Installation¶

snowcite ships as a Python package and runs as an MCP server inside Claude Code. You need:

uv (ships uvx) — runs the server on demand.
Claude Code — the client.
At least one compile backend — Typst (recommended) or tectonic (LaTeX).

Register with Claude Code¶

claude mcp add snowcite -- uvx snowcite

With optional API keys (higher rate limits, faster searches):

claude mcp add snowcite \
  -e SNOWCITE_SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY=xxx \
  -e SNOWCITE_OPENALEX_EMAIL=you@example.com \
  -- uvx snowcite

Install a compile backend¶

Typst is recommended — native Unicode, single static binary, fast incremental compilation.

macOSLinuxWindows

brew install typst
# Optional LaTeX fallback
brew install tectonic
# For .docx export
brew install pandoc

# Typst: grab the static binary from https://github.com/typst/typst/releases
curl -L https://github.com/typst/typst/releases/latest/download/typst-x86_64-unknown-linux-musl.tar.xz | tar -xJ
sudo mv typst-*/typst /usr/local/bin/

# tectonic is in most package managers
sudo apt install tectonic

winget install --id Typst.Typst
winget install --id tectonic.tectonic

Verify the environment¶

After connecting the server in Claude Code, run:

Can you check_environment?

Claude calls the check_environment MCP tool; the report lists which binaries and API endpoints are reachable. Anything flagged error is a blocker; warn entries degrade a specific feature (e.g., missing pandoc → no .docx export).

API keys¶

Semantic Scholar¶

Unauthenticated: 100 req / 5 min. With an API key (request one), 100 req / sec. Pass via SNOWCITE_SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY.

OpenAlex¶

OpenAlex's polite pool gives stable rate limits in exchange for an email in the mailto= query param. Pass via SNOWCITE_OPENALEX_EMAIL.

Crossref¶

Uses the same email as OpenAlex. No separate key.

PubMed¶

No key required; NCBI asks for ≤3 requests per second, which the built-in semaphore enforces.