diff --git a/mrd-viz/README.md b/mrd-viz/README.md
index 27bc572a..5acb9c0d 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/README.md
+++ b/mrd-viz/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,12 @@
 
 Lightweight MRD inspection and preview VS Code extension.
 
-The current focus is direct inspection of existing `.mrd` files rather than reconstruction orchestration. See `docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md` for detailed project context and implementation plan.  
\ No newline at end of file
+The current focus is direct inspection of existing `.mrd` files rather than reconstruction orchestration. See `docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md` for detailed project context and implementation plan.
+
+## Install from the latest GitHub Release
+
+Use the stable latest-release page:
+
+<https://github.com/ismrmrd/mrd/releases/latest>
+
+Download the platform VSIX attached to that release, then install it with **Extensions → … → Install from VSIX…** or `code --install-extension <file>.vsix`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mrd-viz/docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md b/mrd-viz/docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md
index 82320965..1d865259 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md
+++ b/mrd-viz/docs/TECHNICAL_DESIGN.md
@@ -81,6 +81,17 @@ Out of scope for now:
 
 ## Product Surface
 
+### Functionality and rollout table
+
+| Track | Before | After | Functions / UX created | Rollout priority |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| D1: backend setup | Installed users had to reason through local Python setup and backend discovery failures manually. | The extension first uses a bundled backend binary when present; when that fails or is unavailable, **Set Up Backend Automatically…** builds a managed virtual environment and stores the machine-scoped `mrdViz.backendPath`. | Backend candidate planning, detailed probe failures, managed `backend-venv`, automatic setup command, interpreter picker, cleanup of partial venvs, and backend-missing guidance in the webview. | First researcher bundle; removes the biggest onboarding blocker. |
+| Release: GitHub Release VSIX | Users needed local build knowledge or development-host setup to try MRD Viz. | Tag pushes build platform-specific VSIX artifacts with staged backend binaries and attach them to a GitHub Release; users start from the stable `/releases/latest` page and pick the platform VSIX. | `mrd_viz_release.yml` build matrix, PyInstaller backend staging, VSIX artifacts, release publishing, icon/license packaging, and release docs. | Same PR/release train as D1 so reviewers approve one deployable handoff. |
+| D3: richer metadata grouping | Metadata exists, but users still scan summary panels and raw stream/JSON details for common interpretation patterns. | Metadata is scaffolded into file, header, image, acquisition, and stream groups, with the Groups tab becoming the first metadata view. | Typed metadata group model, grouped webview cards/tables, and a shell regression test, all derived from the existing backend payload without changing the backend contract. | Included with D1/release because it improves first-run researcher comprehension without adding install risk. |
+| D2: multi-file / comparison workflow | Users open one `.mrd` file at a time and compare files manually across tabs. | Users should be able to classify and compare related files or batches in one workflow. | Planned multi-file selector, batch classification, side-by-side summary state, and comparison-oriented webview surfaces. | After initial feedback clarifies the common comparison tasks. |
+| Marketplace | Users install from GitHub Release VSIX files. | Users install/update from the VS Code Marketplace once publisher, credential, and compliance work are complete. | Guarded Marketplace publish job, publisher checklist, `VSCE_PAT` activation path, optional Open VSX follow-up. | Later; do not block researcher access through GitHub Releases. |
+| F10: feedback / follow-up loop | Feedback is ad hoc after manual testing. | Researchers can use the D1/release bundle while follow-up UX work continues in parallel. | Release notes, known-issues tracking, focused follow-up PRs for onboarding failures and newly observed MRD variants. | Starts with the first researcher release. |
+
 ### Why a VS Code plugin
 
 `mrd-viz` will be a VS Code plugin because the initial users are technical researchers and operators who already inspect files, notebooks, scripts, and reconstruction outputs inside VS Code. A plugin keeps MRD inspection inside that existing development loop instead of forcing users to switch to a separate command-line-only workflow.
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/README.md b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/README.md
index 414819ba..53e604a2 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/README.md
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ This extension contributes the following settings:
 ## Commands
 
 - `MRD Viz: Open File` — open the selected or picked `.mrd` file in MRD Viz.
+- `MRD Viz: Set Up Backend` — create or rebuild a managed backend environment when the bundled backend is unavailable.
+- `MRD Viz: Select Python Interpreter` — point `mrdViz.backendPath` at an existing backend environment.
 
