Cursor

What Cursor Is

Cursor is a code editor — like VS Code — with AI capabilities deeply integrated. It's built directly on top of VS Code, so if you've used VS Code before, everything looks familiar. The difference is that AI assistance isn't a plugin bolted on; it's woven into the core editing experience.

Cursor supports Claude, GPT-4, and other models as its AI backend.

The Three Modes

Cursor gives you three distinct ways to work with AI:

• Chat — an AI assistant panel where you ask questions about your code, request explanations, or get help planning. The AI has context about your whole project.
• Inline Edit — select a block of code, press a shortcut, type what you want changed, and the AI rewrites it in place. Fast and precise for targeted edits.
• Agent mode — the AI takes longer-running actions: reading files, writing code across multiple files, running terminal commands. Better for bigger tasks.

How It Differs From GitHub Copilot

Copilot is primarily an autocomplete tool — it suggests the next line or block as you type. Cursor goes further: it can see your full codebase, hold a conversation about architecture, and make multi-file edits autonomously. They solve different problems.

Who Uses It

Cursor is popular with indie developers and AI builders because it lowers the barrier to building complex projects significantly. Many beginners build their first AI app using Cursor's Agent mode without fully understanding every line of code — though understanding what the code does is always worth pursuing.