yq processes YAML, JSON, XML, CSV, TOML, HCL, and properties files from the command line.
Open source
24 alternativespapis
Papis manages documents and bibliographies from the command line, according to its project description.
About papis
Papis is an open-source, command-line manager for documents and bibliographies. Each entry's bibliographical data is stored in a human-readable, editable YAML file. Users can add documents and fetch their metadata automatically, for example by DOI, and search the library by author, title, tags, and similar fields. Papis can import from BibTeX and other bibliography managers, and export to BibTeX and other formats.
Papis also offers a built-in web app, started with papis serve and opened at localhost:8888, for cases where the command line is not sufficient. Plugins for (Neo)vim and Emacs provide editor integration, and a Python API supports custom scripts. The source describes sharing documents with colleagues without relying on a proprietary service, but it does not describe any cloud sync or hosted service. Synchronization with other software is also mentioned, and the specifics of that setup are not described.
Key features
- Adds documents and fetches their metadata automatically, such as from a DOI
- Searches the library by author, title, tags, and similar fields
- Stores each entry's bibliographical data in human-readable YAML files
- Imports from BibTeX and other bibliography managers; exports to BibTeX
- Plugins for (Neo)vim and Emacs editor integration
- Local web app started with papis serve, plus a Python API for scripts
Best for: Command-line users who manage research papers and bibliographies and want scriptable, editor-integrated workflows.
Good for
- Open source, with the repository publicly available on GitHub
- Extensible through scripts and a Python API
- Stores bibliographic data in plain, human-readable, editable YAML files
Watch out for
- Primarily a command-line tool; the web app is presented as a supplement for when the CLI is not enough
- Documentation differs between released and in-development versions, so users may need to check the version they have installed
papis at a glance
- Website
- github.com/papis/papis
- Category
- Online Tools › Text Tools
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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papis FAQ
How is library data stored?
Papis stores each entry's bibliographical data in a human-readable, easily editable .yaml file.
Can Papis import existing bibliographies?
Yes. The source shows importing from BibTeX with papis bibtex read and import, and says Papis can import data from other bibliography managers.
Is there a graphical interface?
Papis includes a web app that runs locally after papis serve, opened at http://localhost:8888 in a browser. The source also mentions a TUI for overviews of the library.
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