 ## Known Issues
 
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer.css b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer.css
index 3aa2f42a..8fb4da1b 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer.css
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer.css
@@ -410,6 +410,15 @@ li + li { margin-top: 4px; }
 .metadata-section { display: grid; gap: 8px; }
 .metadata-section h3 { margin: 0; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 650; }
 .metadata-note { color: var(--mrd-muted); font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4; }
+.metadata-group {
+	display: grid;
+	gap: 8px;
+	padding: 9px;
+	border: 1px solid var(--mrd-line);
+	border-radius: 6px;
+	background: var(--mrd-panel-strong);
+}
+.metadata-group h3 { margin: 0; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 650; }
 .metadata-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; }
 .metadata-table th,
 .metadata-table td { padding: 4px 6px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--mrd-line); text-align: left; vertical-align: top; }
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadata.ts b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadata.ts
index 1160643d..dc6d8857 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadata.ts
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadata.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 import { payload } from './state';
 import { stat, notice, section, addField, valueOrUnknown, formatList } from './dom';
+import { buildMetadataGroups } from './metadataGroups';
 
 function metadata() {
 	return payload.metadata || {};
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ export function renderShell() {
 }
 
 function renderMetadata() {
+	renderGroupedMetadata();
 	renderSummaryMetadata();
 	renderOrganizationMetadata();
 	renderStreamMetadata();
@@ -149,6 +151,47 @@ function activateTab(name) {
 	});
 }
 
