Sci2Code

VsCode Extension to connect with Zotero.

Sci2Code bridges the gap between your research library and your code. This extension allows seamless integration of Zotero, your trusted reference manager, directly into Visual Studio Code. Easily link academic articles, papers, and other resources from your Zotero library as inline citations in your code using JSDoc and PyDoc comments.

🔗 Link Zotero items directly into your code as references
✍️ Insert citations into JavaScript and Python documentation comments (JSDoc / PyDoc)
📚 Browse and search your Zotero library from within VS Code
🔄 Sync your code with your research for better traceability

Ideal for researchers, students, and developers working on scientific or data-driven projects who want to keep references organized, accessible, and close to their code.

Installation

You can install the extension from within Visual Studio Code or download it from Visual Studio Code Marketplace.

Get Started

To get started using the extension, open any Javascript(.js), Typescript(.ts), JavascriptReact(.jsx) and TypescriptReact(.tsx) and python(.py) file.

Features

This extension allows to connect VsCode with Zotero.
Cite Reference from Zotero to Source Code.
This extension works in JavaScript (.js), TypeScript (.ts), JavaScript React (.jsx), TypeScript React (.tsx), Python (.py), Julia (.jl), and R (.r) files.
This extension supports searching documents with Title, DOI, ISBN and ISSN.
The suggestions for Zotero document trigger when pressing:
- /** for JavaScript and TypeScript files
- """ for Python files
- """ for Julia files
- #' for R files
After choosing the document from suggestion the extension generate a unique codeId and create a jsDoc comment or pyDoc for the function with the details about zotero document:

/**
 * @ZoteroArticleIDs: ZOTERO_ARTICLE_ID
 * @ZoteroArticleNames: ZOTERO_ARTICLE_NAME
 * @ZoteroitemType: ZOTERO_ARTICLE_TYPE
 * @ZoteroArticleURLs: ZOTERO_ARTICLE_URL
 * @CodeID: CODE_ID
 */
async function calculateDifference(c,b){

}

After creating the jsDoc comment the extension adds a new tag to document in zotero with the information containing codeId and functionName:

{"codeId":CODE_ID,"functionName":"calculateDifference"}

Sci2Code Extension Demo

Requirements

This extension runs on VsCode only.
This extension requires API Key from Zotero to work. You can get the API key from here.
NodeJs
Pnpm (Package Manager)

Running Extension locally

Follow the steps below to run the extension locally:

Install the dependencies

pnpm i

Compile project

pnpm run compile

To run the extension in watch mode, use the command below:

pnpm run compile

Select Run -> Start Debugging from VsCode Navbar
The Extension will start in a new VsCode Window in Debugging Mode

For more information

Contact Us

We encourage all feedback. If you encounter a technical issue or have an enhancement request, create an issue here or contact The Self Research Institute at sterling@selfresearch.org.

Release Notes

1.0.0

Release date: 2025-04-09

Initial release.