diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index dc579f00f..c812a153c 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ importers:
   projects/code:
     dependencies:
       '@nvidia-elements/themes':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../themes
       highlight.js:
         specifier: catalog:publish
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ importers:
         specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../forms
       '@nvidia-elements/themes':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../themes
       lit:
         specifier: catalog:publish
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ importers:
         specifier: 'catalog:'
         version: 0.61.0
       '@nvidia-elements/themes':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../themes
       minisearch:
         specifier: catalog:publish
@@ -978,10 +978,10 @@ importers:
   projects/markdown:
     dependencies:
       '@nvidia-elements/core':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../core
       '@nvidia-elements/themes':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../themes
       lit:
         specifier: catalog:publish
@@ -1042,10 +1042,10 @@ importers:
   projects/media:
     dependencies:
       '@nvidia-elements/core':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../core
       '@nvidia-elements/themes':
-        specifier: workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0
+        specifier: workspace:^
         version: link:../themes
       lit:
         specifier: catalog:publish
diff --git a/projects/cli/README.md b/projects/cli/README.md
index c7e676f02..f590e89db 100644
--- a/projects/cli/README.md
+++ b/projects/cli/README.md
@@ -115,6 +115,17 @@ Install to Cursor with the MCP configuration below.
 }
 ```
 
+### Codex
+
+Install to Codex with the MCP configuration below.
+
+```toml
+[mcp_servers.elements]
+description = "NVIDIA Elements UI Design System (nve-*), custom element schemas, APIs and examples"
+command = "nve"
+args = ["mcp"]
+```
+
 ### Prompts
 
 | Prompt | Description | Example Prompt |
diff --git a/projects/code/package.json b/projects/code/package.json
index b5e7ed5bb..a6ae2b954 100644
--- a/projects/code/package.json
+++ b/projects/code/package.json
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@
     "lit-html": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0",
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:^",
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "catalog:",
diff --git a/projects/core/package.json b/projects/core/package.json
index 8d0e95060..2a5f5fc37 100644
--- a/projects/core/package.json
+++ b/projects/core/package.json
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@
     "lit-html": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "optionalDependencies": {
     "@lit-labs/scoped-registry-mixin": "catalog:publish",
diff --git a/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.test.ts b/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.test.ts
index 9ada6a1a8..6cb291374 100644
--- a/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.test.ts
+++ b/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.test.ts
@@ -132,11 +132,10 @@ describe(Combobox.metadata.tag, () => {
     expect(dropdown.matches(':popover-open')).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('should assign trigger and anchor to inner input container', async () => {
+  it('should assign anchor to inner input container', async () => {
     const dropdown = element.shadowRoot.querySelector<Dropdown>(Dropdown.metadata.tag);
     const inputContainer = element.shadowRoot.querySelector<HTMLDivElement>('[input]');
     expect(dropdown.anchor).toBe(inputContainer);
-    expect(dropdown.trigger).toBe(inputContainer);
   });
 
   it('should hide options on escape keypress', async () => {
diff --git a/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.ts b/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.ts
index 45ef52cf9..d034cdd81 100644
--- a/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.ts
+++ b/projects/core/src/combobox/combobox.ts
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ export class Combobox extends Control implements ContainerElement {
     const hasNoResults = visibleOptions.filter(o => !o.disabled).length === 0;
     const showCreateItem = this.#showCreateItem;
     return html`
-    <nve-dropdown part="dropdown" .popoverType=${'manual'} .modal=${false} @open=${this.#onDropdownOpen} @close=${this.#closeListBox} hidden .anchor=${this.#input as HTMLElement} .trigger=${this.#input as HTMLElement} position="bottom">
+    <nve-dropdown part="dropdown" .popoverType=${'manual'} .modal=${false} @open=${this.#openDropdown} @close=${this.#closeDropdown} hidden .anchor=${this.#input as HTMLElement} position="bottom">
