[codex] Add safe instance management features

FEATURES.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# VEX Feature Roadmap
+
+This roadmap compares the most useful instance-management ideas from Modrinth App and Prism Launcher with VEX. It intentionally excludes features that would add complexity without improving the normal path to playing Minecraft.
+
+## Available In VEX
+
+- Microsoft and offline profiles with saved offline skins.
+- Isolated Vanilla, Fabric, Quilt, Forge, and NeoForge instances.
+- Official Forge and NeoForge installer integration.
+- Automatic compatible Java runtime downloads.
+- Modrinth discovery and installation without an API key.
+- Optional CurseForge discovery when the user provides an official API key.
+- Mod, modpack, resource pack, shader, and plugin discovery.
+- Compatible content installation directly into an instance.
+- Instance cloning, protected deletion, icons, folders, worlds, screenshots, logs, and content lists.
+- Manual instance backups.
+- Modrinth modpack update checks and updates with an automatic full backup.
+- Existing Minecraft installation scanner with version, loader, mod, world, resource-pack, and shader summaries.
+- Local server creation and console.
+- Windows installer, self-contained portable build, and Linux AppImage.
+
+## Useful Next Features
+
+### High Priority
+
+- Import `.mrpack`, CurseForge ZIP, and generic ZIP files from disk or URL.
+- Export a VEX instance as `.mrpack` while clearly separating user files from pack files.
+- Detect installed mods by file hash and show exact project/version metadata.
+- Check and update individual mods in batches with a review screen.
+- Repair an instance by verifying libraries, assets, loader profiles, and managed modpack files.
+- Restore or compare backups from inside the launcher.
+- Import an existing Minecraft installation into an isolated VEX instance without changing the source.
+
+### Medium Priority
+
+- Temporarily disable mods without deleting them.
+- Select which parts are copied when cloning an instance.
+- Change an instance Minecraft version or loader with compatibility warnings.
+- Add instance notes and per-instance Java, memory, resolution, and launch settings.
+- Manage worlds and screenshots with rename, copy, export, and delete actions.
+- Show modpack changelogs before updating and allow selecting an older release.
+- Export a server-ready pack from a client instance.
+
+### Later
+
+- FTB and Technic pack providers.
+- Pre-launch and post-exit custom commands with clear security warnings.
+- Discord Rich Presence.
+- Optional cloud synchronization for settings and backups.
+
+## Deliberately Not Required
+
+- A CurseForge API key is not required for Forge, NeoForge, Minecraft, Java, or Modrinth.
+- VEX will not scrape private or undocumented CurseForge endpoints to bypass their official API rules.
+- Automatic destructive modpack updates are avoided. VEX creates a backup and asks for confirmation first.

README.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ VEX is a free and open-source Minecraft launcher focused on making the path from
 
 The project started as a design experiment built with AI-assisted programming. Its goal is to remain lightweight, direct, and accessible for players using either an official Microsoft account or an offline profile.
 
-## VEX 0.7
+## VEX 0.8
 
 - Combined Modrinth and CurseForge discovery with source, version, loader, and content-type filters.
 - Dedicated pages for mods, modpacks, shaders, resource packs, and plugins.
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ The project started as a design experiment built with AI-assisted programming. I
 - Automatic compatible Java runtime downloads from Eclipse Adoptium, isolated inside VEX data.
 - Saved offline profiles, a skin library, and official Microsoft login on Windows.
 - Instance library with cloning, protected deletion, worlds, screenshots, logs, and installed content.
+- Instance backups, existing-installation scanning, and safe Modrinth modpack update checks.
 - Local Vanilla, Paper, or Fabric servers with a console and a playit.gg guide.
 - Dark, AMOLED, Light, and High Contrast themes.
 - Per-user installer, self-contained portable executable, and Linux AppImage.
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ This flow does not depend on Prism Launcher metadata or ForgeWrapper.
 
 ## CurseForge
 
-The official CurseForge API requires a free API key. For security, VEX does not publish or embed a private key in the open-source code.
+The official CurseForge API requires a free API key. CurseForge is optional: Forge, NeoForge, Minecraft, Java, Modrinth, and every local launcher feature continue to work without it. For security, VEX does not publish or embed a private key in the open-source code.
 
 1. Create a key at [console.curseforge.com](https://console.curseforge.com/).
 2. Open **Settings > Network and sources**.

package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "vex-launcher",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.7.0",
+  "version": "0.8.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite --host 127.0.0.1",

src-tauri/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "vex-launcher"
-version = "0.7.0"
+version = "0.8.0"
 description = "VEX Launcher - a modern, accessible Minecraft launcher"
 authors = ["VEX Launcher contributors"]
 edition = "2021"