Skip to main content
Glama

SemanticScholar_MCP

Детерминированные интерфейсы Model Context Protocol для трёх семейств API Semantic Scholar:

  • S2AG — поиск по академическому графу, метаданные, авторы, цитирования и ссылки.

  • Recommendations — сервис рекомендаций статей Semantic Scholar.

  • Datasets — обнаружение релизов, манифесты наборов данных и инкрементальные обновления наборов данных.

Проект намеренно предоставляет тонкие обёртки над API, а не агентную систему литературного поиска.

Дизайн

Центральное правило:

Один вызов инструмента MCP соответствует одной документированной операции Semantic Scholar.

Серверы выполняют работу на транспортном уровне, такую как валидация, аутентификация, ограничение частоты запросов, повторные попытки и нормализация ответов.

Они не решают, какая литература научно значима.

Например:

Agent
  │
  ├── "Search for paired-pulse TMS papers"
  │         │
  │         ▼
  │       S2AG MCP
  │         │
  │         ▼
  │    Semantic Scholar
  │
  ├── "Recommend papers from these three seed papers"
  │         │
  │         ▼
  │  Recommendations MCP
  │         │
  │         ▼
  │    Semantic Scholar
  │
  └── "Describe the latest S2ORC dataset release"
            │
            ▼
       Datasets MCP
            │
            ▼
       Semantic Scholar

Расширение поиска, научная интерпретация, суммаризация, стратегия обхода графа цитирований и синтез исследования остаются обязанностью агента-потребителя.

Related MCP server: Semantic Scholar MCP Server

Структура репозитория

SemanticScholar_MCP/
├── src/
│   └── semantic_scholar_mcp/
│       ├── common/
│       │   ├── client.py
│       │   ├── errors.py
│       │   ├── models.py
│       │   ├── rate_limit.py
│       │   └── __init__.py
│       ├── datasets/
│       │   ├── server.py
│       │   └── __init__.py
│       ├── recommendations/
│       │   ├── server.py
│       │   └── __init__.py
│       ├── s2ag/
│       │   ├── server.py
│       │   └── __init__.py
│       └── __init__.py
├── tests/
├── AGENTS.md
├── CLAUDE.md
├── pyproject.toml
└── README.md

Требования

  • Python 3.11 или новее

  • Доступ к интернету для Semantic Scholar

  • Необязательный API-ключ Semantic Scholar

В реализации используется текущая линия v2 официального MCP SDK для Python.

Установка

Создайте виртуальное окружение:

py -3.14 -m venv .venv
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

Установите пакет в редактируемом режиме с зависимостями для разработки:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install -e ".[dev]"

Либо с помощью uv:

uv venv --python 3.14
uv pip install -e ".[dev]"

Python 3.14 не требуется; проект поддерживает Python 3.11 и более новые версии.

После настройки окружения Python-пакета можно дополнительно запустить тесты:

pytest
ruff check .
ruff format --check .

Если вы уже задали SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY как системную переменную окружения (см. следующий раздел, Authentication), вы также можете проверить живую интеграцию:

pytest --run-integration

Примечание: Если вы задали системную переменную окружения со своим API-ключом после запуска любого окна VSCode, вам нужно закрыть все окна VSCode, чтобы полностью перезапустить VSCode, прежде чем системное окружение будет перехвачено инструментами, запускаемыми через расширения VSCode!

Аутентификация

Semantic Scholar поддерживает доступ без аутентификации ко многим операциям API.

Если API-ключ доступен, передайте его процессам MCP через:

$env:SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY = "..."

Не помещайте ключ в:

  • .mcp.json;

  • .codex/config.toml;

  • исходный код;

  • фиксируемые в репозитории файлы .env;

  • тестовые фикстуры.

Серверы MCP автоматически используют ключ, когда он присутствует.

Операции, требующие аутентификации, должны возвращать явную ошибку, если ключ не настроен.

Примечание (ещё раз): Если вы задали системную переменную окружения со своим API-ключом после запуска любого окна VSCode, вам нужно закрыть все окна VSCode, чтобы полностью перезапустить VSCode, прежде чем системное окружение будет перехвачено инструментами, запускаемыми через расширения VSCode!

