JabRef

JabRef

JabRef is an open-source reference manager that helps organize and manage bibliographic references for research papers and projects. It integrates with word processors, supports a variety of citation formats, and features auto-completion of references.
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bibliography citation reference-manager research

JabRef: Open-Source Reference Manager

JabRef helps organize bibliographic references for research papers and projects, integrating with word processors, supporting various citation formats, and featuring auto-completion of references.

What is JabRef?

JabRef is a free, open-source reference management software that helps researchers organize, manage, and cite bibliographic references like research papers, articles, books, etc. Developed in Java, it works on all major operating systems like Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.

Key features of JabRef include:

  • Intuitive graphical user interface for managing bibliographies and references
  • Advanced search and auto-complete features to swiftly retrieve saved publications
  • Automatic extraction of bibliographic data and metadata from PDFs
  • Customizable citation key generator and citation style support including APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
  • Integration with MS Word, LibreOffice, LaTeX editors to insert formatted bibliographies and citations
  • Shared SQL database allowing researchers to collaborate in teams
  • Availability of an iOS app to manage references from mobile devices

As an open-source software backed by an active community, JabRef is continuously updated with bug fixes and new capabilities suited for the needs of research teams and academic writers to streamline referencing tasks.

JabRef Features

Features

  1. Reference management
  2. BibTeX support
  3. Citation formatting
  4. PDF management
  5. Metadata extraction
  6. Grouping and tagging
  7. Online sync

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform availability

Large collection of citation styles

Good LaTeX integration

Active development and support

Cons

Steep learning curve

Clunky user interface

Limited collaboration features

No mobile apps


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