DEV Community

Cover image for How to install and use the Context7 CLI
Wanda
Wanda

Posted on • Originally published at apidog.com

How to install and use the Context7 CLI

Context7 is a platform that injects up-to-date library documentation straight into your AI coding assistant's context, eliminating code suggestions based on outdated APIs. The ctx7 CLI runs with npx ctx7 (no install required) and connects to Claude Code, Cursor, or OpenCode using a single ctx7 setup command.

Try Apidog today

What is Context7 and why does it matter?

When you use AI coding tools, you often get code based on old APIs: wrong function signatures, changed import paths, or outdated examples. This is because LLMs are trained on data with a cutoff date. They don't know about recent changes, like updates in Next.js, or deprecated APIs.

Context7 solves this by indexing docs for 9,000+ libraries and serving them to your AI assistant in real time. When you ask your coding agent a question, Context7 fetches current, version-specific docs and injects them into the context window before the model generates its response.

The result: your AI coding tool produces code that matches today's APIs.

The ctx7 CLI provides:

  1. Direct library docs fetch in your terminal
  2. AI coding skills management (prompt files that enhance your agent)
  3. Context7 MCP server configuration for Claude Code, Cursor, or OpenCode

đź’ˇ If you're building API integrations, Apidog handles API testing: send, organize, and automate API requests for free. Use Context7 to keep your AI assistant up to date, Apidog to verify your API calls.

Installing ctx7

Requirement: Node.js 18+ (node --version to check).

Run without installing

Try ctx7 instantly using npx:

npx ctx7 --help
npx ctx7 library react
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This downloads the latest version each run—good for occasional use.

Install globally

For regular use, install globally:

npm install -g ctx7
ctx7 --version
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Now you can use ctx7 directly without npx.

Setting up Context7 for your AI coding agent

The ctx7 setup command connects Context7 to your AI coding environment. It authenticates via OAuth, generates an API key, and writes the config.

Interactive setup 

ctx7 setup
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This prompts for your agent and preferred mode (CLI + Skills vs. MCP). To skip prompts:

ctx7 setup --yes
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Target a specific agent 

ctx7 setup --claude     # Claude Code (~/.claude/skills or MCP config)
ctx7 setup --cursor     # Cursor (~/.cursor/skills or MCP config)
ctx7 setup --opencode   # OpenCode
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Use an existing API key

If you have a Context7 API key from context7.com/dashboard:

ctx7 setup --api-key YOUR_API_KEY
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Project-level vs. global setup

Global is default. For project-only config:

ctx7 setup --project
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Two modes: CLI + Skills vs. MCP

CLI + Skills mode: Installs a SKILL.md file so your AI agent runs ctx7 commands for docs—no MCP server needed.

ctx7 setup --cli --claude    # Installs skill to ~/.claude/skills
ctx7 setup --cli --cursor    # Installs skill to ~/.cursor/skills
ctx7 setup --cli --universal # Installs to ~/.config/agents/skills
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

MCP Server mode: Registers Context7 as a Model Context Protocol server. Documentation fetching is automatic and invisible.

Sample MCP config:

{
  "url": "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp",
  "headers": {
    "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Or add to Claude Code via CLI:

claude mcp add --scope user context7 -- npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp --api-key YOUR_API_KEY
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Authentication 

ctx7 login    # OAuth browser login
ctx7 whoami   # Check your login
ctx7 logout   # Remove credentials
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

You can also set the API key as an environment variable:

export CONTEXT7_API_KEY=your_key_here
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Login is only needed for skill generation and some setup. Basic docs lookup works without it.

Telemetry

Context7 collects anonymous usage data by default. To disable:

export CTX7_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Fetching library documentation from the terminal

ctx7 is a standalone docs lookup tool, even without an AI agent.

Resolve a library name 

ctx7 library react
ctx7 library nextjs "app router setup"
ctx7 library prisma "database relations"
ctx7 library express --json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Returns the library's canonical ID and metadata (snippet count, reputation, version).

Example output for ctx7 library nextjs:

Library: /vercel/next.js
Snippets: 4,820
Reputation: high
Version: 15.2.0
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Fetch documentation

With a library ID, use:

ctx7 docs /facebook/react "useEffect cleanup"
ctx7 docs /vercel/next.js "middleware authentication"
ctx7 docs /prisma/prisma "one-to-many relations"
ctx7 docs /facebook/react "hooks" --json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

This returns documentation snippets for your query from the current version. Outputs can be piped to files or tools.

Skip ctx7 library if you know the library ID.

Managing AI coding skills

Skills are SKILL.md files granting your AI agent special instructions or knowledge.

Context7 hosts a registry of community skills. You can search, install, generate, and remove skills.

