This project provides a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants, specifically Claude Desktop, to leverage the Exa AI Search API for real-time web information retrieval. It targets AI developers and power users seeking to enhance their AI assistants' capabilities with up-to-date web data in a controlled manner.

How It Works

The Exa MCP Server acts as a bridge, translating requests from Claude Desktop into queries for the Exa AI Search API. It supports multiple specialized tools for various search needs, including general web search, academic paper discovery, company research, content crawling, competitor identification, and LinkedIn searches. This modular approach allows users to enable only the necessary tools, optimizing performance and relevance.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: npm install -g exa-mcp-server or via Smithery: npx -y @smithery/cli install exa --client claude
• Prerequisites: Exa API key, Node.js (v18+).
• Configuration: Requires editing Claude Desktop's claude_desktop_config.json to register the server and provide the API key.
• Documentation: Claude Desktop Configuration

Highlighted Details

• Supports multiple specialized search tools: web_search_exa, research_paper_search, company_research, crawling, competitor_finder, linkedin_search.
• Enables selective tool activation via command-line arguments or configuration.
• Provides direct npx execution for server operation.

Maintenance & Community

• Developed by team Exa.
• No explicit community links (Discord/Slack) or roadmap are provided in the README.

Licensing & Compatibility

• The README does not specify a license.

Limitations & Caveats

The project requires a paid Exa API key. Configuration involves direct modification of Claude Desktop's JSON settings, which may be prone to syntax errors. The README does not mention any specific versioning or release management practices.