+function renderGroupedMetadata() {
+	const root = document.getElementById('metadata-groups');
+	root.textContent = '';
+	const groups = buildMetadataGroups(payload);
+	if (!groups.length) {
+		appendEmpty(root, 'No grouped metadata is available for this file.');
+		return;
+	}
+
+	groups.forEach(function (group) {
+		const article = document.createElement('article');
+		article.className = 'metadata-group';
+
+		const heading = document.createElement('h3');
+		heading.textContent = group.title;
+		article.appendChild(heading);
+
+		const description = document.createElement('div');
+		description.className = 'metadata-note';
+		description.textContent = group.description;
+		article.appendChild(description);
+
+		if (group.fields.length) {
+			article.appendChild(definitionList(group.fields.map(function (field) {
+				return [field.label, field.value];
+			})));
+		}
+
+		group.tables.forEach(function (metadataTable) {
+			if (!metadataTable.rows.length) {
+				return;
+			}
+			const tableSection = section(metadataTable.title);
+			tableSection.appendChild(table(metadataTable.headers, metadataTable.rows));
+			article.appendChild(tableSection);
+		});
+
+		root.appendChild(article);
+	});
+}
+
 function renderSummaryMetadata() {
 	const root = document.getElementById('metadata-summary');
 	root.textContent = '';
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadataGroups.ts b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadataGroups.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..549c2a11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/media/viewer/metadataGroups.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+// D3 metadata grouping scaffold: derive user-facing metadata sections from the existing backend
+// payload so richer labels/search can evolve without changing the backend contract first.
+
+import { formatList, valueOrUnknown } from './dom';
+
+export interface MetadataField {
+	label: string;
+	value: string;
+}
+
+export interface MetadataTable {
+	title: string;
+	headers: string[];
+	rows: string[][];
+}
+
+export interface MetadataGroup {
+	id: string;
+	title: string;
+	description: string;
+	fields: MetadataField[];
+	tables: MetadataTable[];
+}
+
+export function buildMetadataGroups(payload): MetadataGroup[] {
+	return [
+		buildFileGroup(payload),
+		buildHeaderGroup(payload),
+		buildImageGroup(payload),
+		buildAcquisitionGroup(payload),
+		buildStreamGroup(payload),
+	].filter(group => group.fields.length > 0 || group.tables.some(table => table.rows.length > 0));
+}
+
+function buildFileGroup(payload): MetadataGroup {
+	return {
+		id: 'file',
+		title: 'File',
+		description: 'Open state and high-level classification.',
+		fields: [
+			field('class', payload.file_class),
+			field('classification reliable', payload.file_class_reliable),
+			field('display mode', payload.display_mode),
+			field('schema version', payload.schema_version),
+			field('file size bytes', payload.file_size_bytes),
+		],
+		tables: (payload.warnings || []).length ? [{
+			title: 'Warnings',
+			headers: ['warning'],
+			rows: payload.warnings.map(warning => [formatValue(warning)]),
+		}] : [],
+	};
+}
+
+function buildHeaderGroup(payload): MetadataGroup {
+	const summary = payload.summary || {};
+	return {
+		id: 'header',
+		title: 'Header',
+		description: 'Encoding and reconstructed-space summary from the MRD header.',
+		fields: [
+			field('encoding count', summary.encoding_count),
+			field('encoded matrix', summary.encoded_matrix),
+			field('recon matrix', summary.recon_matrix),
+			field('encoded FOV mm', summary.encoded_fov_mm),
+			field('recon FOV mm', summary.recon_fov_mm),
+		],
+		tables: [],
+	};
+}
+
+function buildImageGroup(payload): MetadataGroup {
+	const imageItems = images(payload);
+	return {
+		id: 'images',
+		title: 'Images',
+		description: 'Image-item organization for slice/type/series scanning.',
+		fields: [
+			field('images', imageItems.length),
+			field('unique slices', uniqueCount(imageItems.map(image => headValue(image, 'slice')))),
+			field('unique image types', uniqueCount(imageItems.map(image => headValue(image, 'image_type')))),
+			field('unique series', uniqueCount(imageItems.map(image => headValue(image, 'image_series_index')))),
+			field('unique shapes', uniqueCount(imageItems.map(shapeKey))),
+			field('unique dtypes', uniqueCount(imageItems.map(image => image.dtype))),
+		],
+		tables: [
+			distributionTable('Slice distribution', 'slice', imageItems.map(image => headValue(image, 'slice'))),
+			distributionTable('Image type distribution', 'image type', imageItems.map(image => headValue(image, 'image_type'))),
+			distributionTable('Shape / dtype consistency', 'shape / dtype', imageItems.map(image => shapeKey(image) + ' / ' + formatValue(image.dtype))),
+		],
+	};
+}
+
+function buildAcquisitionGroup(payload): MetadataGroup {
+	const acquisitionItems = acquisitions(payload);
+	const firstAcquisition = acquisitionItems[0] || {};
+	const idx = firstAcquisition.idx || {};
+	return {
+		id: 'acquisitions',
+		title: 'Acquisitions',
+		description: 'Raw acquisition examples and encoding counters returned by the backend.',
+		fields: [
+			field('examples returned', acquisitionItems.length),
+			field('first stream index', firstAcquisition.stream_index),
+			field('first shape', firstAcquisition.data_shape),
+			field('first dtype', firstAcquisition.dtype),
+			field('first flags', firstAcquisition.flags),
+			field('first scan counter', firstAcquisition.scan_counter),
+			field('first slice', idx.slice),
+			field('first k-space step 1', idx.kspace_encode_step_1),
+			field('first k-space step 2', idx.kspace_encode_step_2),
+		],
+		tables: [],
+	};
+}
+
+function buildStreamGroup(payload): MetadataGroup {
+	const stream = payload.stream || {};
+	const itemRows = Object.entries(stream.item_counts || {})
+		.sort(function (left, right) { return left[0].localeCompare(right[0]); })
+		.map(function (entry) { return [entry[0], formatValue(entry[1])]; });
+
+	return {
+		id: 'stream',
+		title: 'Stream',
+		description: 'Stream item counts and metadata sample coverage.',
+		fields: [
+			field('images', stream.image_count),
+			field('acquisitions', stream.acquisition_count),
+			field('waveforms', stream.waveform_count),
+			field('other items', stream.other_count),
+			field('partial stream read', stream.partial),
+			field('thumbnail payload truncated', payload.mosaic && payload.mosaic.truncated),
+			field('returned thumbnails', payload.mosaic && payload.mosaic.thumbnails && payload.mosaic.thumbnails.length),
+			field('image metadata entries', images(payload).length),
+			field('acquisition examples', acquisitions(payload).length),
+			field('waveform entries', waveforms(payload).length),
+			field('other item entries', otherItems(payload).length),
+		],
+		tables: itemRows.length ? [{
+			title: 'Stream item counts',
+			headers: ['item type', 'count'],
+			rows: itemRows,
+		}] : [],
+	};
+}
+
+function field(label: string, value): MetadataField {
+	return { label, value: formatValue(value) };
+}
+
+function metadata(payload) {
+	return payload.metadata || {};
+}
+
+function images(payload) {
+	return metadata(payload).images || [];
+}
+
+function acquisitions(payload) {
+	return metadata(payload).acquisitions || [];
+}
+
+function waveforms(payload) {
+	return metadata(payload).waveforms || [];
+}
+
+function otherItems(payload) {
+	return metadata(payload).other_items || [];
+}
+
+function headValue(image, key: string) {
+	return image && image.head ? image.head[key] : undefined;
+}
+
+function shapeKey(image) {
+	return formatList(image && image.data_shape) || 'unknown';
+}
+
+function distributionTable(title: string, label: string, values): MetadataTable {
+	return {
+		title,
+		headers: [label, 'count'],
+		rows: distribution(values),
+	};
+}
+
+function distribution(values): string[][] {
+	const counts = new Map<string, number>();
+	values.forEach(function (value) {
+		const key = formatValue(value);
+		counts.set(key, (counts.get(key) || 0) + 1);
+	});
+
+	return Array.from(counts.entries()).sort(function (left, right) {
+		return left[0].localeCompare(right[0], undefined, { numeric: true });
+	}).map(function (entry) {
+		return [entry[0], String(entry[1])];
+	});
+}
+
+function uniqueCount(values): number {
+	return distribution(values).length;
+}
+
+function formatValue(value): string {
+	if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+		return formatList(value);
+	}
+	if (value && typeof value === 'object') {
+		return JSON.stringify(value);
+	}
+	return valueOrUnknown(value);
+}
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/test/extension.test.ts b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/test/extension.test.ts
index cbc91c0f..9a091763 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/test/extension.test.ts
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/test/extension.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 import { classifyProvisioningFailure, getOpenWithMrdEditorArgs, removeIncompleteVenv } from '../extension';
 import { MRD_VIEW_TYPE } from '../mrdEditorProvider';
 import { planBackendCandidates } from '../backendResolver';
-import { getMrdBackendMissingHtml } from '../webviewHtml';
+import { getMrdBackendMissingHtml, getMrdViewerHtml } from '../webviewHtml';
 import { getMrdErrorHtml } from '../stateHtml';
 import { isViewerToExtensionMessage } from '../contracts';
 