       <nve-menu part="menu" role="listbox" style="--width: 100%; --min-width: fit-content" aria-label=${ifDefined(this.i18n.select)}>
         ${visibleOptions.map(
           o => html`
@@ -371,8 +371,14 @@ export class Combobox extends Control implements ContainerElement {
     }
   }
 
-  #onDropdownOpen(e: Event) {
-    (e.target as HTMLElement).hidden = false;
+  #openDropdown() {
+    this.#dropdown!.hidden = false;
+  }
+
+  #closeDropdown() {
+    this.#dropdown!.hidden = true;
+    this._internals.states.delete('dirty');
+    this.#validateSingleSelectValue();
   }
 
   #setupAutoCompleteKeyEvents() {
@@ -515,12 +521,6 @@ export class Combobox extends Control implements ContainerElement {
     }
   }
 
-  #closeListBox() {
-    this.#dropdown!.hidePopover();
-    this._internals.states.delete('dirty');
-    this.#validateSingleSelectValue();
-  }
-
   #validateSingleSelectValue() {
     const invalidInputValue =
       this.#select &&
diff --git a/projects/core/src/select/select.global.css b/projects/core/src/select/select.global.css
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..281d9dda7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/core/src/select/select.global.css
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+/* SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved. */
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 */
+
+nve-select select[multiple] option {
+  pointer-events: none !important;
+}
diff --git a/projects/core/src/select/select.ts b/projects/core/src/select/select.ts
index 7564dd007..5b823bfe9 100644
--- a/projects/core/src/select/select.ts
+++ b/projects/core/src/select/select.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import {
   I18nController,
   onChildListMutation,
   getElementUpdate,
-  scopedRegistry
+  scopedRegistry,
+  appendRootNodeStyle
 } from '@nvidia-elements/core/internal';
 import { Control } from '@nvidia-elements/core/forms';
 import { Icon } from '@nvidia-elements/core/icon';
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ import { Menu, MenuItem } from '@nvidia-elements/core/menu';
 import { Dropdown } from '@nvidia-elements/core/dropdown';
 import { Tag } from '@nvidia-elements/core/tag';
 import styles from './select.css?inline';
+import globalStyles from './select.global.css?inline';
 
 /**
  * @element nve-select
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ export class Select extends Control {
     return this.#select?.size === 0
       ? html`
       <nve-icon name="caret" part="caret" direction="down" size="sm" aria-hidden="true"></nve-icon>
-      <nve-dropdown part="dropdown" @close=${this.#closeDropdown} @open=${this.#openDropdown} hidden  .anchor=${this.#input as HTMLElement} .trigger=${this.#input as HTMLElement}  position="bottom">
+      <nve-dropdown part="dropdown" @close=${this.#closeDropdown} @open=${this.#openDropdown} hidden .anchor=${this.#input as HTMLElement} position="bottom">
         ${this.#menu}
       </nve-dropdown>`
       : this.#menu;
@@ -189,6 +191,11 @@ export class Select extends Control {
     });
   }
 
+  connectedCallback() {
+    super.connectedCallback();
+    appendRootNodeStyle(this, globalStyles);
+  }
+
   disconnectedCallback() {
     super.disconnectedCallback();
     this.#observers.forEach(observer => observer.disconnect());
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/api/utils.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/api/utils.test.ts
index dbd4b5d5b..e38708f8a 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/api/utils.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/api/utils.test.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,14 @@ import {
   getContextAPIs,
   getContextTokens,
   getPublishedPackageNames,
+  searchContextAPIs,
   type PartialAPIResult
 } from './utils.js';
 
+vi.mock('@internals/metadata', () => ({
+  ApiService: { search: vi.fn() }
+}));
+
 describe('getPublishedPackageNames', () => {
   const projects = [
     {
@@ -613,4 +618,88 @@ describe('attributeMetadataToMarkdown', () => {
 
     expect(markdown.includes('| `disabled` | `string` |`true` |')).toBe(true);
   });
+
+  it('should use the built-in example for nve-layout', () => {
+    const attribute: Attribute = {
+      name: 'nve-layout',
+      description: 'Layout utility attribute',
+      example: '',
+      markdown: '',
+      values: [{ name: 'row' }, { name: 'column' }]
+    };
+
+    const markdown = attributeMetadataToMarkdown(attribute);
+
+    expect(markdown).toContain('## nve-layout');
+    expect(markdown).toContain('nve-layout="row gap:sm"');
+    expect(markdown).toContain('nve-layout="grid gap:sm span-items:6"');
+  });
+
+  it('should use the built-in example for nve-text', () => {
+    const attribute: Attribute = {
+      name: 'nve-text',
