What is Cursor?
Cursor represents a bold reimagining of what a code editor can be when AI is not an afterthought but the foundation. While tools like GitHub Copilot add AI to existing editors, Cursor was built from the ground up with AI at its core. The result is an editing experience that feels genuinely collaborative, where the AI understands not just the current file but your entire codebase, your coding style, and your intent.
Built on VS Code's foundation, Cursor inherits the familiarity and extension ecosystem that millions of developers love while adding AI capabilities that go far beyond simple autocomplete. The editor can predict your next edit, generate entire functions from natural language descriptions, and even help refactor complex code across multiple files.
What makes Cursor special is the depth of its codebase understanding. Unlike AI assistants that only see the current file, Cursor indexes your entire project. When it suggests code, it considers your existing functions, types, and patterns. The suggestions feel less like generic AI output and more like code written by someone who knows your project intimately.
Why Cursor Stands Out
The AI integration feels native rather than bolted on. Instead of a separate chat window or suggestion panel, AI assistance flows naturally through the editing experience. Press Cmd+K to describe what you want in natural language, and Cursor generates the code inline. The AI can edit multiple files simultaneously, understanding how changes in one file affect others.
The codebase awareness is the killer feature. Cursor builds a semantic understanding of your project, indexing functions, types, and relationships. When you ask it to "add error handling to all API calls," it knows where your API calls are and what error patterns you use elsewhere. This context-awareness makes suggestions dramatically more useful than generic AI completions.
The chat interface provides a conversational way to work with code. Ask questions about your codebase, request refactoring suggestions, or get explanations of complex functions. The AI references specific files and line numbers, making it easy to navigate to relevant code. It is like having a senior developer who has memorized your entire codebase available for consultation.
Performance is impressive despite the heavy AI integration. The editor remains fast and responsive, with AI suggestions appearing almost instantly. The team has clearly invested in optimization, ensuring that AI features enhance rather than hinder the coding experience.
Real-World Use Cases
For Rapid Development: Cursor excels at quickly implementing features. Describe what you need in natural language, and Cursor generates working code that fits your existing patterns. Developers report significant speed improvements on routine tasks, with some claiming 2-3x productivity gains.
For Learning New Codebases: When joining a new project or working with unfamiliar code, Cursor's chat feature becomes invaluable. Ask "what does this function do?" or "where is authentication handled?" and get instant, accurate answers. This dramatically reduces ramp-up time on new projects.
For Refactoring: Large-scale refactoring becomes manageable with Cursor's multi-file editing. Describe the change you want, and Cursor can apply it consistently across your codebase. The AI understands dependencies and suggests necessary updates in related files.
For Bug Fixing: Cursor's automatic bug detection highlights potential issues as you code. The AI can suggest fixes that match your coding style and project patterns. Many developers use it as a first line of defense before code review.
Who Should Use Cursor
Cursor is ideal for:
- Professional developers seeking maximum AI assistance
- Teams wanting consistent, AI-enhanced coding practices
- Developers learning new languages or frameworks
- Anyone frustrated by AI tools that lack codebase context
- VS Code users comfortable switching to a new editor
The free tier is generous enough for casual use and evaluation. The Pro plan at $20/month makes sense for developers who code daily and want unlimited AI assistance. If you are already paying for GitHub Copilot, Cursor Pro offers more comprehensive AI integration for the same price.
Getting Started
Download Cursor from cursor.sh and import your VS Code settings and extensions. The editor feels immediately familiar to VS Code users, with AI features discoverable through keyboard shortcuts and the command palette.
Start by trying the Cmd+K natural language editing. Describe what you want to change, and watch Cursor generate the code. Use the chat feature (Cmd+L) to ask questions about your codebase. The more you use these features, the better you will understand Cursor's capabilities.
Install your favorite VS Code extensions. Most work seamlessly in Cursor, letting you maintain your existing workflow while adding powerful AI capabilities.
Final Verdict
Cursor represents the future of code editors. By building AI into the foundation rather than adding it as an extension, the team has created an editing experience that feels genuinely collaborative. The codebase awareness, natural language editing, and multi-file AI capabilities go beyond what is possible with AI extensions in traditional editors.
The $20/month Pro plan offers excellent value for professional developers. The unlimited GPT-4 access, combined with Cursor's unique codebase understanding, provides capabilities you cannot get elsewhere at any price. The free tier is generous enough for evaluation and casual use.
Switching editors is never trivial, but Cursor makes it easy by building on VS Code's foundation. You keep your familiar keybindings, extensions, and workflow while gaining AI superpowers. For developers serious about leveraging AI to improve their productivity, Cursor is not just another tool. It is a fundamentally better way to write code.