https://github.com/chenle02/overleaf-manage

Manage Overleaf projects from the terminal - create, invite, tag, clone, archive, delete. The missing gh for Overleaf.
https://github.com/chenle02/overleaf-manage
academic-writing cli collaboration latex overleaf project-management terminal
Last synced: about 1 month ago
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Manage Overleaf projects from the terminal - create, invite, tag, clone, archive, delete. The missing gh for Overleaf.
Host: GitHub
URL: https://github.com/chenle02/overleaf-manage
Owner: chenle02
License: mit
Created: 2026-04-11T22:59:20.000Z (3 months ago)
Default Branch: main
Last Pushed: 2026-04-12T01:03:05.000Z (3 months ago)
Last Synced: 2026-04-12T01:12:38.041Z (3 months ago)
Topics: academic-writing, cli, collaboration, latex, overleaf, project-management, terminal
Language: Python
Size: 25.4 KB
Stars: 1
Watchers: 0
Forks: 0
Open Issues: 0
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README

          










**Create projects, invite collaborators, tag, clone, archive, delete — all from your terminal.**




[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)

[![Python 3.8+](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.8+-3776AB.svg?logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://python.org)

[![Version](https://img.shields.io/badge/version-0.4.0-4ecca3.svg)](#-installation)

[![Platform](https://img.shields.io/badge/platform-linux%20%7C%20macOS%20%7C%20WSL-lightgrey.svg)](#-installation)

[![No dependencies](https://img.shields.io/badge/deps-requests%20only-green.svg)](#-installation)

[![Git bridge](https://img.shields.io/badge/git-bridge%20support-orange.svg?logo=git&logoColor=white)](#-git-integration)

[![LLM friendly](https://img.shields.io/badge/%F0%9F%A4%96_LLM-friendly-blueviolet.svg)](#-llm--ai-agent-integration)

[![JSON output](https://img.shields.io/badge/output-JSON%20%7C%20human-informational.svg)](#-llm--ai-agent-integration)

[![Tool-use ready](https://img.shields.io/badge/tool--use-ready-ff69b4.svg)](#-llm--ai-agent-integration)




[Installation](#-installation) · [Quick Start](#-quick-start) · [Commands](#-command-reference) · [Git](#-git-integration) · [Tags](#%EF%B8%8F-tag-system) · [LLM Integration](#-llm--ai-agent-integration) · [How It Works](#%EF%B8%8F-how-it-works)



---

## Why?

GitHub has [`gh`](https://cli.github.com/) — create repos, manage PRs, invite collaborators, automate workflows, all from your shell.

**Overleaf has 25 million+ users — and no CLI for project management.**

Tools like [`olcli`](https://github.com/iamhyc/Overleaf-CLI) and [`pyoverleaf`](https://github.com/jkulhanek/pyoverleaf) cover file sync and PDF compilation. But you still can't do the basics from a terminal:

- **Create a project** → must open browser

- **Invite a collaborator** → must open browser

- **Tag and organize projects** → must open browser

`overleaf-manage` fills this gap. One script, zero config beyond `olcli` auth, every command outputs JSON for scripting.

## Feature Comparison

| Feature | Overleaf Web | olcli | **overleaf-manage** |

|:--------|:---:|:---:|:---:|

| Create project | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Invite collaborator | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Remove collaborator | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| List collaborators | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Tag / label projects | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Clone project | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Rename project | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Archive / trash | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |

| Git clone / push | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ *(via git bridge)* |

| Pull / push files | ✅ | ✅ | — *(use olcli)* |

| Compile PDF | ✅ | ✅ | — *(use olcli)* |

| JSON output | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |

| LLM tool-use ready | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |

> **`overleaf-manage` + `olcli` = complete terminal-first Overleaf workflow.**

## 📦 Installation

```bash

# 1. Download the script

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chenle02/overleaf-manage/main/overleaf-manage \

  -o ~/.local/bin/overleaf-manage

chmod +x ~/.local/bin/overleaf-manage

# 2. Install the one dependency

pip install requests

# 3. Authenticate (one-time — shares cookie with olcli)

npm install -g @aloth/olcli

olcli auth --cookie "YOUR_SESSION_COOKIE"

```

🔑 How to get your session cookie




1. Log into [overleaf.com](https://www.overleaf.com) in your browser

2. Open DevTools (`F12`) → **Application** → **Cookies** → `www.overleaf.com`

3. Copy the value of `overleaf_session2`

4. Run: `olcli auth --cookie "paste_value_here"`

**Auto-extract from Firefox (Linux):**

```bash

# Find your profile directory

ls ~/.mozilla/firefox/                                # standard install

ls ~/snap/firefox/common/.mozilla/firefox/             # snap install

# Extract & authenticate in one shot (replace YOUR_PROFILE)

COOKIE=$(python3 -c "

import sqlite3, shutil

shutil.copy(

    '$HOME/snap/firefox/common/.mozilla/firefox/YOUR_PROFILE.default/cookies.sqlite',

    '/tmp/ff_cookies.sqlite')

conn = sqlite3.connect('/tmp/ff_cookies.sqlite')

print(conn.execute(

    \"SELECT value FROM moz_cookies WHERE host LIKE '%overleaf%' AND name='overleaf_session2'\"

).fetchone()[0])

conn.close()

") && olcli auth --cookie "$COOKIE"

```

The cookie stays valid for **weeks**. Re-run when auth fails.

