Zotero Plugins Atlas
Plugins / Reading & PDFs

Zest

by yimmy23 · github.com/yimmy23/zotero-zest

Zest — a reading-centric Zotero 9/10 plugin: reading time & per-page heat, read status, rating, tag columns (AGPL-3.0, clean-room rewrite inspired by zotero-style)

Reading & PDFsOrganising & tagsInterface & look
View source
Downloads a .xpi file (0.3 MB). In Zotero, open Tools → Plugins and install it from the file.
StarsPeople who starred the repository on GitHub: a rough measure of interest.
10
DownloadsAll-time downloads of its release files from GitHub. Installs from elsewhere aren't counted.
492
ContributorsPeople who have committed code to the repository.
2
LicenceThe licence the code is published under, as GitHub reports it.
AGPL-3.0
A+
Atlas gradeRecommended
because every code check came out low, and our live test in Zotero found nothing unexpected
Applies to v1.4.10, released 17 Sep 2026Code checked · tested installed in Zotero 10.0.3 on 27 Sep 2026
What we found in the codeSets the gradeThe worst finding in these three areas sets the grade.
Code transparencyReadable code; not yet checked against the published sourceThe developer uploaded the release file from the yimmy23 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 goesOnly contacts services we could identify15 addresses in 2 groups.LowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
Translation (1)
edge.microsoft.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.
Scholarly services (14)
api.crossref.orgapi.openalex.orgapi.semanticscholar.orgarxiv.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.europepmc.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.eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.govopenalex.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.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govnamed in its codeThe address is in its code, but we didn't trace a request to it. It may be a link or unused.scholar.google.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.www.connectedpapers.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.www.easyscholar.ccwww.ebi.ac.ukwww.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.
Where we found it
api.crossref.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3415
let url = `https://api.crossref.org/works/${encodeURIComponent(doi)}${politeParam("?")}`, n = (await requestBody(
api.openalex.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3429
let url = `https://api.openalex.org/works/doi:${encodeURIComponent(doi)}?select=cited_by_count,authorships${politeParam("&")}`, res = await requestBody(
api.semanticscholar.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3447
let url = `https://api.semanticscholar.org/graph/v1/paper/${encodeURIComponent(id)}?fields=citationCount`, n = (await requestBody(
Powerful capabilitiesUses the clipboard, and 4 moreLowLow concern: normal for plugins that do this job. Listed so you know.
Uses the clipboardlowLow concern.Stores API keys or passwordslowLow concern.Works with files on your computerlowLow concern.Uses Zotero's password managerlowLow concern.Keeps its own database filelowLow concern.
Before you installShown, not gradedFacts to help you decide. They don't change the grade.
Works withZotero 10 · not 9, 11 betaUpdates automatically
Zotero 9 ✗ doesn't workZotero 10 ✓ worksZotero 11 beta ✗ doesn't work
What you'll needAn API key for some featuresDetected automatically from its code
No further detail for this area yet.
MaintenanceActive · last release 17 Sep 20262 contributors
No further detail for this area yet.
LanguagesDocumentation in ChineseInterface: English 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

Description coming soon. We haven't written a summary yet. The line above is the developer's own description; the developer's README is linked above.

What you'll need

Detected automatically
  • An API key for some featuresWorks without one: Reading time, read status, rating and tag columns, with public scholarly lookups. Needs a key (EasyScholar and Semantic Scholar): EasyScholar (journal ranking) and Semantic Scholar keys are stored in settings for those extra lookups.

Where your data goes

We found: only contacts services we could identify. 15 addresses in 2 groups.

Translation (1)
edge.microsoft.comnamed in its code
Scholarly services (14)
api.crossref.orgapi.openalex.orgapi.semanticscholar.orgarxiv.orgnamed in its codedoi.orgnamed in its codeeuropepmc.orgnamed in its codeeutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.govopenalex.orgnamed in its codepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govnamed in its codescholar.google.comnamed in its codewww.connectedpapers.comnamed in its codewww.easyscholar.ccwww.ebi.ac.ukwww.semanticscholar.orgnamed in its code
Evidence · file and line
api.crossref.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3415
let url = `https://api.crossref.org/works/${encodeURIComponent(doi)}${politeParam("?")}`, n = (await requestBody(
api.openalex.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3429
let url = `https://api.openalex.org/works/doi:${encodeURIComponent(doi)}?select=cited_by_count,authorships${politeParam("&")}`, res = await requestBody(
api.semanticscholar.orgcontent/scripts/zest.js · line 3447
let url = `https://api.semanticscholar.org/graph/v1/paper/${encodeURIComponent(id)}?fields=citationCount`, n = (await requestBody(

Forks and alternatives

No forks listed.

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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
Install Zest
A+Recommended, tested in Zotero
  1. 1Download the plugin fileDownload v1.4.10.xpi · 0.3 MB
  2. 2In Zotero, open Tools › Plugins
  3. 3Click the gear, choose Install Plugin From File… and pick the file
Step-by-step guide with pictures