Обновления сборки

Скрипты .\rebuild.ps1 и .\version.ps1 предоставляются как утилиты для упрощения обновления версий при пересборке:

rebuild.ps1

Чтобы пересобрать без автоматического увеличения номера patch, явно укажите переключатель:

.\rebuild.ps1 -SkipVersionIncrement

В противном случае .\rebuild.ps1 автоматически увеличивает номер patch непосредственно в pyproject.toml.

version.ps1

Чтобы увеличить <major> | <minor> | <patch> без пересборки:

.\version.ps1 patch -NoRebuild

Чтобы увеличить версию minor, сбросив patch в 0, и пересобрать:

.\version.ps1 minor

Чтобы увеличить версию major, сбросив и minor, и patch в 0, и пересобрать:

.\version.ps1 major

Конфигурация MCP-клиента

Три сервера MCP Semantic Scholar можно настроить либо:

  • в рамках проекта, чтобы они были доступны только в конкретном репозитории; либо

  • глобально для пользователя, чтобы они были доступны во всех репозиториях.

Серверы:

  • s2ag — академический граф Semantic Scholar

  • s2_recommendations — API рекомендаций Semantic Scholar

  • s2_datasets — API наборов данных Semantic Scholar

В примерах ниже предполагается, что этот репозиторий установлен по пути:

C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP

При необходимости скорректируйте путь.

В примерах намеренно вызывается интерпретатор Python из виртуального окружения через python -m ..., а не запускаются сгенерированные консольные лаунчеры semantic-scholar-*.exe напрямую. Это рекомендуется при локальной разработке в Windows, поскольку запуск консольных лаунчеров может помешать pip заменить их при переустановке в редактируемом режиме.

Codex

Codex поддерживает как глобальные для пользователя, так и локальные для проекта файлы config.toml.

Локальная для проекта конфигурация Codex

Создайте или отредактируйте:

<project>/.codex/config.toml

Например:

[mcp_servers.s2ag]
command = 'C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe'
args = ["-m", "semantic_scholar_mcp.s2ag.server"]
startup_timeout_sec = 15
tool_timeout_sec = 120
enabled = true

[mcp_servers.s2_recommendations]
command = 'C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe'
args = ["-m", "semantic_scholar_mcp.recommendations.server"]
startup_timeout_sec = 15
tool_timeout_sec = 120
enabled = true

[mcp_servers.s2_datasets]
command = 'C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe'
args = ["-m", "semantic_scholar_mcp.datasets.server"]
startup_timeout_sec = 15
tool_timeout_sec = 120
enabled = true

Конфигурация Codex в рамках проекта загружается только для проектов, которые Codex считает доверенными.

Глобальная для пользователя конфигурация Codex

Чтобы сделать серверы доступными для Codex во всех проектах, поместите ту же конфигурацию в:

~/.codex/config.toml

В Windows это обычно:

%USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml

Например:

C:\Users\<username>\.codex\config.toml

Сами блоки MCP-серверов идентичны примеру для локальной конфигурации проекта выше.

Проверка конфигурации Codex

Из терминала:

codex mcp list

Отдельные регистрации также можно просмотреть с помощью:

codex mcp get s2ag
codex mcp get s2_recommendations
codex mcp get s2_datasets

Claude Code

Claude Code различает MCP-серверы, общие для проекта, и MCP-серверы в области пользователя.

Локальная / общая для проекта конфигурация Claude

Создайте:

<project>/.mcp.json

с содержимым:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "s2ag": {
      "command": "C:\\MyRepos\\Python\\SemanticScholar_MCP\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "semantic_scholar_mcp.s2ag.server"
      ]
    },
    "s2_recommendations": {
      "command": "C:\\MyRepos\\Python\\SemanticScholar_MCP\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "semantic_scholar_mcp.recommendations.server"
      ]
    },
    "s2_datasets": {
      "command": "C:\\MyRepos\\Python\\SemanticScholar_MCP\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe",
      "args": [
        "-m",
        "semantic_scholar_mcp.datasets.server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Этот файл можно фиксировать в репозитории проекта-потребителя, если конфигурация MCP предназначена для совместного использования с другими пользователями этого репозитория.

