list_of_filesLABSCO SUMMARY
Your paper, readable from the assistant.
Point it at an Overleaf project and the assistant works from your actual sections, equations and bibliography instead of asking you to paste them in.
What it is
A Python server that exposes one Overleaf project to an MCP client in read-only mode. It lists the project's files and returns the contents of any one of them.
What you get
- list_of_files returns every file in the project
- read_file returns the contents of a file you name
- Read-only by design — nothing here writes back into the project
- One project per entry: the project ID is part of the client configuration
Requirements
Python 3.10 or later and an Overleaf account or session cookie. The client config carries PROJECT_ID and OVERLEAF_TOKEN, which point the server at a single project.
Setup effort
One command plus a key — uvx overleaf-mcp, then supply credentials
USE CASES
01
Asking questions about your own manuscript
The assistant reads the real text of the paper, so a question about section three is answered from section three.
02
Finding which file a section lives in
A multi-file thesis stops being a memory exercise — the file list comes back first and you open the one you meant.
03
Reviewing a chapter without leaving the chat
read_file pulls the chapter in for a read-through, and nothing you do can alter the project.
2 tools
Listed in project docs. Your client may show a different list.
read_fileBEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
2 tools named in the project's documentation.
Requires
- uvx on PATH
- Python 3.10+
- OVERLEAF_TOKEN in your environment
Where it runs
All 3 documented clients run the server on your machine.
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Server setup
TERMINAL
uvx overleaf-mcpMCP Clients
Claude Desktop
CLAUDE DESKTOP · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"overleaf": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"overleaf-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PROJECT_ID": "<YOUR_PROJECT_ID>",
"OVERLEAF_TOKEN": "<YOUR_OVERLEAF_TOKEN>"
},
"timeout": 120000
}
}
}Cursor
CURSOR · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"overleaf": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"overleaf-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PROJECT_ID": "<YOUR_PROJECT_ID>",
"OVERLEAF_TOKEN": "<YOUR_OVERLEAF_TOKEN>"
}
}
}
}VS Code
VS CODE · JSON
{
"servers": {
"my-mcp-server-overleaf": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"overleaf-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PROJECT_ID": "<YOUR_PROJECT_ID>",
"OVERLEAF_TOKEN": "<YOUR_OVERLEAF_TOKEN>"
}
}
},
"inputs": []
}