+      description: 'Typography utility attribute',
+      example: '',
+      markdown: '',
+      values: [{ name: 'heading' }, { name: 'body' }]
+    };
+
+    const markdown = attributeMetadataToMarkdown(attribute);
+
+    expect(markdown).toContain('## nve-text');
+    expect(markdown).toContain('nve-text="heading"');
+    expect(markdown).toContain('nve-text="monospace"');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('searchContextAPIs', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('should attach markdown to attribute results that have values', async () => {
+    const { ApiService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ApiService.search).mockResolvedValue([
+      { name: 'nve-layout', description: 'Layout utility', values: [{ name: 'row' }], markdown: '' }
+    ] as never);
+
+    const results = (await searchContextAPIs('layout')) as Attribute[];
+
+    expect(results).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(results[0].markdown).toContain('## nve-layout');
+  });
+
+  it('should leave element results without a markdown field untouched', async () => {
+    const { ApiService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ApiService.search).mockResolvedValue([
+      { name: 'nve-button', manifest: { metadata: { markdown: 'x' } } }
+    ] as never);
+
+    const results = (await searchContextAPIs('button')) as Element[];
+
+    expect(results).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect((results[0] as Attribute).markdown).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('should limit results to the configured limit', async () => {
+    const { ApiService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ApiService.search).mockResolvedValue(
+      Array.from({ length: 5 }, (_, index) => ({ name: `nve-item-${index}` })) as never
+    );
+
+    const results = await searchContextAPIs('item', { limit: 2 });
+
+    expect(results).toHaveLength(2);
+  });
+
+  it('should return every result when no limit is provided', async () => {
+    const { ApiService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ApiService.search).mockResolvedValue(
+      Array.from({ length: 5 }, (_, index) => ({ name: `nve-item-${index}` })) as never
+    );
+
+    const results = await searchContextAPIs('item', {});
+
+    expect(results).toHaveLength(5);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/distill/examples.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/distill/examples.test.ts
index b9725d0d5..d344098d1 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/distill/examples.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/distill/examples.test.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ describe('isContextExample', () => {
       })
     ).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it('should treat an example with no id, tags, or element as a default', () => {
+    expect(isContextExample({})).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('rankExample', () => {
@@ -147,6 +151,10 @@ describe('rankExample', () => {
     expect(rankExample({ id: 'button-default' })).toBe(3);
   });
 
+  it('should default to the lowest rank when the id is missing', () => {
+    expect(rankExample({})).toBe(3);
+  });
+
   it('should strip elements- prefix before ranking', () => {
     expect(rankExample({ id: 'elements-template-foo' })).toBe(0);
     expect(rankExample({ id: 'elements-pattern-form' })).toBe(1);
@@ -267,4 +275,18 @@ describe('distillExamples', () => {
     expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(result[0].summary).toBe('Has summary');
   });
+
+  it('should default every shaped field when examples omit them', () => {
+    const result = distillExamples([{}, {}]);
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(result[0]).toEqual({ id: '', name: '', summary: '', element: '', template: '' });
+  });
+
+  it('should fall back to the description when the summary is missing', () => {
+    const result = distillExamples([{ id: 'widget', element: 'nve-widget', description: 'Reusable widget' }]);
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result[0].summary).toBe('Reusable widget');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/node.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/node.test.ts
index 58b89b7d6..d8c3eb433 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/node.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/node.test.ts
@@ -162,5 +162,68 @@ describe('internal/node', () => {
 
       expect(result).toEqual([]);
     });
+
+    it('should ignore PATH entries that are not regular files', async () => {
+      const { existsSync, statSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      vi.mocked(existsSync).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(statSync).mockReturnValue({ isFile: () => false } as ReturnType<typeof statSync>);