Глобальная для пользователя конфигурация Claude

Для глобальной конфигурации Claude Code предпочтительный подход — позволить Claude Code самостоятельно управлять регистрациями MCP в области пользователя.

Выполните:

claude mcp add --scope user s2ag -- "C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe" -m semantic_scholar_mcp.s2ag.server

claude mcp add --scope user s2_recommendations -- "C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe" -m semantic_scholar_mcp.recommendations.server

claude mcp add --scope user s2_datasets -- "C:\MyRepos\Python\SemanticScholar_MCP\.venv\Scripts\python.exe" -m semantic_scholar_mcp.datasets.server

Claude Code в настоящее время хранит конфигурацию MCP в области пользователя в:

~/.claude.json

В Windows:

%USERPROFILE%\.claude.json

Использование claude mcp add --scope user предпочтительнее ручного редактирования этого файла, поскольку Claude Code владеет дополнительным состоянием в .claude.json.

Проверьте регистрации с помощью:

claude mcp list

Если конкретная версия Claude Code испытывает проблемы с загрузкой MCP-серверов в области пользователя, конфигурация проекта .mcp.json — самый простой запасной вариант.

API-ключ Semantic Scholar

Многие операции Semantic Scholar могут работать без аутентификации. Операции, требующие API-ключ, используют:

SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY

Не фиксируйте ключ в файле конфигурации MCP.

В Windows его можно сохранить как переменную окружения пользователя:

[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable(
    "SEMANTIC_SCHOLAR_API_KEY",
    "YOUR_API_KEY",
    "User"
)

Перезапустите VS Code, Codex, Claude Code или другие MCP-хосты после установки переменной, чтобы вновь запущенные процессы MCP унаследовали её.

Серверы MCP автоматически используют ключ, когда он присутствует, и в противном случае остаются без аутентификации там, где Semantic Scholar разрешает анонимный доступ.

Локально для проекта или глобально для пользователя

Полезное правило:

Область

Codex

Claude Code

Рекомендуется, когда

Проект

.codex/config.toml

.mcp.json

Репозиторий явно зависит от этих инструментов исследования

Пользователь

~/.codex/config.toml

claude mcp add --scope user

Вы хотите иметь Semantic Scholar доступным во многих несвязанных репозиториях

Для исследовательского репозитория, в котором от агентов явно ожидается выполнение поиска литературы, обычно предпочтительна локальная для проекта конфигурация, поскольку доступный набор исследовательских инструментов путешествует вместе с репозиторием.

Для общего личного доступа к Semantic Scholar из произвольных проектов более удобна глобальная для пользователя конфигурация.

Общее ограничение частоты запросов

Вводный лимит частоты запросов для аутентифицированного доступа Semantic Scholar применяется ко всем конечным точкам API в совокупности, а не независимо к каждому серверу MCP.

Поэтому в этом репозитории используется общий ограничитель:

S2AG MCP ────────────────┐
                         │
Recommendations MCP ─────┼── shared limiter ──> Semantic Scholar
                         │
Datasets MCP ────────────┘

Реализация по умолчанию должна допускать не более примерно одного восходящего запроса в секунду на всех трёх локальных серверах.

Это важно, когда одновременно работают несколько хостов, например:

VS Code / Codex
Claude Code
MCP Inspector
tests

Ограничитель должен координировать эти процессы, а не поддерживать независимые часы в каждом из них.

Поведение повторных попыток

Временные сбои восходящего сервиса могут повторяться с использованием ограниченной экспоненциальной задержки.

Примеры:

  • HTTP 429;

  • временные ответы 5xx;

  • временные сетевые сбои.

Retry-After учитывается, когда он предоставлен.

Обычные клиентские ошибки, такие как недопустимые запросы, отклонённая аутентификация и отсутствующие ресурсы, не повторяются многократно.

Повторные попытки ограничены; MCP никогда не повторяет их бесконечно.

S2AG MCP

Запустите:

semantic-scholar-s2ag

или:

python -m semantic_scholar_mcp.s2ag.server

Первоначальная поверхность API должна включать:

Инструмент

Назначение

get_paper

Получить одну известную статью

get_papers

Пакетное получение известных статей

search_papers

Структурированный/массовый поиск статей

search_papers_relevance

Поиск статей с ранжированием по релевантности

get_citations

Получить одну страницу статей, цитирующих статью

get_references

Получить одну страницу ссылок статьи

get_author

Получить одного автора

get_authors

Пакетное получение известных авторов

search_authors

Поиск авторов

get_author_papers

Получить одну страницу статей автора

Пагинация остаётся явной.

