Search arXiv in One Command — No API Key, No Tokens
This article introduces a simple command-line tool to search the arXiv preprint repository without the need for API keys or accounts, using a composable Unix pipeline approach.
Why it matters
This tool provides a lightweight and efficient way for researchers and AI enthusiasts to stay up-to-date with the latest AI research without relying on complex or restrictive tools.
Key Points
- 1The arXiv Atom API has been public and stable for 15 years, allowing direct access without authentication
- 2The tool uses a 'Tap skill' - a 20-line deterministic program that calls the arXiv API directly
- 3The Unix pipeline model allows chaining multiple commands to search, sort, filter, and display the results
- 4The tool can be used in CI/CD workflows to generate daily paper digests
Details
The article highlights the frustration of keeping up with the constant flow of new AI research papers, and how most 'paper discovery' tools require accounts, API tokens, or provide a bloated UI. The author introduces a simple command-line tool that leverages the public and stable arXiv Atom API to search for papers without any authentication. The tool uses a 'Tap skill' - a 20-line deterministic program that calls the arXiv API directly. This follows the Unix pipeline model, where data flows as JSON between composable commands. Users can chain multiple commands to search, sort, filter, and display the results, all in under 2 seconds. The author also demonstrates how the tool can be used in CI/CD workflows to generate daily paper digests. The article emphasizes that this approach is free, with no API tokens consumed, and the initial binary download is the only setup required.
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