About
MCP web search using perplexity without any API KEYS
README
A minimalist research server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to deliver AI-powered research capabilities through Perplexity's web interface.
MCP Compatible TypeScript Codebase Tests Passing Bun Runtime
Research Capabilities
- Intelligent Web Research: Search and summarize content without API limits
- Persistent Conversations: Maintain context with local SQLite chat storage
- Content Extraction: Clean article extraction with GitHub repository parsing
- Developer Tooling: Documentation retrieval, API discovery, code analysis
- Keyless Operation: Browser automation replaces API key requirements
Available Tools
Search (search)
Perform research queries with configurable depth
Returns raw text results
Get Documentation (get_documentation)
Retrieve technical documentation with examples
Returns structured documentation
Find APIs (find_apis)
Discover relevant APIs for development needs
Returns API listings and descriptions
Check Deprecated Code (check_deprecated_code)
Analyze code snippets for outdated patterns
Returns analysis report
Extract URL Content (extract_url_content)
Parse web content with automatic GitHub handling
Returns structured content metadata
Chat (chat_perplexity)
Persistent conversations with context history
Returns conversation state in JSON format
Getting Started
Prerequisites
- Bun runtime
- Node.js 18+ (for TypeScript compilation)
Installation
git clone https://github.com/wysh3/perplexity-mcp-zerver.git
cd perplexity-mcp-zerver
bun install
bun run build
Configuration
Add to your MCP configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"perplexity-server": {
"command": "bun",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/build/main.js"],
"timeout": 300
}
}
}
Usage
Initiate commands through your MCP client:
- "Use perplexity to research quantum computing advancements"
- "Ask perplexity-server for React 18 documentation"
- "Begin conversation with perplexity about neural networks"
🔐 Pro Account Support (Optional)
Use your Perplexity Pro subscription for access to better models (GPT-5.1, Claude Sonnet 4.5) and higher limits.
One-Time Setup
bun run build
bun run login
A browser window will open. Log in using email (recommended for best compatibility), then close the browser. Your session is now saved!
Note: Google/SSO login may work but email login is more reliable with the browser automation.
Environment Variables
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
PERPLEXITY_BROWSER_DATA_DIR |
~/.perplexity-mcp |
Browser profile directory |
PERPLEXITY_PERSISTENT_PROFILE |
true |
Set to false for anonymous mode |
Technical Comparison
| Feature | This Implementation | Traditional APIs |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None required | API keys |
| Cost | Free | Usage-based |
| Data Privacy | Local processing | Remote servers |
| GitHub Integration | Native support | Limited |
| History Persistence | SQLite storage | Session-based |
Troubleshooting
Server Connection Issues
- Verify absolute path in configuration
- Confirm Node.js installation with
node -v - Ensure build completed successfully
Content Extraction
- GitHub paths must use full repository URLs
- Adjust link recursion depth in source configuration
Origins & License
based on - DaInfernalCoder/perplexity-researcher-mcp
refactored from - sm-moshi/docshunter
Licensed under GNU GPL v3.0 - View License
This project interfaces with Perplexity via browser automation. Use responsibly and ethically. Stability depends on Perplexity's website consistency. Educational use only.
Installing Perplexity Mcp Zerver
This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.
▸ github.com/wysh3/perplexity-mcp-zerverFAQ
Is Perplexity Mcp Zerver MCP free?
Yes, Perplexity Mcp Zerver MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does Perplexity Mcp Zerver need an API key?
No, Perplexity Mcp Zerver runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is Perplexity Mcp Zerver hosted or self-hosted?
Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.
How do I install Perplexity Mcp Zerver in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open Perplexity Mcp Zerver on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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