How to install each Varterm extension

Cursor — install the editor extension (.vsix)

Cursor sometimes does not list marketplace entries exactly like VS Code yet, so installing from a .vsix file is the most reliable path. The downloadable package name matches the current release (0.1.16) on GitHub Releases.

If the hosted .vsix link returns 404, the release may still be tagging only—either publish the artifact on Releases or build from source in varterm/extensions (Development section → npm run package inside extensions/vscode).

1. Download the .vsix from the button above or from Releases.
2. In Cursor open the Command Palette: Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux).
3. Run Extensions: Install from VSIX....
4. Choose the varterm-cursor-*.vsix file and confirm.
5. Reload the window if Cursor prompts you.
6. Use commands such as Varterm: Read Clipboard Aloud or Varterm: Read Editor/Selection Aloud. Run Varterm: Connect only when you point at a custom server or token.

Updating is the same flow: download the newer .vsix and run Install from VSIX again (or uninstall the old version first if you prefer a clean install—check Cursor's Extensions view).

VS Code — Marketplace install or manual .vsix

On VS Code you can usually install straight from the Visual Studio Marketplace when the listing is available. Manual .vsix follows the identical steps as Cursor and is handy for betas or air-gapped machines.

From Marketplace

1. Open the listing (button above). Click Install and approve opening VS Code when the browser asks.
2. After installation, reload if prompted.

From a .vsix file

1. Command Palette → Extensions: Install from VSIX... → pick the file → reload if needed.

Troubleshooting overlaps with Cursor: confirmed package names and tags live in varterm/extensions.

Chrome extension — Chrome Web Store (or unpacked)

The browser extension reads selection and pages in Chrome. Prefer the packaged listing unless you are developing or QA'ing a local build. Until a single stable listing URL is finalized, use the Chrome Web Store home and search Varterm, or extensions hub → Chrome when we publish the direct listing link there.

Install from the Web Store

1. Open the Chrome Web Store listing and click Add to Chrome.
2. Pin the extension (puzzle icon → pin) so the toolbar control is visible.
3. On a page, select text and use the in-page controls or context menu commands (wording varies by version) for passages and markdown-heavy blocks.
4. Grant any permission prompts Chrome shows for the sites where you want read-aloud—extensions can only act where the browser allows.

Unpacked install (contributors / QA)

Clone and build the Chrome target from varterm/extensions per that repo's README, then load the folder that contains a valid manifest.json (often a dist or release output—not the whole monorepo root).

1. In Chrome go to chrome://extensions.
2. Turn on Developer mode (top right).
3. Click Load unpacked and choose the built extension directory.
4. After code changes, use Reload on the extension card to pick up new assets.

Unpacked installs are tied to your local folder; switching machines or wiping the checkout removes the loaded extension unless you repeat the steps or reinstall from the Web Store.