MCP Learning

You have a compact, specialized MCP server bundle that helps you learn and practice with flashcards, Zotero integration, Obsidian connectivity, and mathematical verification. It offers practical tools to generate flashcards, verify mathematical expressions and proofs, and connect your study resources with your preferred note-taking and reference systems.

How to use

You run each server from your terminal using a lightweight MCP client. Start the specific server you need, then interact with its endpoints through your MCP client or your own scripts. You can generate flashcards from plain text, import notes from Obsidian, fetch or organize Zotero library items, and verify mathematical steps and proofs with LaTeX input. Begin by launching the server you intend to use, then perform the actions you want in an iterative learning workflow.

How to install

# Clone the repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd mcp-server-learning

# Install dependencies
uv sync

# Install in development mode
uv pip install -e .

Configuration and usage notes

The MCP server bundle includes four locally runnable servers. Each server is started via the MCP client by invoking the uv command with a specific entrypoint.

Flashcards server focuses on converting content into LaTeX flashcards, supports multiple card types, LaTeX, Anki uploads, HTML previews, and diagram cards.

Zotero server enables you to connect to Zotero libraries via local or Web API credentials, search for items, list collections, and generate flashcards from Zotero items or collections.

Obsidian server connects to your Obsidian vault to index notes, extract content for flashcards, and support quick access to vault statistics and notes.

Mathematical verification server accepts LaTeX input to verify steps, prove identities, and simplify expressions with optional step-by-step explanations.

Examples and workflows

Typical workflows include: creating a deck of flashcards from a study note, pulling related items from Zotero to augment definitions or summaries, extracting definitions from Obsidian for quick flashcard generation, and validating each step of a math solution with explicit justifications.

Security and environment considerations

Only expose the endpoints you need. When using Web API credentials (Zotero), safeguard API keys and restrict access to trusted clients. For local vaults (Obsidian), keep vault files in a directory with appropriate filesystem permissions. Do not commit sensitive values to version control.

Troubleshooting tips

If a server fails to start, verify that the required tooling (uv) is installed and that you are running within the project root. Check that environment variables for Zotero and Obsidian are correctly set when using the corresponding servers. Review logs for any missing dependency messages or permission issues.

Notes on extensibility

The design supports adding more data sources and learning tools. If you want to extend with additional notebooks, references, or verification capabilities, follow the same pattern: add a new FastMCP server entry point, and document how to start it so clients can discover and use it.

Next steps

Install the four servers you plan to use, connect any required external services (Zotero, Obsidian, Anki), and begin by testing a small flashcard workflow before expanding to larger datasets.

Available tools

create_flashcards

Convert text content into LaTeX flashcards with multiple card types and optional Anki export

upload_to_anki

Upload generated flashcards directly to Anki via AnkiConnect

verify_step

Verify a single mathematical step with justification and expected result

verify_proof

Verify a multi-step mathematical proof with optional assumptions

simplify_expression

Simplify a mathematical expression and optionally show steps

verify_derivative

Verify a derivative calculation against an expected result

verify_integral

Verify an integral calculation with optional limits

check_identity

Check if a given trigonometric or algebraic identity holds

get_vault_stats

Obtain statistics about an Obsidian vault

search_obsidian_notes

Search notes by content, title, or tags

create_flashcards_from_obsidian

Generate flashcards from Obsidian notes

connect_zotero

Connect to a Zotero library via local DB or Web API

search_zotero

Search items in your connected Zotero library

get_zotero_item

Fetch detailed information about a Zotero item

list_zotero_collections

List all collections in the library

create_zotero_item

Create a new item in the Zotero library

get_collection_items

Get items from a specific Zotero collection

get_item_templates

Get templates for creating Zotero items

get_obsidian_vault_stats

Get statistics about an Obsidian vault

extract_note_headers

Extract structured headers from a note

get_notes_for_flashcards

Extract content from notes suitable for flashcard generation