Search for skills 

ctx7 skills search pdf
ctx7 skills search "stripe payments"
ctx7 skills search "react testing"
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Install a skill 

ctx7 skills install /anthropics/skills pdf
ctx7 skills install /anthropics/skills pdf --cursor   # For Cursor
ctx7 skills install /anthropics/skills pdf --claude   # For Claude Code
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Install globally (all projects):

ctx7 skills install /anthropics/skills pdf --global
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Get suggestions based on your project 

ctx7 skills suggest
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Scans your project, detects libraries/frameworks, and recommends relevant skills.

List installed skills 

ctx7 skills list              # All
ctx7 skills list --claude     # Claude Code only
ctx7 skills list --cursor     # Cursor only
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Remove a skill 

ctx7 skills remove pdf
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Generate a custom skill with AI

With a paid account, generate a custom skill:

ctx7 login
ctx7 skills generate
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The CLI guides you: pick a library, describe the skill, and it generates a tailored SKILL.md.

Skills are portable. The SKILL.md format follows the Agent Skills standard—compatible across Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code Copilot, OpenCode, and more.

Free: 6 skill generations/week. Pro: 10/week.

Shorthand aliases:

Full command Alias
ctx7 skills install ctx7 si
ctx7 skills search ctx7 ss
ctx7 skills generate ctx7 skills gen or ctx7 skills g

Using Context7 in your AI prompts

Once set up, use Context7 in your daily workflow:

The "use context7" pattern

In MCP mode, add "use context7" to prompts:

Create a Next.js middleware that checks JWT in cookies and redirects unauthenticated users to /login. use context7
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode 
Set up a Prisma schema with user and post models and a one-to-many relation. use context7
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode 
How do I configure the App Router layout in Next.js 15? use context7
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

The agent fetches current docs automatically.

Reference a specific library

To target certain libraries:

Implement Supabase authentication in a Next.js app.
use library /supabase/supabase for Supabase and /vercel/next.js for Next.js routing.
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Auto-invoke without typing "use context7"

Add a rule to your agent to always fetch docs automatically.

For Claude Code, add to CLAUDE.md:

Always use Context7 MCP tools when generating code that uses third-party libraries.
Resolve the library ID and fetch current docs before writing any implementation.
Do this without waiting for me to ask.
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

For Cursor, add to Settings > Rules for AI:

When writing code that uses external libraries or frameworks, always invoke
Context7 to fetch current documentation before generating the implementation.
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Pair it with Apidog for complete API confidence

Context7 ensures your AI assistant has current library docs. But to verify your API integrations, use Apidog. It's a free API client for sending requests, inspecting responses, setting up environments, and automating tests.

Workflow example:

  • Building a Next.js app with a third-party API: Use Context7 for current Next.js docs in your AI assistant; use Apidog to test the API, verify responses, and check payloads.
  • Integrating a new HTTP API library: Context7 provides up-to-date SDK docs; Apidog lets you test endpoints directly.
  • Debugging an integration: Send requests from Apidog to isolate issues between your code and the API.

Set up environments in Apidog with API keys as variables, switch between dev/prod, and run test assertions. Context7 + Apidog means current docs and verified API behavior.

Pricing and rate limits

The ctx7 CLI is free. Rate limits and features depend on your Context7 plan:

Plan Price API calls/month Rate limit Private repos
Free $0 1,000 60 req/hour No
Pro $7/seat/mo 5,000/seat 60/hour/seat Yes ($15/1M tokens to parse)
Enterprise Custom 5,000/seat Custom Yes ($25/1M tokens)

Free tier notes:

  • After the monthly limit, get 20 bonus API calls/day until reset
  • Private repo access: Pro or higher
  • Skill generation: 6/week (Free), 10/week (Pro)
  • Pro: max 20 members

Limitation: Context7 routes all queries via Upstash servers. No offline mode. In offline environments, it won't work. Large doc responses may use significant LLM context window space.

Get a free API key at context7.com/dashboard. The API key gives higher rate limits.

FAQ

Does Context7 send my code to its servers?

No. Only the library name and query text are sent. Your codebase and conversation stay with your LLM provider.

What libraries does Context7 support?

9,000+ public libraries and frameworks. Search at context7.com or submit new ones via /add-library.

How current is the documentation?

Libraries are re-indexed regularly. Very recent releases may lag by a few days. For most libraries, docs are current with the latest release.

Does it work without an API key?

Yes, but with lower rate limits. Register at context7.com and set CONTEXT7_API_KEY for better throughput.

Which editors and agents does it support?

Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, VS Code Copilot, Windsurf, Claude Desktop, and any client supporting MCP or Agent Skills.

What's the difference between CLI + Skills mode and MCP mode?

  • CLI + Skills: A skill file tells your agent to run ctx7 commands for docs.
  • MCP mode: The agent calls Context7's tools natively via MCP. No explicit "use context7" prompt needed.

Can I use ctx7 without an AI agent?

Yes. ctx7 library and ctx7 docs work as standalone terminal commands.

Additional resources

Top comments (0)