# Paper Access MCP

[中文版](README.zh-CN.md)

When using Codex, Claude, or another MCP client, the model often cannot fetch
paper PDFs that require institutional login. Paper Access provides a local MCP
server that lets those clients download papers through your local Chrome login
state.

Currently supported:

- arXiv abs/pdf URLs
- OpenReview forum/pdf URLs
- INFORMS DOI URLs
- Wiley DOI URLs

Paper Access does not bypass publisher or institutional access controls.
Protected downloads still depend on your own institutional access, VPN, Duo
approval, publisher entitlement, or Chrome login state.

## Installation Overview

Paper Access has three parts:

- MCP server: exposes the paper download tool to Codex, Claude, or another MCP
  client.
- Chrome extension: opens publisher pages in local Chrome and reuses your login
  state.
- macOS menu bar app: shows download progress and sends notifications when
  login, Duo, or Cloudflare verification is required.

You can use Paper Access with only the MCP server and Chrome extension. For
INFORMS and Wiley, downloads often involve slow page loads or manual approval,
so macOS users should also install the menu bar app.

Ask your agent, such as Codex or Claude, to read [for-agent.md](for-agent.md)
and help install the MCP server, configure the MCP client, and install the local
communication component. The Chrome extension should still be installed manually
by the user.

## Install The Chrome Extension

This public snapshot does not have a Chrome Web Store release yet. Load the
unpacked extension manually:

1. Open `chrome://extensions` in Chrome.
2. Enable Developer mode.
3. Click `Load unpacked`.
4. Select this directory:

```text
packages/paper-access-mcp/chrome-extension
```

After loading the extension, Chrome shows its extension id. The setup agent will
ask for this id when configuring the local communication component.

## Install The MCP Server

The recommended path is to ask your agent to read [for-agent.md](for-agent.md)
and complete the setup. It will generally:

- create or reuse a local Python environment;
- install the Paper Access MCP server;
- configure the local communication component with the Chrome extension id;
- add `paper_access_mcp` to Codex, Claude, or another MCP client;
- run a lightweight check to confirm that the installation path works.

## Install The macOS Menu Bar App

If a `.dmg` is available on the release page, download it, open it, drag
`Paper Access` into `Applications`, and launch the app.

The menu bar app shows the current download, timeline, and recent history. When
PDFs, folders, or JSONL logs are available, it can open them from the UI.

## Check The Installation

- Chrome's extensions page shows the `Paper Access` extension.
- The Paper Access app appears in the macOS menu bar.
- Codex, Claude, or another MCP client can see the `download_paper_from_link`
  tool.
- Downloading an arXiv paper succeeds and saves a PDF.

INFORMS and Wiley downloads depend on your institutional access. If a page
requires login, Duo, or Cloudflare verification, the menu bar app sends a
notification. Clicking the notification activates the original Chrome tab.

## License And Notices

Paper Access is source-available for noncommercial use under the
[PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0](LICENSE). Commercial use,
paid redistribution, and closed-source commercial bundling require prior written
permission from the copyright holder.

Required attribution is listed in [NOTICE](NOTICE). Third-party
dependency notices are listed in
[THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md](THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md).

## Public Release Status

This is an early public snapshot. Expect provider behavior, status events, and
the menu bar UI to keep changing while the project stabilizes.