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Plugins / AI & summaries

Beaver Local

by chgwan · github.com/chgwan/beaver-zotero-local

Runs the Beaver AI research agent inside Zotero on your own model provider.

Beaver Local has Atlas grade B (use with care) because its code names a developer's server: www.beaverapp.ai, and 3 more findings. It works with Zotero 7–10. Last checked 6 Nov 2026.

AI & summariesImport & metadata
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (7.9 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
In useAn estimate of how many copies of Zotero have it: Zotero downloads each new version once for every copy that has the plugin, so we count the downloads of its most-downloaded recent release. Rounded. Plugins that update from outside GitHub count low.
110
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub, counting every update. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
111
ReleasesVersions published on GitHub. Everyone who has the plugin downloads each one again, which adds up in Downloads.
3
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
1
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
3
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
B
Atlas gradeUse with care
because its code names a developer's server: www.beaverapp.ai, and 3 more findings
Applies to v0.25.4, released 25 Oct 2026Code checked · not yet tested in a live Zotero
Another plugin uses the same IDOne other plugin shares this add-on ID. Zotero can only install one of them.
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyMinified (compressed) code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the chgwan account. We haven't yet checked whether this file matches the public source code.UnknownWe couldn't check this yet.
Updates
Updates come from this project's GitHub repositoryThe update address offers this version
Where your data goesIts code names a developer's server: www.beaverapp.ai13 addresses in 6 groups.MediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Developer's servers (1)
www.beaverapp.ainamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
AI services (3)
api.openai.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.console.anthropic.comnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.openrouter.ainamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Scholarly services (5)
api.openalex.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.api.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.doi.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.openalex.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.www.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.
Zotero (2)
Zotero lookup servicesapi.zotero.org
Code hosting (1)
github.com
On your computer (1)
localhost
Where we found it
api.zotero.orgcontent/scripts/beaver.js · line 15800
const resp = await Zotero.HTTP.request("GET", apiUrl, {
github.comcontent/reactBundle.js · line 2
const t=e.match(/^v(\d+)\./);return!!t&&parseInt(t[1],10)<=18})()&&console.warn("⚠️ Node.js 18 and below are deprecated and will no longer be supported in future versions of @supabase/supabase-js. Pl
Powerful capabilitiesA zotero:// link (a web page can open one) can make it install add-ons without asking you, and 10 moreMediumMedium concern: worth reading before you install. One medium finding makes the grade B.
Medium concern (3)
A zotero:// link (a web page can open one) can make it install add-ons without asking you (from zotero-plugin-toolkit)A zotero:// link can make it run code if you approve a prompt (from zotero-plugin-toolkit)Launches programs on your computer
Low concern (7)
Uses the clipboardStores API keys or passwordsWorks with files on your computerUses Zotero's password managerKeeps its own database fileRuns its own server for programs on this computerOther programs on this computer can change your library through it
Not a concern (1)
Lets programs on this computer connect through Zotero's built-in server
Where we found it
A zotero:// link (a web page can open one) can make it install add-o…content/reactBundle.js · line 2

zotero://plugin. zotero-plugin-toolkit removed this link in version 6.0.0; this plugin is built with an older version

!0)}}catch(e){t.logError(e),nl(e.message,!1)}},newChannel(e){this.doAction(e)}};Services.io.getProtocolHandler("zotero").wrappedJSObject._extensions["zotero://plugin"]=n}};function nl(e,t){const n=new
A zotero:// link can make it run code if you approve a promptcontent/reactBundle.js · line 2

zotero://ztoolkit-debug

ow:n})}catch(e){t.debug(e),n.console.log(e)}}},newChannel(e){this.doAction(e)}};Services.io.getProtocolHandler("zotero").wrappedJSObject._extensions["zotero://ztoolkit-debug"]=e}},tl=class e{static ve
Launches programs on your computercontent/scripts/beaver.js · line 93484