Запрос цитирований не обходит граф цитирований рекурсивно.

Поиск не выполняет автоматически дополнительные поисковые запросы.

Recommendations MCP

Запустите:

semantic-scholar-recommendations

или:

python -m semantic_scholar_mcp.recommendations.server

Первоначальная поверхность намеренно мала:

Инструмент

Назначение

recommend_for_paper

Запросить рекомендации на основе одной исходной статьи

recommend_from_examples

Запросить рекомендации на основе предоставленных положительных и отрицательных ID статей

Сервер передаёт выбранные вызывающей стороной исходные статьи в Semantic Scholar.

Он не выбирает собственные исходные статьи и не применяет к результатам вторую ранжировку, выполненную LLM.

Пример концептуального рабочего процесса:

positive:
  paper A
  paper B
  paper C

negative:
  paper D

        │
        ▼

recommend_from_examples

        │
        ▼

Semantic Scholar recommendation ranking

Datasets MCP

Запустите:

semantic-scholar-datasets

или:

python -m semantic_scholar_mcp.datasets.server

Первоначальные инструменты:

Инструмент

Назначение

list_releases

Список доступных релизов наборов данных

get_release

Просмотр конкретного релиза

get_dataset

Получение метаданных/информации о манифесте набора данных

get_diffs

Получение манифестов обновлений/удалений между релизами

Datasets MCP намеренно не загружает автоматически целые наборы данных Semantic Scholar.

Некоторые наборы данных Semantic Scholar очень велики. Получение манифеста — подходящая операция MCP; запуск загрузки корпуса объёмом в несколько гигабайт требует явного управляемого пользователем инструментария.

В будущем выделенный CLI может предоставлять такие команды, как:

s2-dataset download ...
s2-dataset update ...
s2-dataset verify ...

не превращая эти операции в неявное поведение MCP.

Детерминизм

Для этого проекта детерминизм означает, что семантика инструментов явна и доступна для проверки.

Инструмент может:

validate input
    ↓
wait for rate limiter
    ↓
make one documented API request
    ↓
retry transient transport failures if necessary
    ↓
normalize response
    ↓
return structured data

Инструмент не должен молча превращаться в:

search
   ↓
search again with different terms
   ↓
fetch every page
   ↓
walk citations
   ↓
request recommendations
   ↓
rank with an LLM
   ↓
summarize papers

Оркестрация более высокого уровня находится за пределами этого репозитория.

Пагинация

Пагинация управляется вызывающей стороной.

Когда Semantic Scholar возвращает токен продолжения, смещение или эквивалентный курсор, MCP возвращает это значение.

Вызывающая сторона может явно запросить другую страницу.

MCP не извлекает автоматически все доступные страницы.

Это защищает и детерминизм, и использование API.

Поля

Там, где Semantic Scholar поддерживает явные поля ответа, инструменты должны запрашивать только те поля, которые нужны вызывающей стороне.

Для удобства использования может быть предоставлен небольшой набор полей по умолчанию.

Большие поля, такие как аннотации или контексты цитирований, не должны запрашиваться автоматически, если только они не являются частью документированного набора полей инструмента по умолчанию.

Ошибки

Состояния восходящего сервиса должны транслироваться в стабильные, понятные ошибки MCP.

Примеры:

authentication_required
rate_limited
not_found
invalid_request
upstream_error
transport_error

Где это полезно, структурированная ошибка может сохранять:

  • HTTP-статус;

  • возможность повтора;

  • количество попыток;

  • сообщение об ошибке Semantic Scholar.

Секреты никогда не должны включаться.

Разработка

Запустите модульные тесты:

pytest

Запустите линтер:

ruff check .

Проверьте форматирование:

ruff format --check .

Примените форматирование:

ruff format .

Живые тесты Semantic Scholar помечены отдельно:

pytest --run-integration

Обычные модульные тесты должны имитировать HTTP-взаимодействия и не должны расходовать квоту API Semantic Scholar.

