docs(extension): rewrite README with hero SVG + badge suite + install table + feature matrix

Complete rewrite of packages/extension/README.md for VS Code Marketplace. Add SVG hero with dark/light theme support, badge row (Marketplace version/installs, GitHub release, license), and install table for 6 IDEs (VS Code, Insiders, Cursor, Windsurf, Trae, Open VSX) using shields.io flat-square badges with inline SVG icons from mcp-tool-icons/.

Expand feature list with zero-API-key auth, embedded MCP server, webview dashboard, auto-config for 15+ IDEs, and daemon

Author: A.R.

packages/extension/README.md

@@ -1,3 +1,123 @@
-# Perplexity MCP Extension
+<div align="center">
 
-Native VS Code extension packaging for the Perplexity MCP runtime. The extension embeds the MCP server, exposes a dashboard webview, and can generate `mcp.json` configs for Cursor, Windsurf, and Claude Desktop.
+<p align="center">
+  <picture>
+    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)" srcset="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/perplexity.svg" height="120">
+    <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: light)" srcset="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/perplexity.svg" height="120">
+    <img alt="Perplexity MCP" src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/Perplexity_Black.svg" height="120">
+  </picture>
+</p>
+
+# Perplexity MCP for VS Code
+
+**Use your Perplexity account (Free / Pro / Max) directly inside VS Code — no API key needed.**
+
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode"><img src="https://vsmarketplacebadges.dev/version-short/Nskha.perplexity-vscode.svg?style=for-the-badge&label=VS%20Code&colorB=007ACC" alt="VS Code version" /></a>
+  <a href="https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode"><img src="https://vsmarketplacebadges.dev/installs-short/Nskha.perplexity-vscode.svg?style=for-the-badge&label=Installs&colorB=1E8CBE" alt="VS Code installs" /></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/releases/latest"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP?style=for-the-badge&logo=github&logoColor=white&label=Latest%20Release&color=10B981" alt="Latest release" /></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/blob/main/LICENSE"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/license/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP?style=for-the-badge&logo=opensourceinitiative&logoColor=white&label=License&color=22C55E" alt="License" /></a>
+</p>
+
+<br />
+
+> **Not affiliated with Perplexity AI, Inc.** This is a community-maintained project.
+>
+> **Experimental** — Under active development. APIs and behavior may change without notice.
+
+</div>
+
+---
+
+## Install
+
+| IDE | Install |
+|:---:|:--------|
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/vscode.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="VS Code" /> **Visual Studio Code** | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-VS%20Code-007ACC?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode) |
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/vscode.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="VS Code Insiders" /> **VS Code Insiders** | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-VS%20Code%20Insiders-24bfa5?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode) |
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/cursor.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="Cursor" /> **Cursor** | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-Cursor-000000?style=flat-square&logo=cursor&logoColor=white)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode) |
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/windsurf.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="Windsurf" /> **Windsurf** | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-Windsurf-0E6EFD?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode) |
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/trae.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="Trae" /> **Trae** | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-Trae-FF6B35?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Nskha.perplexity-vscode) |
+| <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/main/mcp-tool-icons/vscode.svg" height="20" valign="middle" alt="Open VSX" /> **Open VSX** (Gitpod · Theia · Coder) | [![Install](https://img.shields.io/badge/Install-Open%20VSX-C160EF?style=flat-square&logoColor=white)](https://open-vsx.org/extension/Nskha/perplexity-vscode) |
+
+---
+
+## What is this?
+
+A VS Code extension that embeds the **Perplexity MCP runtime** directly in your editor. It drives a long-lived **patchright** Chromium session against your existing Perplexity account — so it uses your Free / Pro / Max plan instead of an API key.
+
+### Key features
+
+- **Zero API key** — authenticates via your browser session, uses your existing Perplexity plan.
+- **Embedded MCP server** — registered via `mcpServerDefinitionProviders`; agents (Copilot, Cursor, etc.) pick it up automatically.
+- **Webview dashboard** — login flows, profile management, session status, all inside VS Code.
+- **Auto-config for 15+ IDEs** — one click writes MCP configs and rulesets for Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop, Cline, Amp, Codex CLI, and more.
+- **Daemon mode** — keep a long-lived HTTP MCP server running with Cloudflare or ngrok tunnels.
+
+---
+
+## Getting started
+
+1. Install the extension from the Marketplace.
+2. Open the Command Palette (`Ctrl+Shift+P` / `Cmd+Shift+P`) and run **`Perplexity: Login`**.
+3. A browser window opens — log in to your Perplexity account.
+4. Done. The MCP server is now available to any agent in VS Code.
+
+> **First run only:** Perplexity serves a Cloudflare Turnstile on the first login. The extension opens a headed browser so you can complete it. After that, sessions are cached and renewed automatically.
+
+---
+
+## Browser support
+
+The extension automates a real Chromium browser to survive Cloudflare. It probes in this order:
+
+| Priority | Browser | Notes |
+|:--------:|:--------|:------|
+| #1 | **Google Chrome** | Recommended — best Cloudflare compatibility |
+| #2 | **Microsoft Edge** | Works on all platforms |
+| #3 | **System Chromium** | Good for Linux / headless servers |
+| #4 | **Brave** | Auto-detected, no special flags |
+| #5 | **Bundled Chromium** | Fallback via `npx patchright install chromium` |
+
+Override detection with `PERPLEXITY_BROWSER_CHANNEL` or `PERPLEXITY_BROWSER_PATH`.
+
+---
+
+## Auto-config: supported IDEs
+
+Run **`Perplexity: Configure IDEs`** from the Command Palette to auto-write MCP configs and rules for:
+
+| Client | Config written |
+|:-------|:--------------|
+| **Cursor** | `.cursor/rules/*.mdc`, `mcp.json` |
+| **Claude Desktop / Claude Code** | `claude_desktop_config.json`, `CLAUDE.md` |
+| **Windsurf** | `mcp_config.json`, `.windsurfrules` |
+| **Cline** | MCP settings, `.clinerules` |
+| **Amp** | `.github/instructions/*` |
+| **Codex CLI** | `mcp.json`, `AGENTS.md` |
+| …and 9 more | See [full IDE list](https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP#supported-ides--mcp-clients) |
+
+---
+
+## Commands
+
+| Command | Description |
+|:--------|:-----------|
+| `Perplexity: Login` | Open login browser and authenticate |
+| `Perplexity: Logout` | Clear cached session |
+| `Perplexity: Configure IDEs` | Auto-write MCP configs for all supported IDEs |
+| `Perplexity: Open Dashboard` | Open the webview dashboard |
+| `Perplexity: Restart Server` | Restart the embedded MCP daemon |
+
+---
+
+## Links
+
+- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP)
+- [Changelog](https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)
+- [Report a Bug](https://github.com/Automations-Project/VSCode-Perplexity-MCP/issues/new?template=bug-report.yml)
+- [npm package (standalone MCP server)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/perplexity-user-mcp)
+
+---
+
+**MIT License** · Not affiliated with Perplexity AI, Inc.