Programs it names include codesign, ditto, open, spctl, sw_vers and 1 more

"resource://gre/modules/Subprocess.sys.mjs"
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 7, 8, 9, 10 · not 11 betaUpdates automatically
Zotero 7 ✓ worksZotero 8 ✓ worksZotero 9 ✓ worksZotero 10 ✓ worksZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needNothing extra detectedDetected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceActive · last release 25 Oct 20263 contributors
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in EnglishInterface: Afrikaans, Arabic, Bulgarian, Breton, Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, Estonian, Basque, Persian, Finnish, French, Galician, Hebrew, Croatian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lithuanian, Mongolian, Norwegian Bokmål, Dutch, Norwegian Nynorsk, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Serbian, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and Chinese
No further detail for this area yet.
We report what we found in the code. Open any area for the evidence.How we gradeReport a problem

What it does

Written by AI from the README

Runs the Beaver AI research agent inside Zotero on your own model provider. Chat about your library and the open paper, search OpenAlex and Semantic Scholar, with OpenAI-compatible endpoints (including Ollama, LM Studio) or Anthropic.

A fork of jlegewie/beaver-zotero that removes the Beaver account and servers. It drops write actions, persistent threads, citations and the MCP server. Early stage.

What you'll need

Detected automatically

We haven't detected any setup requirements. That isn't the same as none: check the developer's README.

Where your data goes

We found: its code names a developer's server: www.beaverapp.ai. 13 addresses in 6 groups.

Developer's servers (1)
www.beaverapp.ainamed in its code
AI services (3)
api.openai.comnamed in its codeconsole.anthropic.comnamed in its codeopenrouter.ainamed in its code
Scholarly services (5)
api.openalex.orgnamed in its codeapi.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its codedoi.orgnamed in its codeopenalex.orgnamed in its codewww.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its code
Zotero (2)
Zotero lookup servicesapi.zotero.org
Code hosting (1)
github.com
On your computer (1)
localhost
Evidence · file and line
api.zotero.orgcontent/scripts/beaver.js · line 15800
const resp = await Zotero.HTTP.request("GET", apiUrl, {
github.comcontent/reactBundle.js · line 2
const t=e.match(/^v(\d+)\./);return!!t&&parseInt(t[1],10)<=18})()&&console.warn("⚠️ Node.js 18 and below are deprecated and will no longer be supported in future versions of @supabase/supabase-js. Pl

Other plugins that do this

Matched on what they do

For the same job, work with Zotero 10 and graded B or better. Closest match first.

  • B
    BibGenie

    An AI research agent in the Zotero sidebar that answers questions using items, PDFs, notes, snapshots, images or collections as context.

    Matches “ai research assistant” · 21,422 downloads · Active · Zotero 7–10
    Can use a local model
Compare all 2 side by side
How we pick these

By how closely what they do matches this plugin, using descriptions and the phrases people search with. Copies and forks of this plugin are listed under Forks and copies instead. No plugin pays to appear here.

Forks and copies

1 other plugin uses the same ID as this one. Every Zotero plugin carries an ID, a name tag Zotero uses to tell plugins apart. These 2 plugins carry the same one, because people copied Beaver to make their own versions and kept its ID.Show what this means
  • You can only have one. Zotero sees them as the same plugin.
  • Installing another replaces it. If you install one of the others, it takes this one's place.
  • Check what you install. Several share this plugin's name, so make sure the file comes from the one you meant.
Beaver Local · this pluginchgwan/beaver-zotero-localBUse with care11125 Oct 2026
BeaverThe most used · jlegewie/beaver-zoteroBUse with care177,4334 Nov 2026
See all 2 and how they differ →

No forks listed.

The developer's response

The developer hasn't responded. Developers can reply here, and their reply sits next to our findings.I'm the developer

Ratings and reviews

What people who use it say. This is separate from the grade, which is what the code does, and never changes it.

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Install Beaver Local
BUse with care
Before you install: Its code names a developer's server: www.beaverapp.ai, and 3 more findings.Read the finding
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