Cursor AI is a pretty darn impressive code editor that's built on top of VSCode. The fact that it's a fork of VSCode gives it some serious superpowers when it comes to AI-assisted coding. The deep integration and control over low-level details allow Cursor to do things that regular VSCode extensions just can't match .
One of the standout features is the Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac) shortcut. It lets you edit code in place, understands the context of your file, and shows a handy diff view of the suggested changes. It's way more seamless than switching to a separate chat window .
Cursor also plays nice with a bunch of AI models like GPT-4, Claude, and custom ones. You can even plug in your own API keys. Switching between models is a breeze with Ctrl+/ .
The Copilot++ autocomplete is pretty smart too. It looks at your recent changes and surrounding code to give more accurate suggestions, can fix syntax errors, and even predict where you might want to edit next .
Now, while Cursor is built on VSCode, that's also kind of its Achilles' heel. For certain programming languages, there are IDEs that are just way better suited. Like if you're doing Java development, something like JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA is going to be a better fit .
But overall, Cursor is a solid 4 out of 5 stars in my book. The UI/UX is clean and the AI integration is top-notch . It's a great tool to have in your coding toolkit, especially if you're already a VSCode fan. Just keep in mind that for some specific language needs, a more specialized IDE might serve you better.
