Perplexity MCP Zerver
A minimalist research server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to deliver AI-powered research capabilities through Perplexity's web interface.
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Analyze code snippets for outdated patterns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.