Cursor Autoresearch Extension
The Marketplace package is listed as Autoresearch. This package provides the VS Code UI layer for the Cursor Autoresearch workflow: status visibility, session actions, dashboard export, and a results panel.
Repository: ergenekonyigit/cursor-autoresearch
Contents
What this extension does
- Adds session-aware status integration in VS Code.
- Adds commands for help, session control, dashboard export, and results view.
- Serves a local dashboard over HTTP with server-sent events (SSE) updates.
- Opens a results webview panel for fast session inspection inside VS Code.
The extension is intentionally thin: the optimization loop and metric logic are implemented in shared packages and MCP tools in the same monorepo.
How it fits into the full workflow
Autoresearch is a closed optimization loop:
- Initialize an experiment and metric direction.
- Run benchmark iterations.
- Log outcomes and keep or discard changes.
This extension improves observability and ergonomics for that loop inside VS Code. The MCP server and core engine remain source-of-truth for experiment execution.
For end-to-end setup (MCP config, benchmark script, autoresearch.jsonl, and skills), use the main repository README:
Requirements
- VS Code: 1.105.0 or newer
- Node.js: 22 or newer for building/packaging from source
- pnpm: version aligned with the monorepo root
Install
From Marketplace
- Open Extensions in VS Code.
- Search for Autoresearch.
- Install and reload if prompted.
From VSIX
- Build/package the extension (see Package a VSIX).
- Run Extensions: Install from VSIX....
- Select the generated
.vsix file.
Commands
The extension contributes these commands:
Autoresearch: Help (autoresearch.showHelp)Autoresearch: Export dashboard (browser) (autoresearch.exportDashboard)Autoresearch: Turn mode off (autoresearch.modeOff)Autoresearch: Clear session (delete autoresearch.jsonl) (autoresearch.clearSession)Autoresearch: Start or resume (paste prompt) (autoresearch.resumePrompt)Autoresearch: Toggle expanded status (autoresearch.toggleExpanded)Autoresearch: Open results panel (autoresearch.openResultsPanel)
Use Command Palette and search for "Autoresearch".
Keyboard shortcuts
- Toggle expanded status: Ctrl+Alt+X
- Open results panel: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X
Note: keybindings are active when at least one workspace folder is open.
Dashboard and results panel
Export dashboard
Autoresearch: Export dashboard (browser) generates dashboard HTML from extension assets and current session data, then serves it on localhost.
Live updates
The dashboard endpoint uses SSE so updates in autoresearch.jsonl can be pushed without manual refresh.
Results panel
Autoresearch: Open results panel opens an in-editor summary view for quick inspection.
Screenshot
Typical usage flow
- Configure MCP for your workspace or user profile (VS Code
mcp.json).
- Start or resume a session with
Autoresearch: Start or resume (paste prompt).
- Run your benchmark-driven iteration loop with MCP tools.
- Use the results panel and/or browser dashboard to monitor progress.
- End the session or clear it when needed.
Develop from source
From repository root:
pnpm install
pnpm build
For extension-only checks:
pnpm --filter autoresearch test
pnpm --filter autoresearch build
Package a VSIX
From repository root:
pnpm package:extension
Or directly in this package:
pnpm run package
Expected output path:
packages/vscode-extension/autoresearch-<version>.vsix
Troubleshooting
Packaging error about version mismatch
If @types/vscode is greater than engines.vscode, packaging fails. Keep these compatible in this package's package.json.
Dashboard not updating
- Confirm
autoresearch.jsonl exists in the active workspace/project.
- Re-run dashboard export command to restart the local dashboard server.
Commands not appearing
- Reload the window (
Developer: Reload Window).
- Confirm extension is enabled in current workspace.
License
MIT. See LICENSE.
