Cite Caddy vs OokCite
A side-by-side look at the Cite Caddy and OokCite MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Cite Caddy for research work; choose OokCite for research as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Cite Caddy when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
- You have the keys it needs:
ZOTERO_LIBRARY_ID, ZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPE, ZOTERO_API_KEY, MCP_TOKEN_STORE_KEY, MCP_PUBLIC_URL, MCP_DATA_DIR. - You want tools like
search_items, get_item, list_collections.
Choose OokCite when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Research domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
validate_doi, lookup_isbn, reverse_lookup.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Research | Research |
| Quality signal | 44/100 · Fair | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Not confirmed yet | Confirmed |
| Transport | — | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | ZOTERO_LIBRARY_IDZOTERO_LIBRARY_TYPEZOTERO_API_KEYMCP_TOKEN_STORE_KEYMCP_PUBLIC_URLMCP_DATA_DIR | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 39 | 38 |
| Full listing | View Cite Caddy | View OokCite |
Tools & capabilities
Cite Caddy tools 39
search_itemsquery` defaults to Zotero's quick search (title/creator/year); `full_text=True` also matches indexed content of attached files/notes (`qmode="everything"`), requires non-empty `query`. Each result's `creators` is a list of `{creatorType, firstName, lastName}` (or `{creatorType, name}` for single-fi…get_itemcreators` shape as above.list_collectionslist_tagslist_trashcreators` shape as above.list_saved_searcheslist_groupsid` doubles as `target_library_id` (with `target_library_type="group"`) for `move_item_to_different_library`.list_item_typeslist_item_fieldslist_item_type_fieldsCheck before `create_item`/`update_item` instead of guessing — what fields a given `item_type` accepts.list_item_creator_typesSame, for `creators` entries' `creatorType`.list_creator_fieldsName-shape fields (`firstName`, `lastName`, `name`, ...) valid on a `creators` entry itself — not the same as `list_item_creator_types` (roles).- +27 more on the listing page
OokCite tools 38
validate_doiCheck if a DOI exists (anti-hallucination)lookup_isbnLook up a book by ISBNreverse_lookupFind a paper from messy citation text; returns original query, confidence, and titlebatch_resolveResolve many citation strings in one request (max 50)enhanced_searchCorpus search with author / category / citation facetshealth_checkCheck API availability and healthformat_citationFormat a DOI in any of 2900+ CSL styles (no API key for a single citation)verify_referencesBatch-check DOIs, and any bibliographic claim passed with thembatch_formatFormat multiple citations at oncesearch_stylesFind CSL style IDs by namelist_stylesPage through the full CSL style listgroup_citeGenerate grouped in-text markers (e.g. [1-3])- +26 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Cite Caddy
No confirmed install command for Cite Caddy yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
OokCite
{
"mcpServers": {
"ookcite": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@turtletech/ookcite-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Cite Caddy is categorized under Research and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. OokCite belongs to Research and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Cite Caddy for research work and OokCite for research.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client. Cite Caddy has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Cite Caddy has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. OokCite has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add cite-caddy and ookcite as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Cite Caddy has a quality signal of 44/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. OokCite has 57/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.