Философия тестирования

Самые важные тесты проверяют точность API.

Для каждого MCP-инструмента тесты должны подтверждать:

input
  ↓
exact expected HTTP operation
  ↓
expected response normalization

Тесты также должны проверять отсутствие скрытого поведения.

Например, один запрос цитирования должен вызывать одну операцию API цитирования — а не автоматически запрашивать последующие страницы или ссылки.

Связь с исследовательскими инструментами

Этот репозиторий должен оставаться предметно-нейтральным.

Например, он может предоставлять:

paper A cites paper B

или:

Semantic Scholar recommends paper C from seeds A and B

но не должен делать вывод:

paper C is the strongest evidence for a particular neuroscience hypothesis

Отдельный исследовательский репозиторий, Research MCP или человек-исследователь может сделать эту интерпретацию.

Такое разделение позволяет слою Semantic Scholar оставаться:

  • детерминированным;

  • переиспользуемым;

  • легко тестируемым;

  • независимым от какой-либо конкретной научной области;

  • пригодным для использования различными MCP-хостами и агентами.

Использование Semantic Scholar

Этот проект предназначен для законного исследовательского использования и должен соответствовать действующей лицензии и документации API Semantic Scholar.

Использование API должно:

  • соблюдать действующие ограничения частоты запросов;

  • использовать пакетные/массовые операции, где это уместно;

  • запрашивать только нужные поля;

  • использовать ограниченную экспоненциальную задержку;

  • защищать учётные данные API;

  • избегать неограниченного обхода API;

  • предпочитать Datasets API, когда действительно требуется доступ в масштабе корпуса.

Публичные продукты или отображения, использующие данные ответов Semantic Scholar, могут требовать дополнительного указания авторства. Ознакомьтесь с текущей лицензией Semantic Scholar, прежде чем добавлять публичную презентацию данных.

О нормативных правилах разработки и использования API для этого репозитория см. в AGENTS.md.

Available Tools

10 tools
get_authorC

Get one Semantic Scholar author by author ID.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
fieldsNo
author_idYes

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.8/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It only says 'Get one author' and does not mention what happens on missing IDs, what fields are returned, rate limits, or any side effects. The behavior is minimally implied but not detailed.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, terse sentence with no wasted words. It is appropriately concise for the scope, though it sacrifices detail for brevity. The structure is clean and front-loaded with the key action.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with two parameters, no annotations, and an output schema (not shown), the description is too sparse. It fails to explain the fields parameter, usage context, or any behavioral nuances, leaving an agent with incomplete information to call it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters1/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It clarifies that author_id is used to identify the author, but completely omits any explanation of the 'fields' parameter—its purpose, allowed values, or format. With two parameters, this is a significant gap.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb 'Get', the resource 'Semantic Scholar author', and the identifier 'author ID'. It distinguishes this from siblings like get_authors (plural) and search_authors (search-based), so an agent can easily tell it apart.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like search_authors or get_authors. There is no mention of conditions such as 'when you have a known author ID' or exclusions, leaving usage to inference.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_author_papersC

Get one page of papers associated with a Semantic Scholar author.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
fieldsNo
offsetNo
author_idYes
publication_date_or_yearNo

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full behavioral disclosure burden. It usefully reveals pagination behavior ('one page'), but it leaves the meaning of 'associated' ambiguous (authored, co-authored, or cited?) and says nothing about ordering, rate limits, authentication, or failure behavior.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single 10-word sentence that front-loads the verb and resource. It is efficiently sized for a straightforward tool, though its brevity comes at the cost of the semantic gaps noted in other dimensions.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With 5 parameters at 0% schema coverage, overlapping siblings, and no annotations, the description is too thin to fully support correct invocation. An output schema exists, which spares it from documenting return values, but parameter semantics and tool-selection context remain unaddressed.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0% with 5 parameters, yet the description explains none of them. While names like author_id, limit, and offset are somewhat self-explanatory, the meaning and format of fields and publication_date_or_year are completely unexplained, and the description adds no value beyond the bare schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb and resource ('Get one page of papers associated with a Semantic Scholar author') that clearly distinguishes it from author-lookup siblings like get_author and search_authors. However, it does not explicitly differentiate from paper-lookup siblings like get_papers or search_papers, which could also be selected for fetching papers.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is given on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as get_papers, search_papers, or search_papers_relevance. With a sibling list full of overlapping paper-fetching tools, the absence of any selection criteria or exclusions leaves the agent to guess.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_authorsB