## 🚀 Quick Start

```bash

# Create a project and invite collaborators

overleaf-manage create "Article-New-Idea"

overleaf-manage invite "Article-New-Idea" alice@mit.edu

overleaf-manage invite "Article-New-Idea" bob@stanford.edu --role viewer

# Organize with tags

overleaf-manage tag "Article-New-Idea" SPDE

overleaf-manage tag "Article-New-Idea" Draft

# Work locally with olcli

olcli pull "Article-New-Idea"

vim main.tex

olcli sync && olcli pdf

# Browse your portfolio

overleaf-manage ls --tag SPDE --sort name

overleaf-manage info "Article-New-Idea"

```

## 📖 Command Reference

### Project Lifecycle

| Command | Description | Example |

|:--------|:------------|:--------|

| `create ` | Create a new project | `overleaf-manage create "My Paper"` |

| `clone  ` | Duplicate a project | `overleaf-manage clone "My Paper" "v2"` |

| `rename  ` | Rename a project | `overleaf-manage rename "Old" "New"` |

| `archive ` | Archive (hide from list) | `overleaf-manage archive "Done Paper"` |

| `unarchive ` | Restore from archive | `overleaf-manage unarchive "Done Paper"` |

| `trash ` | Soft-delete | `overleaf-manage trash "Scratch"` |

| `untrash ` | Restore from trash | `overleaf-manage untrash "Scratch"` |

| `delete ` | **Permanent** delete | `overleaf-manage delete "Bad" --confirm` |

### Collaboration

| Command | Description | Example |

|:--------|:------------|:--------|

| `invite  ` | Send invite (editor) | `overleaf-manage invite "Paper" alice@mit.edu` |

| `invite ... --role viewer` | Invite as viewer | `overleaf-manage invite "Paper" bob@mit.edu --role viewer` |

| `invite ... --role reviewer` | Invite as reviewer | `overleaf-manage invite "Paper" carol@mit.edu --role reviewer` |

| `collaborators ` | List all members | `overleaf-manage collaborators "Paper"` |

| `remove-collaborator  ` | Remove member | `overleaf-manage remove-collaborator "Paper" bob@mit.edu` |

### Tags & Organization

| Command | Description | Example |

|:--------|:------------|:--------|

| `tag  ` | Add tag (auto-creates) | `overleaf-manage tag "Paper" SPDE` |

| `untag  ` | Remove tag | `overleaf-manage untag "Paper" SPDE` |

| `tags` | List all tags | `overleaf-manage tags` |

| `tags ` | Show projects in tag | `overleaf-manage tags Research` |

| `tag-create ` | Create empty tag | `overleaf-manage tag-create "Exam"` |

| `tag-rename  ` | Rename tag | `overleaf-manage tag-rename "Old" "New"` |

| `tag-delete ` | Delete tag (keeps projects) | `overleaf-manage tag-delete "Bad Tag"` |

### Listing & Filtering

| Command | Description | Example |

|:--------|:------------|:--------|

| `ls` | List active projects | `overleaf-manage ls` |

| `ls --owner` | Only your projects | `overleaf-manage ls --owner` |

| `ls --shared` | Only shared with you | `overleaf-manage ls --shared` |

| `ls --tag ` | Filter by tag | `overleaf-manage ls --tag SPDE` |

| `ls --untagged` | Untagged projects only | `overleaf-manage ls --untagged` |

| `ls --search ` | Search by name | `overleaf-manage ls --search "Article"` |

| `ls --sort name\|date` | Sort results | `overleaf-manage ls --sort name` |

| `ls --all` | Include archived/trashed | `overleaf-manage ls --all` |

| `info ` | Detailed project info | `overleaf-manage info "My Paper"` |

> 💡 **Every command** accepts `--json` for machine-readable output.