+
+      const { findExecutablesOnPath } = await import('./node.js');
+      const result = findExecutablesOnPath('nve', { envPath: '/a' });
+
+      expect(result).toEqual([]);
+    });
+
+    it('should expand the command with explicit PATHEXT extensions on win32', async () => {
+      const { existsSync, statSync, realpathSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      vi.mocked(existsSync).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(statSync).mockReturnValue({ isFile: () => true } as ReturnType<typeof statSync>);
+      vi.mocked(realpathSync).mockImplementation(path => path.toString());
+
+      const { findExecutablesOnPath } = await import('./node.js');
+      const result = findExecutablesOnPath('nve', { envPath: 'C:/bin', platform: 'win32', pathExt: '.EXE;.CMD' });
+
+      expect(result.some(commandPath => commandPath.toLowerCase().endsWith('nve.exe'))).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.some(commandPath => commandPath.toLowerCase().endsWith('nve.cmd'))).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should fall back to the PATHEXT environment variable on win32', async () => {
+      const { existsSync, statSync, realpathSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      vi.mocked(existsSync).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(statSync).mockReturnValue({ isFile: () => true } as ReturnType<typeof statSync>);
+      vi.mocked(realpathSync).mockImplementation(path => path.toString());
+      vi.stubEnv('PATHEXT', '.BAT');
+
+      const { findExecutablesOnPath } = await import('./node.js');
+      const result = findExecutablesOnPath('nve', { envPath: 'C:/bin', platform: 'win32' });
+
+      expect(result.some(commandPath => commandPath.toLowerCase().endsWith('nve.bat'))).toBe(true);
+      vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+    });
+
+    it('should treat any matching file as executable on win32 without an access check', async () => {
+      const { accessSync, existsSync, statSync, realpathSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      vi.mocked(existsSync).mockReturnValue(true);
+      vi.mocked(statSync).mockReturnValue({ isFile: () => true } as ReturnType<typeof statSync>);
+      vi.mocked(realpathSync).mockImplementation(path => path.toString());
+
+      const { findExecutablesOnPath } = await import('./node.js');
+      const result = findExecutablesOnPath('nve', { envPath: 'C:/bin', platform: 'win32', pathExt: '.EXE' });
+
+      expect(result.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      expect(accessSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('should default to process PATH and platform when options are omitted', async () => {
+      const { existsSync } = await import('node:fs');
+      vi.mocked(existsSync).mockReturnValue(false);
+      vi.stubEnv('PATH', '/usr/bin:/bin');
+
+      const { findExecutablesOnPath } = await import('./node.js');
+      const result = findExecutablesOnPath('definitely-not-a-real-command');
+
+      expect(result).toEqual([]);
+      vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/utils.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/utils.test.ts
index 7693360cf..e9bc25a10 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/utils.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/internal/utils.test.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import type { ProjectElement } from '@internals/metadata';
-import { getElementImports, getAvailableElementTags, wrapText } from './utils.js';
+import { getElementImports, getAvailableElementTags, isDebug, wrapText } from './utils.js';
 
 describe('getElementImports', () => {
   const elements: ProjectElement[] = [
@@ -124,4 +124,33 @@ describe('wrapText', () => {
     const result = wrapText(text, 10);
     expect(result).toContain('superlongwordthatexceedswidth');
   });
+
+  it('should handle a single word longer than width with nothing trailing', () => {
+    const text = 'superlongwordthatexceedswidth';
+    expect(wrapText(text, 10)).toBe('superlongwordthatexceedswidth');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('isDebug', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+  });
+
+  it('should return true when debug is enabled outside of the mcp environment', () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_DEBUG', 'true');
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_ENV', 'cli');
+    expect(isDebug()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false when debug is not enabled', () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_DEBUG', 'false');
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_ENV', 'cli');
+    expect(isDebug()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('should return false in the mcp environment even when debug is enabled', () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_DEBUG', 'true');
