Cursor AI: The Code Editor That Actually Gets Your Project

I've been coding for years, and I'll be honest—when GitHub Copilot first came out, I thought we'd reached peak AI assistance. Autocomplete on steroids, right? Then I tried Cursor AI, and realized I'd been thinking too small.

Here's the thing about Cursor: it doesn't just complete your code. It understands your entire project.

What Makes Cursor Different

Cursor isn't another plugin you bolt onto your existing setup. It's VS Code rebuilt from scratch with AI baked into every part of the experience. While Copilot gives you smart autocomplete, Cursor gives you something closer to a coding partner.

The difference hit me the first time I asked Cursor to explain a gnarly piece of legacy code. Instead of just looking at the function I'd highlighted, it traced through the imports, checked how other files used it, and gave me a breakdown that actually made sense. Copilot would've just stared at those 20 lines in isolation.

The Features That Actually Matter

Multi-file awareness: Cursor reads your whole codebase, not just the current file. When it suggests changes, they actually work with your existing architecture.

Conversational debugging: Paste an error message, and Cursor will hunt through your project to figure out what's wrong. No more copy-pasting stack traces into ChatGPT and losing all context.

Smart refactoring: Select a messy function, hit a hotkey, and watch Cursor clean it up while preserving your logic. It's like having a senior dev review your code in real-time.

Git integration that makes sense: Cursor writes commit messages that actually describe what you changed. It can even draft PR descriptions that your teammates will appreciate.

When Cursor Shines

I find myself reaching for Cursor most when I'm:

• Diving into unfamiliar codebases (new job, inherited projects, open source contributions)
• Prototyping quickly without getting bogged down in boilerplate
• Debugging issues that span multiple files
• Refactoring old code that works but looks terrible

The learning curve is minimal if you're already comfortable with VS Code. But the productivity jump? That's real.

The Honest Take

Look, Cursor isn't perfect. It's newer than Copilot, so there are fewer integrations and the occasional rough edge. But here's what I've noticed after using both: Copilot feels like a really good autocomplete. Cursor feels like working alongside someone who's read your entire codebase.

The difference matters more than you might think. When your AI assistant understands your project structure, coding patterns, and dependencies, its suggestions actually fit. You spend less time fighting with generated code and more time building.

Should You Switch?

If you're happy with Copilot and mostly need autocomplete, maybe stick with what works. But if you've ever wished your AI assistant could see the bigger picture of your project—not just the line you're typing—Cursor is worth the switch.

It's free to try, and honestly, the worst case is you go back to your old setup with a better understanding of what's possible.

Want to see Cursor in action? Check out our hands-on guide to writing better prompts and getting the most out of AI-assisted development.