CLIO Web MCP Server

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Provider-fixed web search plus transparent URL, DOI, and document fetching for science.

How to install ↓ Compare GitHub source repository ↗

Category: Other
Stars: ★ 30 Popular
Transport: stdio (local process)
Runtime: Python 3.10+
Credentials: No credential needed
License: BSD-3-Clause
Last commit: 2 months ago
Tools: 3

54FMRS · D

CLIO Web provides a straightforward approach to web search and fetching with DOI support. Its simplicity may be beneficial for research environments requiring reliable, simple access, but it lacks advanced search capabilities.

Strongest · Setup experience 12/20 Weakest · Reliability 9/20

Reliability

9/20

Security and permissions

11/20

Maintenance

12/20

Documentation

10/20

Setup experience

12/20

Why each score

Reliability 9/20: The manifest declares three tools (fetch, fetch_events, search), a capabilities resource, and a prompt, with a clear stdio launch path (clio-kit mcp-server web). However, there is no committed test coverage, CI evidence, or tool-level behavioral verification attributable to this specific server; the descriptions contain conditional/hidden assumptions ('conversion when configured', 'fixed ddg provider'). Repo-level CI badges exist but cannot be attributed to this server. Score 9.
Security and permissions 11/20: The server performs outbound network access (arbitrary URL/DOI fetching, web search), which is its transparently disclosed core function. No red-line issues are visible (no credential theft, covert exfiltration, or irreversible destructive defaults), so it is not scored in the 0-4 band. However, there is no disclosure of SSRF/internal-network restrictions, data flow through the conversion pipeline, or permission scoping, leaving security boundaries incomplete. Score 11.
Maintenance 12/20: The project is active: not archived, BSD-3-Clause license, 39 open issues, full CI/coverage/pip-audit/ruff/mypy badges, backed by IIT GRC with NSF sponsorship. Deductions for version inconsistency across evidence (manifest server 2.1.0, PyPI package 2.10.6, README table listing web at 2.0.0) and no stated security-response channel. Score 12.
Documentation 10/20: The root README covers installation and client configuration and lists the web server, but contains no tool parameter details, limitations, cost/quota disclosure, or troubleshooting specific to the web server; tool descriptions are one-liners from the manifest with hidden assumptions (configured conversion, fixed ddg provider). Score 10.
Setup experience 12/20: Setup path is clear: uv tool install clio-kit, then clio-kit mcp-server web. The manifest provides a complete pypi identifier, version, transport, and positional packageArguments ('mcp-server', 'web'), and the README shows client config patterns for Cursor/Claude/VS Code (though using other servers as examples). No web-specific client example and cross-evidence version inconsistencies prevent a higher score. Score 12.

Static review · not runListed 2026-09-08

Read the FMRS scoring method →

Fit and risk

What it can accessReads local filesUses the network

Best for

Researchers and AI agents that need reliable web retrieval capabilities.
Users who work with scientific publications and datasets as part of their workflows.

Not for

Users who need custom or configurable search providers across multiple engines, as the fixed provider restricts flexibility.
Casual users who do not need advanced web querying or personalized search options.

Required permissions

The server accesses configured search engine provider (DuckDuckGo) and fetches content from public URLs directly. It requires system access to execute the binary.

Risks and side effects

May fetch malicious content if URLs are untrusted; use caution with input sources.
Fixed provider may introduce privacy or bias considerations.

Setup

Before you start

Runtime：Python 3.10+

To install the CLIO Web MCP server, run: uv tool install 'clio-kit==2.10.6' (or newer). Then start the server with the command clio-kit mcp-server web. If you use Cursor, Claude Code, or VS Code, configure your MCP client accordingly to execute that command.

MCP config · JSON

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "web-mcp": {
      "command": "clio-kit",
      "args": [
        "mcp-server",
        "web"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Works in clients that read an "mcpServers" key. For clients such as VS Code that use a different key, the configurator below converts it.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "web-mcp": {
      "command": "clio-kit",
      "args": [
        "mcp-server",
        "web"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Goes in your project's .vscode/mcp.json (VS Code uses a "servers" key).

Terminal

claude mcp add web-mcp -- clio-kit mcp-server web

Run it in a terminal; replace any <…> placeholders with your own values first.

Generate and validate client config

Check that it works

After adding the server, confirm the CLIO Web tools fetch, fetch_events, and search appear in your client's tool list, then run a search query to confirm web retrieval works.

Troubleshooting

Ensure that you have installed the correct version via `uv tool install` and that `clio-kit` is on your PATH.
Check network connectivity and ensure that search results can be reached.
If searches fail, verify the provider's status as the server's provider is fixed.

Things to try

Once connected, you can ask your AI assistant things like:

Search the web for the latest diffusion model research papers
Fetch the document at this DOI
Show me the full event log for that document fetch conversion
Read the contents of this web page URL

Tools 3

fetch read-only

Fetch an HTTP(S) URL or DOI as a durable task; HTML and text are read locally, with optional document conversion.

fetch_events read-only

Query the full ordered backend event log for a document fetch conversion.

search read-only

Search the web using this installation's fixed ddg (DuckDuckGo) provider.

Use cases

Perform web searches for literature or data in scientific research.

Fetch academic articles or datasets by DOI.

Verify and log web content for auditing purposes.

Overview

CLIO Web is an MCP server from the IoWarp CLIO Kit that provides provider-fixed web search, URL/DOI fetching, and document conversion. It supports traceable fetching with task logs and includes a guided research prompt. Designed for scientific workflows, it is installed via the clio-kit PyPI package.

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Source revision 93e41d70d6c2 Data synced 2026-10-19 Read the FMRS scoring method