Batch-get up to 1000 Semantic Scholar author IDs.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
fieldsNo
author_idsYes

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

B3/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It does disclose two useful traits: the operation is batched and capped at 1000 IDs. However, it says nothing about handling of missing or invalid IDs, result ordering, rate limits, or authentication, leaving significant behavior unspecified.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single front-loaded sentence with no filler; the batch limit is placed prominently and every word contributes. It is concise without being empty.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Insufficient for a tool with no annotations and no per-parameter documentation. The output schema may cover return shape, but the agent still lacks when-to-use guidance, understanding of the fields parameter, and failure behavior expectations.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It does not: 'author IDs' only restates the author_ids property, and the optional fields parameter is completely unexplained even though it likely controls which author attributes are returned.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description supplies a specific verb ('Batch-get'), a resource (Semantic Scholar authors), and a batch-size limit (1000), so the core operation is clear. It does not explicitly differentiate from the sibling get_author or search_authors, and 'author IDs' is slightly ambiguous as to whether IDs are the input or the returned objects.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

There is no guidance about when to use this tool versus get_author (single author) or search_authors (find authors by query). 'Batch' hints at multiple IDs, but no explicit conditions, preconditions, or alternatives are stated.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_citationsC

Get one page of papers that cite the requested paper.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
fieldsNo
offsetNo
paper_idYes
publication_date_or_yearNo

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden. It mentions pagination ('one page') but does not disclose behavior such as default limit, offset semantics, field filtering, or whether results are sorted. For a read tool, this is a moderate gap.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single concise sentence that is front-loaded with the core action. It earns its place but could add a bit more context without becoming bloated.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With 5 parameters, 0% schema coverage, no annotations, and an output schema present, the description is too thin. It does not explain pagination parameters, field selection, or the output structure, making it incomplete for correct invocation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate, but it only explains paper_id implicitly. The limit, offset, fields, and publication_date_or_year parameters are not described at all, leaving the agent to guess their semantics.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb ('Get') and resource ('papers that cite the requested paper'), which clearly identifies the tool's function. It does not explicitly distinguish it from siblings like get_references, but the resource is specific enough that an agent can infer the difference.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as get_references or search_papers. The description implies a use case (fetching citing papers) but does not state exclusions or conditions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_paperB

Get one paper by Semantic Scholar ID or supported external identifier.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
fieldsNo
paper_idYes

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

B3.3/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden for behavioral disclosure. It only says 'get' and gives no information about read-only behavior, external identifier resolution, authentication/rate limits, or failure modes.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single efficient sentence with no filler, and the key scoping information—one paper, by identifier—is front-loaded. Every word contributes to the agent's understanding.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Since an output schema exists, the return shape does not need to be explained, and the description is adequate for a simple lookup. Still, the fields parameter is left unexplained and there is no guidance on which sibling tools to use for search or batch retrieval, leaving gaps in the full calling context.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description adds useful meaning to paper_id by explaining that it accepts either a Semantic Scholar ID or a supported external identifier, which the schema alone does not convey. However, the optional fields parameter is not mentioned at all, and with 0% schema description coverage the description should compensate more fully.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states a direct fetch of a single paper, keyed by Semantic Scholar ID or supported external identifier. The singular 'one paper' and identifier-based lookup distinguish it from search_papers, but it never explicitly names sibling tools such as get_papers.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies the tool should be used when an identifier is already known, but it gives no explicit guidance about when not to use it or when to prefer search_papers/get_papers. This is usable guidance but left mostly to inference.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_papersA

Batch-get up to 500 caller-supplied paper identifiers.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
fieldsNo
paper_idsYes

