Cursor

The AI code editor that builds software for you.

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4.9 / 5.0 Rating

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Pros

Codebase-wide context awareness
Native VS Code fork (easy switch)
Privacy mode for proprietary code

Cons

$20/mo for the best models
Updates lag slightly behind VS Code

First Impressions

I was skeptical. Another AI plugin? No. Cursor is a fork of VS Code, which means I didn't have to relearn anything. I imported my extensions, and within 5 minutes, I was coding. The 'Cmd+K' to generate code feels natural, like having a senior engineer sitting next to me.

Best Feature: Chat with Codebase

The ability to index my entire repo gave Cursor an edge I haven't seen elsewhere. I asked, 'Where is the Auth logic handle?' and it didn't just guess—it pointed me to the exact file and lines, referencing the specific functions. It understands context better than Copilot.

The Verdict

For me, this replaced VS Code entirely. It's not just a tool; it's a new way of working. If you are starting a project in 2025, you should be using this.

The Real Talk

What it actually solves

"You spend 40% of your time typing boilerplate code and manually refactoring. Cursor automates the 'typing' so you can focus on the 'architecting'."

Who it's NOT for

Junior devs who want to learn syntax by heart (this shortcuts the muscle memory).

💸

Pricing Reality

Free tier is generous but slow. The $20/mo Pro plan is mandatory if you use it daily (you'll hit the fast-request limit quickly).

When it breaks

Index Hallucinations: Does not always see files added in the last 5 seconds (needs re-index).
Context Window Overflow: Can lose the plot on extremely large refactors spanning 50+ files.

If this isn't for you, try:

Github Copilot Windsurf

The First 60 Minutes

Action Plan

0-5m

The Import

Install Cursor and click 'Import Extensions' from VS Code. It keeps your theme, keybindings, and plugins instantly.

5-10m

Indexing

Go to Settings > General and enable 'Codebase Indexing'. This is critical—without it, the AI is blind to your whole project.

10-20m

Composer Mode

Hit Cmd+I (Composer). This isn't just a chat; it's a multi-file editor. Ask it to 'Create a new component X and update the parent page Y'.

20-60m

Flow State

Stop copying code. Use Cmd+K inside a file to edit locally, and Cmd+L to chat about the wider context.

The Hero Prompt

The Architecture Refactor

I want to refactor [Filename] to use the Repository pattern. 1. Create a new service file for the logic. 2. Update the controller to inject this service. 3. Ensure all types are strictly defined. @Codebase

Tagging @Codebase allows Cursor to scan your entire project structure to suggest the correct file paths and imports.