation keys

Push to Editor: Send citation commands directly to your LaTeX editor. JabRef supports integration with:

  • TeXstudio, TeXmaker, and other LaTeX editors
  • Vim and Emacs with LaTeX plugins
  • VS Code with LaTeX Workshop extension
  • LyX document processor
Show full SKILL.md (307 more words)Show less

LaTeX Writing Workflow

Setting Up a Project Bibliography:

  1. Create a new .bib file in your LaTeX project directory
  2. Open it in JabRef as your working database
  3. Add references through online search, DOI import, or manual entry
  4. JabRef automatically saves changes to the .bib file
  5. Reference the file in your LaTeX document with \bibliography{references} or \addbibresource{references.bib}

Collaborative Writing:

  • Store your .bib file in a Git repository alongside your LaTeX source
  • JabRef's plain-text BibTeX format is diff-friendly and merge-friendly
  • Use consistent citation key patterns across collaborators to avoid conflicts
  • JabRef's cleanup tools help normalize entries contributed by different team members

Integration with Overleaf:

  • Export your JabRef database as a .bib file
  • Upload to your Overleaf project or link via Git
  • Use JabRef locally for curation and Overleaf for collaborative editing

Journal Submission Preparation:

  1. Run JabRef's integrity checks to ensure all entries are complete
  2. Use the "Find unlinked files" feature to attach any missing PDFs
  3. Verify journal name abbreviations match the target journal's requirements
  4. Export the final bibliography in the format required by the submission system

Advanced Features

Custom Entry Types: Define custom BibTeX entry types for specialized references not covered by the standard types. This is useful for datasets, software, standards documents, and other non-traditional academic sources.

Journal Abbreviation Management: JabRef includes a comprehensive database of journal name abbreviations. Configure automatic abbreviation or expansion of journal names to match specific publisher requirements.

String Constants: Use BibTeX string constants to define frequently used values (journal names, publisher details, conference series names) once and reference them throughout your database. This ensures consistency and simplifies bulk updates.

Web Search Customization: Configure custom web search providers or API endpoints for specialized databases relevant to your field.

References

© wentorai, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in skills/writing/citation/jabref-reference-guide of wentorai/research-plugins.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit bf44b3c

Used in 1 other repository

We found 1 copy of this SKILL.md (exact, near-identical or edited) in other folders, from 1 other GitHub owner. This page covers the copy in wentorai/research-plugins, which our catalogue first saw on October 7, 2026.

Compare with similar skills

Jabref Reference Guide 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.

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Literature Review AgentAr9av/PaperOrchestra6762 repos~5.2kAutomated safety check: PassCustom licence
Academic Searchustc-ai4science/academic-search665—~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Collaborating With Claudeappautomaton/latex-arxiv-SKILL4571 repos~1.5kAutomated safety check: PassMIT

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Works with

Questions about Jabref Reference Guide

What does Jabref Reference Guide do?

Guide to JabRef open-source BibTeX and BibLaTeX reference manager. Jabref Reference Guide is an agent skill from wentorai/research-plugins.

When should I use Jabref Reference Guide?

Jabref Reference Guide fits situations like: tasks that involve Citation management.

How do I install Jabref Reference Guide in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add wentorai/research-plugins --skill jabref-reference-guide -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/writing/citation/jabref-reference-guide in wentorai/research-plugins) into .claude/skills/jabref-reference-guide in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Jabref Reference Guide in Codex?

Run `npx skills add wentorai/research-plugins --skill jabref-reference-guide -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/writing/citation/jabref-reference-guide in wentorai/research-plugins) into .agents/skills/jabref-reference-guide in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Jabref Reference Guide 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 wentorai/research-plugins --skill jabref-reference-guide -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/jabref-reference-guide, .gemini/skills/jabref-reference-guide, .github/skills/jabref-reference-guide and .opencode/skills/jabref-reference-guide in your project.

What does Jabref Reference Guide need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Jabref Reference Guide needs the command-line tools its instructions call (brew and winget).

Does Jabref Reference Guide access the network?

SKILL.md names 5 domains. As links in the text: jabref.org, github.com, docs.jabref.org, blog.jabref.org and ctan.org. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Jabref Reference Guide safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (runs commands with sudo), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Jabref Reference Guide use?

Jabref Reference Guide is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Jabref Reference Guide use?

About 1.8k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Jabref Reference Guide?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Jabref Reference Guide: Citation Management (neflibata-feng/MyArxiv-Agent, 126 stars), Academic Paper Writing Pipeline (Imbad0202/academic-research-skills, 51k stars), Literature Review Agent (Ar9av/PaperOrchestra, 676 stars) and Academic Search (ustc-ai4science/academic-search, 665 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Jabref Reference Guide?

wentorai (a GitHub user) maintains it in wentorai/research-plugins, which has 298 GitHub stars. The repository holds 428 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on June 19, 2026.

Source: wentorai/research-plugins on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.