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription
resultYes

TDQS

A3.8/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the behavioral disclosure burden. It adds a useful constraint ('up to 500') and makes the retrieval semantics inferable from 'batch-get', but it does not mention handling of invalid IDs, over-limit requests, error behavior, or the effect of the optional fields parameter.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single front-loaded sentence that conveys the verb, object, and key constraint with no filler. Every word earns its place and the structure makes the main behavior immediately clear.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The output schema covers returned values, and paper_ids is clearly described enough for a straightforward batch fetch. However, the optional fields parameter is entirely unexplained and there is no explicit guidance distinguishing this tool from get_paper, so an agent may under-specify the request or choose the wrong sibling.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It clarifies that paper_ids are caller-supplied paper identifiers and that the batch is capped at 500, but it says nothing about the fields parameter—its meaning, allowed values, or effect—leaving one of two parameters effectively undocumented.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description names a specific verb ('batch-get'), resource ('papers'), and defining constraints ('up to 500 caller-supplied paper identifiers'). This clearly distinguishes it from the search_* siblings, which do not take caller-supplied paper_ids, and from get_paper, which is the singular variant.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The phrase 'caller-supplied paper identifiers' signals that this tool is for known IDs rather than search queries, and 'batch' positions it for fetching multiple papers at once. It does not explicitly name get_paper for single lookups or state when not to use this tool, so it stops short of full when/when-not guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_referencesC

Get one page of references cited by the requested paper.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
fieldsNo
offsetNo
paper_idYes

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It mentions 'one page' which hints at pagination, but does not explain default page size, how offset/limit interact, whether results are sorted, or what happens if the paper has no references. It also does not disclose any rate limits, authentication needs, or side effects (though this is likely a read operation).

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single sentence with no wasted words. It front-loads the core action and resource. However, it is so brief that it misses important parameter and usage details, so it is concise but under-specified.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool has 4 parameters, 0% schema coverage, no annotations, and an output schema exists, the description is incomplete. It does not explain pagination parameters, field selection, or how the output is structured. The output schema may help, but the description should at least clarify the meaning of limit, offset, and fields to allow correct invocation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate for the four parameters. It only clarifies that paper_id identifies the paper whose references are returned. It does not explain limit, offset, or fields. The term 'one page' implies limit/offset but does not define their semantics or defaults. The fields parameter is completely unexplained, leaving the agent to guess what field names are valid.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a specific verb ('Get') and resource ('references cited by the requested paper'), and the phrase 'one page' signals pagination. It is clear enough to distinguish from siblings like get_citations, which likely returns citing papers rather than cited references. However, it does not explicitly differentiate from get_paper or get_papers, which could also return reference lists.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like get_citations or search_papers. It does not mention pagination behavior, how to request more pages, or any context about typical use cases. The only implied usage is that it returns references for a paper, but no exclusions or alternatives are provided.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_authorsC

Search authors by name using one offset-paginated request.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNo
queryYes
fieldsNo
offsetNo

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.8/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It only reveals that this is 'one offset-paginated request' and says nothing about matching semantics, ordering, rate limits, or read-only safety. This is minimal added context beyond the name.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single front-loaded sentence with no filler. Every word contributes to the core action, making it structurally clean and appropriately sized for such a simple tool.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with no annotations, four parameters, and a sibling set that includes get_authors and get_author, this description is insufficiently complete. An agent still needs to understand pagination behavior, fields semantics, and how this tool differs from the retrieval siblings. The output schema covers return values, but the calling context remains vague.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description needed to explain query, limit, offset, and fields. It only hints that the query is a name and gives no details about field projections, pagination bounds, or how the parameters interact. The description fails to compensate for the schema gap.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb 'search', the resource 'authors', and the filter 'by name', and it mentions offset pagination. It is distinguishable from siblings such as get_authors, though it does not explicitly contrast them.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is provided about when to use search_authors versus get_authors or get_author. There are no conditions, exclusions, or alternative recommendations, leaving the agent to infer the appropriate context.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_papersC

Run one token-paginated /paper/search/bulk request.