## 🔀 Git Integration

Clone and sync Overleaf projects with standard `git` — no `olcli` required. Uses Overleaf's [git bridge](https://www.overleaf.com/learn/how-to/Git_integration) (requires premium plan).

```bash

# One-time setup: store credentials for passwordless access

overleaf-manage git-setup

# Clone any project by name

overleaf-manage git-clone "My Paper"

cd My_Paper/

# Standard git workflow — edits sync to Overleaf

vim main.tex

git add -A && git commit -m "edits" && git push

# Pull collaborators' changes

git pull

```

### Git Commands

| Command | Description | Example |

|:--------|:------------|:--------|

| `git-setup` | Store Overleaf credentials for passwordless git | `overleaf-manage git-setup` |

| `git-clone ` | Clone project via git | `overleaf-manage git-clone "My Paper"` |

| `git-clone  ` | Clone into specific directory | `overleaf-manage git-clone "Paper" ~/papers/paper` |

| `git-url ` | Show git clone URL | `overleaf-manage git-url "My Paper"` |

### How `git-setup` works

1. Detects your Overleaf email from your session

2. Prompts for your Overleaf password (stored locally, mode `0600`)

3. Configures `git credential-store` for `git.overleaf.com` only

4. After setup, `git clone/pull/push` work without prompts

```

Credentials: ~/.config/overleaf-manage/git-credentials (mode 0600)

Scope:       git.overleaf.com only — does not affect GitHub/GitLab

```

> **Note:** Git bridge requires an Overleaf premium plan. The `info` command always shows the git URL regardless of plan.

## 🏷️ Tag System

Tags are lightweight labels for organizing your Overleaf portfolio — the same tags you see in Overleaf's web sidebar, fully manageable from the terminal.

```bash

# Tag by workflow stage

overleaf-manage tag "Paper A" Draft

overleaf-manage tag "Paper B" Submitted

overleaf-manage tag "Paper C" Accepted

# Tag by topic

overleaf-manage tag "Paper A" SPDE

overleaf-manage tag "Paper A" KPZ

# Filter and browse

overleaf-manage ls --tag SPDE              # all SPDE papers

overleaf-manage ls --tag Draft --sort date # drafts by recency

overleaf-manage ls --untagged              # what needs organizing?

# Tags auto-create — no need for tag-create first

overleaf-manage tag "Midterm" Exam         # creates "Exam" on the fly

```

**Example tag sets:**

| Academic | Teaching | Status |

|:---------|:---------|:-------|

| `SPDE`, `KPZ`, `Probability` | `Course`, `Lecture`, `Homework`, `Exam` | `Draft`, `Submitted`, `Revision`, `Accepted` |

## 🤖 LLM / AI Agent Integration

Every command supports `--json` for structured, deterministic output — designed for **LLM tool-use pipelines**, MCP servers, and scripting.

```bash

# Structured project listing

overleaf-manage ls --owner --json

# Machine-readable project info

overleaf-manage info "My Paper" --json

```

**Example JSON response:**

```json

{

  "ok": true,

  "action": "info",

  "project_id": "abcdef1234567890abcdef12",

  "name": "My Paper",

  "url": "https://www.overleaf.com/project/abcdef1234567890abcdef12",

  "accessLevel": "owner",

  "tags": ["SPDE", "Draft"],

  "archived": false,

  "trashed": false

}

```

**Why this matters for AI agents:**

- 🔧 **Tool-use ready** — AI coding assistants can create Overleaf projects, invite collaborators, and organize work via function calls

- 📊 **Deterministic JSON** — no HTML scraping, no table parsing, just structured data

- ✅ **Reliable error handling** — every response includes `"ok": true/false`

- 🔗 **Composable** — combine with `olcli` for end-to-end LaTeX automation

```bash

# An AI agent setting up a new collaboration:

overleaf-manage create "New Paper" --json        # → {"ok": true, "project_id": "..."}

overleaf-manage invite "New Paper" coauthor@university.edu --json

overleaf-manage tag "New Paper" Research --json

```

## ⚙️ How It Works

`overleaf-manage` calls the same internal HTTP endpoints that Overleaf's browser UI uses. No scraping, no headless browser — just clean REST calls authenticated with your session cookie.

```

┌──────────────┐             ┌──────────────────┐             ┌──────────────┐

│              │   cookie    │                  │  HTTP API   │              │

│  Terminal    │────────────▶│  overleaf-manage  │────────────▶│   Overleaf   │

│              │◀────────────│                  │◀────────────│   Server     │

│              │  JSON/text  │  (Python script) │  responses  │              │

└──────────────┘             └──────────────────┘             └──────────────┘

```

Authentication is shared with `olcli` via `~/.config/olcli-nodejs/config.json`.

## ⚠️ Limitations

| Limitation | Detail |

|:-----------|:-------|

| **Unofficial** | Not an Overleaf product. Independently developed. |

| **Internal APIs** | Uses undocumented endpoints that may change without notice. |

| **Cookie auth** | No official API keys. Cookies last weeks, then need refresh. |

| **No file sync** | File operations are handled by [`olcli`](https://github.com/iamhyc/Overleaf-CLI). |

## 🔗 See Also

| Tool | What it does |

|:-----|:-------------|

| [`olcli`](https://github.com/iamhyc/Overleaf-CLI) | Pull, push, sync files, compile PDF, download output |

| [`pyoverleaf`](https://github.com/jkulhanek/pyoverleaf) | Python API for file operations |

| [Overleaf](https://www.overleaf.com) | The collaborative LaTeX editor itself |

---



**If this tool saves you time, consider giving it a ⭐**

Made with 🖥️ by [Le Chen](https://github.com/chenle02)
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