Cursor

Cursor is a VS Code fork rebuilt around AI. If you want an editor (not a terminal), this is the default choice.

Key features

• Tab — whole-line and multi-line autocomplete that predicts your next edit.
• Chat (⌘K / Ctrl+K) — inline edits: select code, describe the change, watch it apply.
• Composer / Agent — a side panel that plans and edits across many files.
• ⌘I — inline chat inside a file.

Agent mode

Switch the Composer to Agent and give it a goal:

Add dark mode: a toggle in the navbar that stores a theme in localStorage
and applies a `data-theme` attribute.

The agent will read files, plan, edit several files, and ask before doing anything risky. You review each change as a diff.

MCP & rules

• Settings → MCP — add servers with the same command + args JSON format.
• .cursorrules (or Rules in settings) — persistent instructions for your project, like CLAUDE.md.

Model routing

Cursor lets you pick different models per feature: a fast one for Tab, a strong one for the Agent. Use the strong model for planning and multi-file work.

If you're new to AI coding, Cursor's Tab alone will make you faster immediately — it's the gentlest on-ramp on this list.