Installation

InScien is a Python package that runs as a local web app in your browser.

Requirements

• Python 3.12 or 3.13
• Zotero desktop with its local data folder
• For Ask: Ollama running locally

1. Install uv

uv fetches the right Python by itself.

macOS and Linux:

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Windows (PowerShell):

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

2. Run InScien

Try it without installing:

uvx --python 3.12 inscien

Or install the inscien command:

uv tool install --python 3.12 inscien
inscien

With pip, in a Python 3.12 or 3.13 environment:

pip install inscien
inscien

InScien starts on a local port and opens your browser. Zotero is found automatically. If it is not, set the folder on the Settings page.

3. Add Search and Ask (optional)

Search and Ask come with the search extra:

uvx --python 3.12 --from "inscien[search]" inscien

or

uv tool install --python 3.12 "inscien[search]"

or

pip install "inscien[search]"

Update

uv tool upgrade inscien

Your data is kept outside the install, so updating or reinstalling does not touch it.