This endpoint returns up to 1000 papers per upstream call and does not accept a limit argument. Pass the returned token explicitly for the next page.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
sortNo
yearNo
queryYes
tokenNo
venueNo
fieldsNo
fields_of_studyNo
open_access_pdfNo
publication_typesNo
min_citation_countNo
publication_date_or_yearNo

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description must carry behavioral disclosure. It does disclose the key pagination behavior: returns up to 1000 papers per call, no limit argument, and requires the token for the next page. However, it does not mention other behaviors like filtering semantics, output format, or any potential side effects. The disclosure is useful but incomplete.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is two sentences with no redundancy. It front-loads the core action and states the pagination constraint efficiently. Every sentence earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness1/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With 11 parameters and zero schema descriptions, the description is severely under-specified. An agent cannot correctly construct a query without understanding parameters like fields_of_study, publication_types, min_citation_count, and publication_date_or_year. The output schema exists, but the input semantics are nearly absent, making this inadequate for a tool of this complexity.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It explains the token parameter via pagination, but the other 10 parameters (query, sort, year, venue, fields, etc.) are left entirely to schema titles, which provide no semantic meaning. The description adds value only for the token, failing to clarify the rest.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action: running a bulk paper search request with pagination. It mentions the specific endpoint and the pagination behavior. However, it does not differentiate from the sibling search_papers_relevance, which likely orders by relevance, leaving ambiguity about when to choose one over the other.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like search_papers_relevance or get_papers. It only implies bulk retrieval via the word 'bulk', but does not state conditions for selection or exclusion.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_papers_relevanceB

Run one relevance-ranked /paper/search request.

Relevance search is limited by Semantic Scholar to 100 results per call and 1000 relevance-ranked results total.

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
yearNo
limitNo
queryYes
venueNo
fieldsNo
offsetNo
fields_of_studyNo
open_access_pdfNo
publication_typesNo
min_citation_countNo
publication_date_or_yearNo

Output Schema

NameRequiredDescription

No output parameters

TDQS

B3/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description must carry behavioral disclosure. It does disclose important limits (100 per call, 1000 total), which is useful. However, it omits other behavioral traits such as authentication requirements, side effects, or that it's a read operation, leaving gaps.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences with no fluff, purpose front-loaded, and the limit context stated efficiently. Excellent structure for the information provided.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool has 11 parameters with no schema descriptions and no output schema details in the description. The only contextual info is the result limits. Given the complexity, this is incomplete for correct usage; an agent would struggle with valid values for fields like publication_types or fields_of_study.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate for parameter meaning. It provides no information about any of the 11 parameters, leaving agents to guess from names alone. This is a significant gap.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool runs a relevance-ranked /paper/search request, specifying the verb and resource. It distinguishes from siblings through the 'relevance-ranked' qualifier, though it does not explicitly name the alternative search tool.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is given on when to use this tool versus alternatives like search_papers. The description only mentions limits, not the selection criteria based on relevance needs.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. 10 tool updatesv0.2.3
    • First observedget_author
    • First observedget_author_papers
    • First observedget_authors
    • First observedget_citations
    • First observedget_paper
    • First observedget_papers
    • First observedget_references
    • First observedsearch_authors
    • First observedsearch_papers
    • First observedsearch_papers_relevance

TDQS

B3.4/5.0

Scored across 10 tools

Disambiguation4/5

Tools are mostly distinct: get_authors/get_author differ by batch vs single ID, and search_papers vs search_papers_relevance are differentiated by bulk vs relevance-ranked semantics. The only slight confusion is the two search variants, but descriptions clarify their differing endpoints.

Naming Consistency4/5

Naming follows a consistent verb_noun pattern with get_ for retrieval and search_ for querying. search_papers_relevance is a minor deviation from the simple object naming, but it remains readable and predictable.

Tool Count5/5

10 tools is well-scoped for a scholarly search and retrieval API, covering authors, papers, citations, references, and author-paper relationships without unnecessary redundancy.

Completeness5/5

The surface covers the core academic search workflows: author lookup, single/batch paper retrieval, external ID support, bulk and relevance search, citations, references, and author-associated papers. For a read-only domain, no major gaps are apparent.

Maintenance

ActivityMaintained
ResponsivenessNo issues

Related MCP Connectors

Related MCP Servers

  • A
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    B
    maintenance
    Enables AI agents to query the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph for scholarly paper data, supporting tools for search, retrieval, and analysis.
    10 npm
    MIT
  • F
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    A
    maintenance
    Enables access to academic paper data, author profiles, and citation networks through the Semantic Scholar API, supporting paper search, batch retrieval, citation/reference tracking, author lookup, and recommendations.
    -