SummarAI MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides YouTube video summarization and information retrieval capabilities through the SummarAI API.

Features

• 🎥 Summarize YouTube videos using advanced AI models
• ℹ️ Get video information including title, transcript availability, and supported languages
• 📝 Custom prompts for tailored summarizations
• ✅ Smart URL validation with support for various YouTube URL formats
• 🌐 Google redirect handling for complex URL patterns
• 🛡️ Comprehensive error handling with detailed feedback
• 🔌 Easy integration with Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, and other MCP clients
• 📦 Zero-installation setup with npx - no global installation needed!
• 🚀 Latest API integration with direct backend connectivity

Quick Start with npx

No installation required! Use npx to run directly:

# Run as MCP server (most common usage)
npx summarai-mcp@latest --mcp

# Show help
npx summarai-mcp@latest --help

# Show version
npx summarai-mcp@latest --version

Installation Options

Option 1: Use with npx (Recommended) ⭐

npx summarai-mcp@latest --mcp

Always gets the latest version automatically

Option 2: Global Installation

npm install -g summarai-mcp@latest
summarai-mcp --mcp

Option 3: Local Installation

npm install summarai-mcp@latest
npx summarai-mcp --mcp

MCP Client Configuration

Claude Desktop Setup

Add the following to your Claude Desktop configuration file (~/claude_desktop_config.json):

Basic Configuration (npx - recommended):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "SummarAI": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "summarai-mcp@latest", "--mcp"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Advanced Configuration with Custom Endpoints:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "SummarAI": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "summarai-mcp@latest", "--mcp"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key-here",
        "YOUTUBE_VIDEO_SUMMARY_API_URL": "https://your-custom-domain.com/api/youtube/summarize",
        "YOUTUBE_VIDEO_INFO_API_URL": "https://your-custom-domain.com/api/youtube/info"
      }
    }
  }
}

Other MCP Clients

The same configuration works with:

• Cursor Editor - Add to .cursor/mcp.json
• VS Code - Add to MCP extension settings
• Cline Terminal - Configure in MCP settings
• Any MCP-compatible client - Use the same JSON structure

Environment Variables

| Variable | Required | Default | Description | |----------|----------|---------|-------------| | API_KEY | ✅ Required | - | Your SummarAI API key from the dashboard | | YOUTUBE_VIDEO_SUMMARY_API_URL | ⭕ Optional | https://summarai-sale-python-backend.onrender.com/api/youtube/summarize | Custom summarization endpoint | | YOUTUBE_VIDEO_INFO_API_URL | ⭕ Optional | https://summarai-sale-python-backend.onrender.com/api/youtube/info | Custom video info endpoint |

Getting Your API Key: Sign up at SummarAI to get your API key from the dashboard.

Command Line Options

npx summarai-mcp@latest [options]

Options:
  --mcp, --server    Run as MCP server (default)
  --help, -h         Show help message
  --version, -v      Show version number

Available Tools

1. get_youtube_video_info

Get detailed information about a YouTube video before processing it.

Purpose: Check if a video has transcripts available and get basic metadata.

Parameters:

• youtube_video_url (required): A valid YouTube video URL

Supported URL Formats:

• Standard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
• With timestamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID&t=120s
• Short URLs: https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID
• Google redirects: https://www.google.com/url?...&url=https://www.youtube.com/...

Example Usage:

"Can you get information about this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"

Response Format:

# YouTube Video Information

**Video Title:** Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Music Video)
**Video ID:** dQw4w9WgXcQ
**Transcript Available:** Yes
**Available Languages:** en, en-US

✅ This video has transcripts available and can be summarized.

2. summarize_youtube_video

Generate AI-powered summaries of YouTube videos with transcript support.

Parameters:

• youtube_video_url (required): A valid YouTube video URL
• custom_prompt (optional): Custom prompt for tailored summarization

Example Usage:

"Please summarize this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"

With Custom Prompt:

"Summarize this educational video focusing on key learning points: [URL]"

Response Format:

# YouTube Video Summary

**Video Title:** Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Music Video)
**Video ID:** dQw4w9WgXcQ
**Transcript Length:** 1432 characters

## Summary

This music video features Rick Astley performing his hit song "Never Gonna Give You Up"...

Workflow Examples

Check Then Summarize

1. "Get info about this video first: https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID"
2. "If transcripts are available, please summarize it"

Batch Processing

"Check these videos and summarize the ones with transcripts:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID1
- https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID2
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID3"

Educational Content

"Get info about this tutorial video and create a study guide summary: [URL]"

Error Handling

The server provides detailed error messages for common scenarios:

Authentication Errors

• Error: API_KEY environment variable is not set → Configure your API key
• Authentication failed. Please check your API key → Verify API key is correct

URL Validation Errors

• Invalid YouTube URL format → Use a valid YouTube URL
• Could not extract video ID → Check URL format and try standard YouTube URL

Video Processing Errors

• Failed to retrieve transcript → Video doesn't have captions/transcripts
• Rate limit exceeded → Wait and try again, or upgrade your plan
• Server error → Temporary service issue, try again later

Network Errors

• Network error: Unable to connect → Check internet connection
• Request timed out → Try again, video might be too long

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. MCP Server Not Starting

# Check if you're using latest version
npx summarai-mcp@latest --version

# Clear npx cache and try again
npx clear-npx-cache
npx summarai-mcp@latest --mcp

2. API Key Issues

• Ensure API key is set in your MCP client configuration
• Get your API key from SummarAI Dashboard
• Check for extra spaces or characters in the API key

3. Video Not Processing

• Use get_youtube_video_info first to check if transcripts are available
• Try different URL formats (standard YouTube URL works best)
• Ensure video is public and has captions

4. Configuration File Location

| Client | Configuration File | |--------|-------------------| | Claude Desktop | ~/claude_desktop_config.json (Mac/Linux)%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows) | | Cursor | .cursor/mcp.json | | VS Code | Extension settings |

Version Information

• Current Version: 1.0.8
• Node.js Requirement: >= 18.0.0
• MCP SDK Version: ^1.0.0

Recent Updates

v1.0.8 (Latest)

• ✅ Fixed SummarAI website URL to https://www.summarai.top/
• ✅ Corrected Cursor configuration file path to .cursor/mcp.json
• ✅ Updated all documentation links

v1.0.7

• ✅ Corrected version information
• ✅ Final documentation polish

v1.0.6

• ✅ Updated comprehensive documentation
• ✅ Added detailed troubleshooting guide
• ✅ Enhanced configuration examples
• ✅ Improved workflow examples

v1.0.5

• ✅ Added get_youtube_video_info tool
• ✅ Enhanced error handling
• ✅ Improved URL validation
• ✅ Better transcript availability checking

v1.0.4

• ✅ Enhanced URL processing for Google redirects
• ✅ Improved error messages
• ✅ Better timeout handling

Development

Local Development Setup

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/SoftTalents/Youtube_Summarizer_Node.git
cd Youtube_Summarizer_Node

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Run in development mode
npm run dev

# Build for production
npm run build

# Test the package
npm test

Building and Publishing

# Build TypeScript
npm run build

# Test the built package
npm run test:package

# Publish to npm (maintainers only)
npm publish

Support

• Documentation: GitHub Repository
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• API Keys: SummarAI Dashboard

License

MIT

Made with ❤️ by SoftTalents

Integrate AI-powered YouTube summarization into your workflow with just a few lines of configuration!