+    vi.stubEnv('ELEMENTS_ENV', 'mcp');
+    expect(isDebug()).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/packages/utils.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/packages/utils.test.ts
index 5b134e42b..111508f70 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/packages/utils.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/packages/utils.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import {
   findPublicAPIChangelog,
+  getAvailablePackages,
   getPackage,
+  getVersions,
   hasChangelogEntries,
   limitChangelogVersions,
   scopeOrder
@@ -198,4 +200,47 @@ describe('getPackage', () => {
     expect(result).toContain('# @nvidia-elements/core v1.0.0');
     expect(result).toContain('No readme pkg');
   });
+
+  it('should throw with no available packages when metadata is missing', async () => {
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValueOnce(undefined as never);
+
+    await expect(getPackage('@nvidia-elements/core')).rejects.toThrow('No package found for "@nvidia-elements/core"');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getVersions', () => {
+  it('should resolve the latest published versions for available packages', async () => {
+    const result = await getVersions();
+    expect(result).toEqual({
+      '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0',
+      '@nvidia-elements/themes': '1.5.0'
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('should default to an empty package list when metadata is missing', async () => {
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValueOnce(undefined as never);
+
+    const result = await getVersions();
+    expect(result).toBeDefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getAvailablePackages', () => {
+  it('should format available packages as markdown sections', async () => {
+    const result = await getAvailablePackages();
+    expect(result).toContain('## @nvidia-elements/core v2.0.0');
+    expect(result).toContain('Core elements');
+    expect(result).toContain('## @nvidia-elements/themes v1.5.0');
+    expect(result).toContain('Theme tokens');
+  });
+
+  it('should return an empty string when metadata is missing', async () => {
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValueOnce(undefined as never);
+
+    const result = await getAvailablePackages();
+    expect(result).toBe('');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.test.ts
index 7eee24553..71c51b538 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.test.ts
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ describe('setup-mcp', () => {
 
       const written = vi.mocked(writeFileSync).mock.calls[0][1] as string;
       expect(written).toContain('[mcp_servers.elements]');
+      expect(written).toContain(
+        'description = "NVIDIA Elements UI Design System (nve-*), custom element schemas, APIs and examples"'
+      );
       expect(written).toContain('command = "nve"');
       expect(written).toContain('args = ["mcp"]');
     });
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.ts
index 587ed4593..92ac9f6a6 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/setup-agent.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export function writeMcpTomlConfig(configPath: string): string {
 
   const sectionRegex = new RegExp(`\\[mcp_servers\\.elements\\][\\s\\S]*?(?=\\n\\[|$)`);
   const content = existing.replace(sectionRegex, '').trimEnd();
-  const block = `\n\n[mcp_servers.elements]\ncommand = "nve"\nargs = ["mcp"]\n`;
+  const block = `\n\n[mcp_servers.elements]\ndescription = "${DESCRIPTION}"\ncommand = "nve"\nargs = ["mcp"]\n`;
   const updated = (content + block).trimStart();
   const dir = configPath.substring(0, configPath.lastIndexOf('/'));
 
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.test.ts
index 01beb98e3..c15eca7d8 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import {
   startersData,
   createGitInitProcess,
   createStarterPaths,
+  execPackageManager,
   getDependencyInstallFailureMessage,
+  getRequiredNPMClient,
   removeWireitScripts,
   startStarter
 } from './starters.js';
@@ -253,3 +255,68 @@ describe('createGitInitProcess', () => {
     expect(execFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith('git', ['init', extractedPath]);
   });
 });
+
+describe('execPackageManager', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('should invoke pnpm without shell interpretation', async () => {
+    const { execFile } = await import('node:child_process');
+
+    execPackageManager('pnpm', ['install'], '/tmp/starter');
+
+    expect(execFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pnpm', ['install'], { cwd: '/tmp/starter' });
+  });
+
+  it('should invoke npm without shell interpretation', async () => {
