# paper-fetch

Finds and downloads research paper PDFs from a DOI, title, or DOI list. Handy when you need to retrieve a paper from available sources.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3400 installs · ★ 92
- Author: Agents365-ai
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/Agents365-ai/365-skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/paper-fetch/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-16
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/paper-fetch

## What it does

For a DOI, the skill checks sources in sequence: Unpaywall, Semantic Scholar, arXiv, PubMed Central, then bioRxiv or medRxiv. With a title instead, it looks for a DOI through Crossref and can turn to Semantic Scholar if needed. You can also provide a file containing multiple DOIs.

Run it with `python scripts/fetch.py`; files go to `pdfs` by default, and agent output is JSON. It requires `python3`. Direct publisher downloads need `PAPER_FETCH_INSTITUTIONAL=1`; Sci-Hub fallback is enabled by default and can be turned off with `PAPER_FETCH_NO_SCIHUB=1`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Agents365-ai/365-skills --skill paper-fetch -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/paper-fetch/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Agents365-ai/365-skills --skill paper-fetch -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Agents365-ai/365-skills --skill paper-fetch -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install Agents365-ai/365-skills paper-fetch
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Agents365-ai/365-skills --skill paper-fetch -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/Agents365-ai/365-skills --path plugins/paper-fetch/skills/paper-fetch
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add Agents365-ai/365-skills --skill paper-fetch -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/Agents365-ai/365-skills/tree/HEAD/plugins/paper-fetch/skills/paper-fetch/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- find a paper PDF from its DOI
- resolve a paper title to a DOI and download its PDF
- fetch papers listed in a DOI file
- save retrieved papers to a chosen directory

## Example prompts
- Find and download the PDF for DOI `10.1234/example`.
- Look up the paper titled “Example Paper Title” and save its PDF.
- Download the papers listed in `papers.txt`.

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From the same set: [agents365-ai/365-skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/agents365-ai/365-skills.md) — 21 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md