Getting Started

Quick Start Checklist

Start here to choose the smallest useful Research Memex setup for your research workflow.

The best stack is the one you actually start using today.

Tip

New here? Start with Core References to understand the approach, then move through Essential Setup → AI Environment → Agentic Tools as you're ready.

Note

The tools below are pedagogical instruments, not prescriptions. We chose them to teach you how to evaluate and work with any AI toolchain.

Tip

If you'd rather have a conversational assistant interview you and configure the stack for you, install Carrel. Carrel is a Claude Code plugin that interviews researchers, audits the machine, and sets up Obsidian + conversion tooling + optional MCPs based on what you actually do. The manual roadmap below is still the right way to understand the stack. Carrel is the faster way to get started on a fresh machine.

Implementation roadmap

Core references before building

Start here to understand the methodology before setting up tools:

Cognitive Blueprint Prompts - Structured prompt templates
AI Model Reference Guide - Model families, reasoning controls, and sampling defaults
Failure Museum - AI limitations and mitigation strategies

Why first? Learn to prompt, choose models, and recognize AI failures so your setup decisions are grounded.

Essential setup

Get API access:

API Keys Setup Guide - OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.
Free/low-cost options: Google AI Studio for Gemini API access, plus provider free tiers where available

Install foundational tools:

Zotero - Reference management (Required)
Research Rabbit - Citation discovery
Obsidian - Knowledge management (recommended)
Zettlr - Academic writing (optional)

AI environment

Install MCP servers (optional):

MCP Explorer Guide - How to install MCPs
Advanced MCPs: Sequential Thinking, Lotus Wisdom, Vox MCP

Add capabilities:

OCR & PDF Conversion - Handle scanned papers
CLI Tools Overview - Understand your options

Choose your agentic AI tool

Pick based on your needs:

Beginner-friendly GUI:

Cherry Studio - Multi-model interface, MCP support, Code Tools

Google terminal agent:

Antigravity CLI - Current successor path for consumer/free Gemini CLI workflows

Premium option:

Claude Code - Best reasoning, autonomous agents

Maximum flexibility:

OpenCode - 75+ providers, cost optimization

Explore case studies and advanced topics

Learn by example:

Systematic Reviews Syllabus - 4-week course
Sessions 2-4 show real workflows in action

Go deeper:

Agentic Workflows - Multi-agent orchestration
MCP deep dives (Sequential Thinking, Lotus Wisdom, Vox MCP)

Recommended learning paths

Goal: Systematic literature reviews, theory building

Core References (all 3 pages)
API Keys + Zotero + Research Rabbit
Cherry Studio OR Claude Code
Obsidian for notes
Systematic Reviews case study

Tip

Start small. You don't need everything at once. Most researchers start with Zotero, Cherry Studio, and Google AI Studio, then expand from there.

Next: choose your tools

Ready to explore specific setup guides?

Zotero Setup

Reference management (Required)

Cherry Studio

AI interface (Required)

Obsidian

Knowledge management (Recommended)

Setup Guides

Complete tool installation and configuration

Core References

Prompt templates and model guides

Failure Museum

Learn from common AI limitations

AI-Readable Docs

llms.txt and Markdown access for AI tools

cite this page

Lin, X. (2026). Quick Start Checklist. Research Memex. https://research-memex.org/docs/implementation/foundational-setup/quick-start-checklist

@misc{docs-implementation-foundational-setup-quick-start-checklist-2026,
  author = {Xule Lin},
  title = {Quick Start Checklist},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://research-memex.org/docs/implementation/foundational-setup/quick-start-checklist}},
  note = {ORCID: 0000-0001-7885-4194}
}

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