+    const { execFile } = await import('node:child_process');
+
+    execPackageManager('npm', ['install'], '/tmp/starter');
+
+    expect(execFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith('npm', ['install'], { cwd: '/tmp/starter' });
+  });
+});
+
+describe('getRequiredNPMClient', () => {
+  it('should return the detected package manager when one is available', async () => {
+    expect(await getRequiredNPMClient()).toBe('pnpm');
+  });
+
+  it('should throw when no supported package manager is found', async () => {
+    vi.resetModules();
+    vi.doMock('../internal/node.js', () => ({
+      getNPMClient: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(null),
+      isCommandAvailable: vi.fn(),
+      getPackageJson: vi.fn()
+    }));
+
+    const { getRequiredNPMClient: getRequiredNPMClientMocked } = await import('./starters.js');
+    await expect(getRequiredNPMClientMocked()).rejects.toThrow('No supported package manager found.');
+
+    vi.doUnmock('../internal/node.js');
+    vi.resetModules();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('startStarter with npm', () => {
+  it('should start the dev server using npm when pnpm is unavailable', async () => {
+    vi.resetModules();
+    vi.doMock('../internal/node.js', () => ({
+      getNPMClient: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue('npm'),
+      isCommandAvailable: vi.fn(),
+      getPackageJson: vi.fn()
+    }));
+
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { startStarter: startStarterMocked } = await import('./starters.js');
+    const extractedPath = '/tmp/npm-starter';
+
+    await startStarterMocked(extractedPath);
+
+    expect(execFileSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith('npm', ['run', 'dev'], { cwd: extractedPath, stdio: 'inherit' });
+
+    vi.doUnmock('../internal/node.js');
+    vi.resetModules();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.ts
index ff40b241d..cabcaa90d 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/starters.ts
@@ -277,26 +277,39 @@ function isGitRepository(directoryPath: string) {
 }
 
 /* istanbul ignore next -- @preserve */
-async function setupStarterNPM(extractedDir: string) {
-  try {
-    await installFromRegistry(extractedDir);
-  } catch (e) {
-    const npmClient = await getNPMClient();
-    const stderr = (e as { stderr?: Buffer })?.stderr?.toString?.().trim();
-    console.error(stderr || e);
-    console.error(getDependencyInstallFailureMessage(extractedDir, npmClient));
+async function setupStarterNPM(cwd: string) {
+  console.log('📦 Installing dependencies...');
+  const npmClient = await getRequiredNPMClient();
+  const { code, stdout, stderr } = await runPackageManagerInstall(npmClient, cwd);
+
+  if (code === 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const output = `${stdout}\n${stderr}`;
+  if (output.includes('ERR_PNPM_IGNORED_BUILDS')) {
+    console.log('⚠️ Some dependency build scripts were skipped. Run "pnpm approve-builds" if needed.');
+    return;
   }
+
+  const message = output.trim() || `${npmClient} install exited with code ${code}`;
+  throw new Error(message);
 }
 
 /* istanbul ignore next -- @preserve */
-async function installFromRegistry(extractedDir: string) {
-  const npmClient = await getRequiredNPMClient();
-  console.log('📦 Installing dependencies...');
-  await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
-    const child = execPackageManager(npmClient, ['install'], extractedDir);
-    child.on('close', code =>
-      code === 0 ? resolve() : reject(new Error(`${npmClient} install exited with code ${code}`))
-    );
+function runPackageManagerInstall(npmClient: NPMClient, cwd: string) {
+  return new Promise<{ code: number; stdout: string; stderr: string }>((resolve, reject) => {
+    const child = execPackageManager(npmClient, ['install'], cwd);
+    let stdout = '';
+    let stderr = '';
+
+    child.stdout?.on('data', (data: Buffer) => {
+      stdout += data.toString();
+    });
+    child.stderr?.on('data', (data: Buffer) => {
+      stderr += data.toString();
+    });
+    child.on('close', code => resolve({ code: code ?? 1, stdout, stderr }));
     child.on('error', reject);
   });
 }
@@ -319,13 +332,13 @@ export async function startStarter(extractedPath: string) {
   }
 }
 
-async function getRequiredNPMClient() {
+export async function getRequiredNPMClient() {
   const npmClient = await getNPMClient();
   if (npmClient === 'npm' || npmClient === 'pnpm') return npmClient;
   throw new Error('No supported package manager found.');
 }
 
-function execPackageManager(npmClient: NPMClient, args: string[], cwd: string) {
+export function execPackageManager(npmClient: NPMClient, args: string[], cwd: string) {
   return npmClient === 'pnpm' ? execFile('pnpm', args, { cwd }) : execFile('npm', args, { cwd });
