# Lightkone

> Lightkone is a reference manager for research papers that runs in the browser. The library (papers, PDFs, highlights, notes) is plain files in storage the user owns: this browser, an S3-compatible bucket (Cloudflare R2, AWS S3, MinIO) or a private GitHub repository. Claude features use the user's own key. A Python command line (`pip install lightkone`) reads and writes the same files.

To help someone set Lightkone up, start with docs/SETUP-WITH-AI.md and docs/STORAGE.md. Every page is also in one file: llms-full.txt. The app is at app/; Settings → Check these settings tests a storage setup and explains what is wrong.

To work with a library from an assistant: the Claude skill is at skills/lightkone/SKILL.md, and the MCP server (remote at mcp/, or local with `lightkone mcp`) is described in docs/MCP.md.

## Start here

- [Getting started](docs/GETTING-STARTED.md): the first ten minutes.
- [Set up with AI](docs/SETUP-WITH-AI.md): let Claude or another assistant set up your storage, check it in the app, and give assistants the real docs.
- [Moving from Paperpile](docs/PAPERPILE.md): bring your library, folders, labels and PDFs over.
- [Where your library lives](docs/STORAGE.md): this browser, Cloudflare R2, AWS S3, MinIO, or a private GitHub repository, set up step by step.

## Using Lightkone

- [Reading and highlighting](docs/READING.md): the PDF reader, highlights, notes, Explain, and export to Obsidian.
- [Finding papers](docs/FINDING.md): search and its filters, full text, equations, chats with Claude (Ask, comparing papers, organizing chats), New on arXiv and the citation map.
- [Writing with your library](docs/WRITING.md): citations in any journal style, LaTeX and Overleaf, citations for a whole draft, a .bib for a manuscript.
- [Sharing and devices](docs/SHARING.md): several devices, shared libraries, the phone app.
- [Lightkone for Claude and other AI apps (MCP)](docs/MCP.md): use your library from Claude, Claude Code or any MCP app.
- [The command line](docs/CLI.md): the `lightkone` command and Python package, on the same files as the app.
- [Your data](docs/PRIVACY.md): what is processed where, and what leaves your browser.
- [Questions and fixes](docs/FAQ.md): common questions, and what to do when something goes wrong.

## Running your own

- [Hosting](docs/HOSTING.md): deploy Lightkone for yourself or a team.
- [Releasing](docs/RELEASING.md): staging, version tags, and checking a site runs a release's exact code.
- [Writing a plugin](docs/PLUGINS.md): add storage, lookups, importers and actions.
- [Architecture](docs/ARCHITECTURE.md): how it fits together.