Content
# sparkit-mcp
MCP server for [SPARKIT](https://sparkit.science) — call the scientific
research agent from Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code, or any other
MCP-compatible client.
Two tools are exposed:
- **`research`** — submit a scientific question. SPARKIT searches the
literature, reads the relevant papers, and returns a cited Markdown
report. Blocks until the job finishes (default 4 min) and returns the
full report inline.
- **`get_job_status`** — fetch a previously-submitted job by id. Useful
when `research` returned before the job finished, or to revisit a
past report.
## Install
```bash
uv tool install sparkit-mcp
```
Or with pip:
```bash
pip install sparkit-mcp
```
Either installs a `sparkit-mcp` console script. (Pre-release: install
straight from GitHub with
``uv tool install "git+https://github.com/SPARKIT-science/sparkit-mcp.git"``
until the first PyPI release lands.)
## Get an API key
1. Sign up at https://app.sparkit.science/signup (Try-it costs $10 for
5 queries; subscriptions start at $50/mo).
2. Visit https://app.sparkit.science/keys and create a key.
3. Copy the key — it's shown only once.
## Configure your MCP client
### Claude Desktop
Edit `claude_desktop_config.json`:
- macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
Add:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sparkit": {
"command": "sparkit-mcp",
"env": {
"SPARKIT_API_KEY": "sk_sparkit_..."
}
}
}
}
```
Restart Claude Desktop. You should see `sparkit` appear in the tools
icon next to the chat input.
If `sparkit-mcp` isn't on Claude Desktop's PATH (common with `uv tool`),
use the absolute path:
```json
"command": "/Users/you/.local/bin/sparkit-mcp"
```
(Find the path with `which sparkit-mcp` after `uv tool install`.)
### Cursor
Edit `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (or `.cursor/mcp.json` in your project):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sparkit": {
"command": "sparkit-mcp",
"env": {
"SPARKIT_API_KEY": "sk_sparkit_..."
}
}
}
}
```
Reload Cursor (`Cmd+Shift+P` → "Reload Window").
### Claude Code
```bash
claude mcp add sparkit -e SPARKIT_API_KEY=sk_sparkit_... -- sparkit-mcp
```
## Try it
Once configured, ask the LLM:
> Use SPARKIT to look up the most recent literature on the role of
> WRNIP1 as a synthetic-lethal target in cancer.
The LLM will call `research`. Expect a 60-180s wait, then a Markdown
report with inline citations and a numbered Sources list.
## Configuration
| Env var | Default | Description |
|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------|
| `SPARKIT_API_KEY` | (required) | Bearer key from https://app.sparkit.science/keys. |
| `SPARKIT_API_BASE` | `https://jlsteenwyk--sparkit-api-web.modal.run` | Override the API base URL. Useful for staging or self-hosted deployments. |
| `SPARKIT_API_TIMEOUT_SECONDS` | `30` | Per-HTTP-request timeout. Doesn't affect total wait time for `research`; that's `max_wait_seconds`. |
## Tool reference
### `research(question, response_format?, include_citations?, max_wait_seconds?)`
| Arg | Type | Default | Description |
|--------------------|---------------------|---------|-------------|
| `question` | string | — | The scientific question. Required. Be specific. |
| `response_format` | `"full"` or `"brief"` | `"full"` | Length of the returned Markdown report. |
| `include_citations`| boolean | `true` | Keep `true` for sourced reports. |
| `max_wait_seconds` | int (30-540) | `240` | How long to block waiting before returning the job_id with instructions to poll. |
Returns Markdown. On timeout, returns a status line with the job_id so
the LLM can call `get_job_status` later.
### `get_job_status(job_id)`
Returns the cited Markdown report if the job has completed, a status
line if it's still running, or an error message otherwise.
## Troubleshooting
**Authentication failed** — `SPARKIT_API_KEY` isn't set or is invalid.
Check `claude_desktop_config.json` for typos; restart Claude Desktop
after edits.
**Quota exhausted** — out of monthly queries / Try-it credits. Visit
https://app.sparkit.science/billing.
**Tool isn't appearing in Claude Desktop** — check the Claude Desktop
log:
- macOS: `~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-sparkit.log`
- Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude\Logs\mcp-server-sparkit.log`
The most common issue is `command: sparkit-mcp` not being on PATH;
substitute the absolute path from `which sparkit-mcp`.
**Job times out** — `max_wait_seconds` cap is 540s (9 min). For very
deep questions, submit then poll `get_job_status` instead of waiting
inline. SPARKIT will also auto-cancel jobs that exceed its own
internal limit.
## License
MIT.