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.test.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.test.ts
index f83e3b7b4..debf0b74d 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.test.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.test.ts
@@ -399,7 +399,170 @@ describe('updateProject', () => {
 
     expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('success');
     expect(writeFileSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`${cwd}/package.json`, expect.stringContaining('"2.0.0"'));
-    expect(execFileSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pnpm', ['update', '@nvidia-elements/*', '@nvidia-elements/*'], { cwd });
+    expect(execFileSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith('pnpm', ['update', '@nvidia-elements/*'], { cwd });
+  });
+
+  it('should treat pnpm ignored builds as non-fatal', async () => {
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '1.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+    vi.mocked(execFileSync).mockImplementation(() => {
+      const error = new Error('Command failed') as Error & { stderr: Buffer };
+      error.stderr = Buffer.from('ERR_PNPM_IGNORED_BUILDS Ignored build scripts: esbuild');
+      throw error;
+    });
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('success');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('@nvidia-elements/core: 1.0.0 → 2.0.0');
+  });
+
+  it('should report success when all packages are already up to date', async () => {
+    const { writeFileSync } = await import('node:fs');
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('success');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('All packages are already up to date');
+    expect(writeFileSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(execFileSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should report danger with command output when the install fails', async () => {
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '1.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+    vi.mocked(execFileSync).mockImplementation(() => {
+      const error = new Error('Command failed') as Error & { stderr: Buffer };
+      error.stderr = Buffer.from('ENOTFOUND registry.npmjs.org');
+      throw error;
+    });
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('danger');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('Failed to update to the latest version');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('ENOTFOUND registry.npmjs.org');
+  });
+
+  it('should stringify non-object errors from the install command', async () => {
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '1.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+    vi.mocked(execFileSync).mockImplementation(() => {
+      const failure: unknown = 'string failure';
+      throw failure;
+    });
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('danger');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('string failure');
+  });
+
+  it('should fall back to the error message when no command output is present', async () => {
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '1.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+    vi.mocked(execFileSync).mockImplementation(() => {
+      throw new Error('npm exploded');
+    });
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('danger');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('npm exploded');
+  });
+
+  it('should fall back to a generic message when the error has no details', async () => {
+    const { execFileSync } = await import('node:child_process');
+    const { ProjectsService } = await import('@internals/metadata');
+    const { getLatestPublishedVersions } = await import('../api/utils.js');
+    const { getNPMClient, getPackageJson } = await import('../internal/node.js');
+
+    vi.mocked(getPackageJson).mockReturnValue({
+      dependencies: { '@nvidia-elements/core': '1.0.0' },
+      devDependencies: {},
+      peerDependencies: {}
+    });
+    vi.mocked(ProjectsService.getData).mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ changelog: 'core' }] });
+    vi.mocked(getLatestPublishedVersions).mockResolvedValue(
+      createMockElementVersions({ '@nvidia-elements/core': '2.0.0' })
+    );
+    vi.mocked(getNPMClient).mockResolvedValue('pnpm');
+    vi.mocked(execFileSync).mockImplementation(() => {
+      const failure: unknown = {};
+      throw failure;
+    });
+
+    const result = await updateProject('/tmp/project');
+
+    expect(result.dependencies.status).toBe('danger');
+    expect(result.dependencies.message).toContain('Command failed');
   });
 
   it('should not write package.json when no package manager exists', async () => {
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.ts b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.ts
