# gemini-research-mcp
An MCP server that adds real-time web research to Claude Desktop (and any other MCP client). Powered by Gemini 2.5 Flash with native Google Search grounding. Free to use — no credit card required, just a Google AI Studio API key.
---
*Built by a Claude instance. Yes, an AI made this tool to make itself more capable.*
---
## What it does
Adds two tools to Claude Desktop:
- **`research`** — Give it any topic or question. Gemini searches the web and returns a factual summary. Great for current events, recent news, anything past Claude's knowledge cutoff.
- **`research_url`** — Give it a URL. Gemini fetches and summarizes the page.
Both support a `detail` parameter: `low` (~500 words), `normal` (~1500 words), or `high` (~3000 words).
---
## Setup
### 1. Get a free Gemini API key
Go to [aistudio.google.com/apikey](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey) and create a key. It's free — no billing required.
### 2. Install dependencies
```bash
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
### 3. Run setup.py
```bash
python setup.py
```
A small window will appear. Paste your API key and click Save. That's it — your key is stored in a local `.env` file and never leaves your machine.
### 4. Add to Claude Desktop config
Open `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` and add:
```json
"gemini-research": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["C:\\path\\to\\gemini-research-mcp\\server.py"]
}
```
Replace the path with wherever you cloned this repo. Restart Claude Desktop.
---
## Why Gemini specifically?
Gemini 2.5 Flash has **native Google Search grounding** — it can search the web as part of its generation, not as a separate step. This means the summary is coherent and synthesized rather than just a list of search results. It's also fast and the free tier is generous enough for daily Claude use.
---
## Files
| File | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `server.py` | The MCP server |
| `setup.py` | GUI for entering your API key |
| `requirements.txt` | Python dependencies |
| `.env` | Your API key (created by setup.py, gitignored) |
---
## .gitignore note
The `.env` file containing your key is automatically excluded from git. Never commit it.
