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To add openalex-mcp-server to Claude, run the install command below or copy the ready-made config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code further down. Restart your client after adding it and its tools show up in your next conversation. It declares 6 environment variables, listed below.
Install
npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server@0.11.0Environment variables
OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGESet in your MCP configOPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUTSet in your MCP configOPENALEX_API_KEYSet in your MCP configOPENALEX_MAILTOSet in your MCP configOPENALEX_BASE_URLSet in your MCP configMCP_LOG_LEVELSet in your MCP configSet only if the maker requires them; this listing does not flag any of them as required.
Install with your client
claude mcp add openalex --env OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE=<YOUR_OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE> --env OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT=<YOUR_OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT> --env OPENALEX_API_KEY=<YOUR_OPENALEX_API_KEY> --env OPENALEX_MAILTO=<YOUR_OPENALEX_MAILTO> --env OPENALEX_BASE_URL=<YOUR_OPENALEX_BASE_URL> --env MCP_LOG_LEVEL=<YOUR_MCP_LOG_LEVEL> -- npx -y @cyanheads/openalex-mcp-server@0.11.0
Run this in a terminal to add the server to Claude Code.
What this does
openalex-mcp-server exposes a set of tools to Claude over the Model Context Protocol. After you add it to claude_desktop_config.json (snippet above) and restart Claude Desktop, those tools become callable inside any conversation.
Requirements
This server declares the following environment variables. Set only the ones the maker requires for your setup; this listing does not flag any of them as required:
OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT OPENALEX_API_KEY OPENALEX_MAILTO OPENALEX_BASE_URL MCP_LOG_LEVEL
Set these via the env object in your MCP config (see claude_desktop_config.json snippet above).
Frequently asked questions
How do I install openalex-mcp-server?
Run the Claude Code command in the install section to add openalex-mcp-server to Claude Code, or copy the ready-made config for your client from the install section on this page. Restart your client afterwards and the tools appear in your next conversation.
Which clients work with openalex-mcp-server?
This page carries setup and config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code. Any other MCP client that accepts a standard server config can connect to openalex-mcp-server as well.
Does openalex-mcp-server need an API key?
This listing does not flag an API key as required. The server can use these environment variables: OPENALEX_CLAMP_PER_PAGE, OPENALEX_FILTER_STRING_INPUT, OPENALEX_API_KEY, OPENALEX_MAILTO, OPENALEX_BASE_URL, MCP_LOG_LEVEL; the maker's docs say which of them your setup needs. They go in the env block of your MCP config.
Imported from the Official MCP Registry. The details above come from the registry entry; the maker can claim this listing to correct them, add docs, and see its traffic.
Is this your MCP server?
Claim this listing to see its traffic, fix details yourself, and skip the review queue on future updates.
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