Cursor
The code editor built around AI
What it is
A VS Code fork that puts AI at the center of every operation. Beyond autocomplete, you can select code and request natural-language changes, ask questions about a whole file or the entire codebase. Composer mode lets you write complete features from a single prompt, modifying multiple files simultaneously.
How to use it, step by step
- 1
Download Cursor from cursor.com and install it: the UI is identical to VS Code, so you can import extensions, themes, and shortcuts in one click.
- 2
Press Cmd/Ctrl+K on a line or selection to request a natural-language change (e.g. 'add error handling').
- 3
Press Cmd/Ctrl+L to open the side chat and ask about the file or the whole codebase (Cursor indexes the project itself).
- 4
Use Composer (Cmd/Ctrl+I) for multi-file tasks: describe a whole feature and Cursor proposes changes across all involved files, shown as diffs to approve.
- 5
Accept or reject each proposed diff: nothing is written without your confirmation.
💡Practical tips
- →Add files to chat context with @filename for more precise answers.
- →Write a '.cursorrules' file in the project root to give the AI permanent rules (style, libraries to use).
- →For big features start with Composer, then refine with Cmd/Ctrl+K on individual spots.
💰Pricing
Free Hobby plan with limited completions. Pro at about $20/month for heavy use; Business at $40/user per month.
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