OpenAlex MCP Server

@hbiaou

About OpenAlex MCP Server

An MCP server designed for academic literature research using the OpenAlex free API.

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openalex-mcp": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "build",
        "-t",
        "openalex-mcp",
        "."
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

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Overview

What is OpenAlex MCP Server?

A Node.js MCP server that uses Express and Axios to proxy queries to the OpenAlex API. It is intended for developers who need a simple, self-hosted gateway to search OpenAlex scholarly data.

How to use OpenAlex MCP Server?

Install dependencies with npm install, create a .env file with a PORT and OPENALEX_BASE_URL, then run npm start. The server listens on http://localhost:<PORT> and exposes a single endpoint GET /search?q=<term>.

Key features of OpenAlex MCP Server

Proxies queries to the OpenAlex API
Single search endpoint (GET /search?q=…)
Configurable port and base URL via .env
Dockerfile included for production deployment
CI/CD with GitHub Actions

Use cases of OpenAlex MCP Server

Searching academic works by query term
Integrating OpenAlex data into applications via a local proxy
Self-hosting a lightweight MCP server for scholarly data queries

FAQ from OpenAlex MCP Server

What are the system requirements?

Node.js (version 14 or higher) and npm are required.

How do I configure the server?

Create a .env file in the project root with PORT=3000 and OPENALEX_BASE_URL=https://api.openalex.org (or custom values).

How do I start the server?

Run npm start from the project root.

Can I deploy using Docker?

Yes, a Dockerfile is provided. Build with docker build -t openalex-mcp . and run with docker run -p 3000:3000 -d openalex-mcp.

Is there a CI/CD pipeline?

Yes, a GitHub Actions workflow runs unit and integration tests on every push and pull request.

Frequently asked questions

What are the system requirements?

Node.js (version 14 or higher) and npm are required.

How do I configure the server?

Create a `.env` file in the project root with `PORT=3000` and `OPENALEX_BASE_URL=https://api.openalex.org` (or custom values).

How do I start the server?

Run `npm start` from the project root.

Can I deploy using Docker?

Yes, a Dockerfile is provided. Build with `docker build -t openalex-mcp .` and run with `docker run -p 3000:3000 -d openalex-mcp`.

Is there a CI/CD pipeline?

Yes, a GitHub Actions workflow runs unit and integration tests on every push and pull request.

Comments

Basic information

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