@@ -73,6 +73,18 @@ suite('MRD Viz Extension', () => {
 		});
 	});
 
+	test('renders the D3 metadata groups tab in the viewer shell', () => {
+		const webview = {
+			cspSource: 'vscode-resource:',
+			asWebviewUri: (uri: vscode.Uri) => uri,
+		} as vscode.Webview;
+		const html = getMrdViewerHtml(webview, sampleOpenPayload(), vscode.Uri.file('/extension'));
+
+		assert.ok(html.includes('data-tab="groups"'));
+		assert.ok(html.includes('id="metadata-groups"'));
+		assert.ok(html.includes('metadata-summary" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="true"'));
+	});
+
 	test('escapes backend error details rendered inside the editor', () => {
 		const webview = { cspSource: 'vscode-resource:' } as vscode.Webview;
 		const html = getMrdErrorHtml(webview, 'Unable to open scan.mrd', 'Bad <script>alert("x")</script> & path', 'C:\\tmp\\scan.mrd');
@@ -225,3 +237,46 @@ async function makeFakeVenv(): Promise<string> {
 	await writeFile(path.join(dir, 'pyvenv.cfg'), 'home = /usr\n');
 	return dir;
 }
+
+function sampleOpenPayload() {
+	return {
+		ok: true,
+		schema_version: 1,
+		path: '/tmp/sample.mrd',
+		filename: 'sample.mrd',
+		file_size_bytes: 42,
+		file_class: 'reconstructed',
+		file_class_reliable: true,
+		display_mode: 'mosaic',
+		summary: {
+			encoding_count: 1,
+			encoded_matrix: [64, 64, 1],
+			recon_matrix: [64, 64, 1],
+			encoded_fov_mm: [200, 200, 5],
+			recon_fov_mm: [200, 200, 5],
+		},
+		stream: {
+			item_counts: { ImageFloat: 2 },
+			image_count: 2,
+			acquisition_count: 0,
+			waveform_count: 0,
+			other_count: 0,
+			partial: false,
+		},
+		mosaic: {
+			tile_unit: 'mrd_image_item',
+			thumbnails: [],
+			truncated: false,
+		},
+		metadata: {
+			images: [
+				{ image_index: 0, data_shape: [1, 1, 64, 64], dtype: 'float32', head: { slice: 0, image_type: 5, image_series_index: 1 } },
+				{ image_index: 1, data_shape: [1, 1, 64, 64], dtype: 'float32', head: { slice: 1, image_type: 5, image_series_index: 1 } },
+			],
+			acquisitions: [],
+			waveforms: [],
+			other_items: [],
+		},
+		warnings: [],
+	};
+}
diff --git a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/webviewHtml.ts b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/webviewHtml.ts
index 6f04060e..c5101fad 100644
--- a/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/webviewHtml.ts
+++ b/mrd-viz/extension/mrd-viz/src/webviewHtml.ts
@@ -169,12 +169,14 @@ export function getMrdViewerHtml(webview: vscode.Webview, payload: MrdOpenPayloa
 				<section class="panel" id="metadata-panel">
 					<h2 class="panel-title">Metadata</h2>
 					<div class="tabs" role="tablist" aria-label="Metadata views">
-						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="true" aria-controls="metadata-summary" data-tab="summary">Summary</button>
+						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="true" aria-controls="metadata-groups" data-tab="groups">Groups</button>
+						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="metadata-summary" data-tab="summary">Summary</button>
 						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="metadata-organization" data-tab="organization">Organization</button>
 						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="metadata-stream" data-tab="stream">Raw Stream</button>
 						<button class="tab" type="button" role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="metadata-json" data-tab="json">Raw JSON</button>
 					</div>
-					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-summary" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="false"></div>
+					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-groups" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="false"></div>
+					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-summary" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-organization" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-stream" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="true"></div>
 					<div class="tab-panel" id="metadata-json" role="tabpanel" aria-hidden="true"><pre class="json" id="json"></pre></div>