index 6edd5ad68..d1d606878 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.ts
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/project/update.ts
@@ -89,11 +89,16 @@ function updateProjectDependencies(options: ProjectDependencyUpdateOptions): Rep
 
   try {
     writeFileSync(packageJsonPath, JSON.stringify(packageJson, null, 2));
-    execFileSync(packageManager, ['update', '@nvidia-elements/*', '@nvidia-elements/*'], { cwd });
+    execFileSync(packageManager, ['update', '@nvidia-elements/*'], { cwd });
   } catch (e) {
+    const output = getExecFileSyncOutput(e);
+    if (packageManager === 'pnpm' && output.includes('ERR_PNPM_IGNORED_BUILDS')) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
     return {
       dependencies: {
-        message: `Failed to update to the latest version. \n${e}`,
+        message: `Failed to update to the latest version. \n${output}`,
         status: 'danger'
       }
     };
@@ -102,6 +107,19 @@ function updateProjectDependencies(options: ProjectDependencyUpdateOptions): Rep
   return null;
 }
 
+function getExecFileSyncOutput(error: unknown) {
+  if (typeof error !== 'object' || error === null) {
+    return `${error}`;
+  }
+
+  const execError = error as { stdout?: Buffer | string; stderr?: Buffer | string; message?: string };
+  const stdout = execError.stdout?.toString() ?? '';
+  const stderr = execError.stderr?.toString() ?? '';
+  const output = `${stdout}\n${stderr}`.trim();
+
+  return output || execError.message || 'Command failed';
+}
+
 function createMissingPackageJsonReport(packageJsonPath: string): Report {
   return {
     dependencies: {
diff --git a/projects/internals/tools/src/skills/doctor.md b/projects/internals/tools/src/skills/doctor.md
index ad73766ba..84839ed05 100644
--- a/projects/internals/tools/src/skills/doctor.md
+++ b/projects/internals/tools/src/skills/doctor.md
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ Ensure the MCP is properly configured and working as expected.
 
 ```toml
 [mcp_servers.elements]
+description = "NVIDIA Elements UI Design System (nve-*), custom element schemas, APIs and examples"
 command = "nve"
 args = ["mcp"]
 ```
diff --git a/projects/lint/package.json b/projects/lint/package.json
index 4c1b47184..1cab7eb19 100644
--- a/projects/lint/package.json
+++ b/projects/lint/package.json
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
     "minisearch": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0",
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^",
     "eslint": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/projects/markdown/package.json b/projects/markdown/package.json
index c9b35bbea..e131674f4 100644
--- a/projects/markdown/package.json
+++ b/projects/markdown/package.json
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@
     "markdown-it": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0",
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:^",
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "catalog:",
diff --git a/projects/media/package.json b/projects/media/package.json
index b551c3091..59836269d 100644
--- a/projects/media/package.json
+++ b/projects/media/package.json
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@
     "lit": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0",
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:^",
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "catalog:",
diff --git a/projects/monaco/package.json b/projects/monaco/package.json
index 36e0e6118..b51842c56 100644
--- a/projects/monaco/package.json
+++ b/projects/monaco/package.json
@@ -174,8 +174,8 @@
     "lit-html": "catalog:publish"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0",
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/core": "workspace:^",
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "catalog:",
diff --git a/projects/site/src/docs/mcp/index.md b/projects/site/src/docs/mcp/index.md
index c99fb1f1e..5675365ac 100644
--- a/projects/site/src/docs/mcp/index.md
+++ b/projects/site/src/docs/mcp/index.md
@@ -81,9 +81,10 @@ After adding the configuration in the root of your project, restart Codex for th
 
 <br />
 
-```shell
+```toml
 # .codex/config.toml
 [mcp_servers.elements]
+description = "NVIDIA Elements UI Design System (nve-*), custom element schemas, APIs and examples"
 command = "nve"
 args = ["mcp"]
 ```
diff --git a/projects/styles/package.json b/projects/styles/package.json
index 3122c9f04..f3e620686 100644
--- a/projects/styles/package.json
+++ b/projects/styles/package.json
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     "test:visual": "wireit"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
-    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:>=0.0.0 <1.0.0"
+    "@nvidia-elements/themes": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@eslint/js": "catalog:",