Cursor
Make one small reviewed edit in Cursor, using Plan Mode for anything bigger
An AI code editor with an agent that explains and edits a project. Start with orientation and one low-risk change, then review the diff.
Written from the tool's official pages, listed under Official sources at the end of this guide. Check them for current features, limits and terms.
Try it (opens in a new tab)Steps to try
- Download Cursor from the official site, install it and sign in. Open a folder that is under Git and make a branch.
- Open Agent and ask it to explain the codebase and point to the main entry points before you change anything.
- Ask for three small, safe improvements with trade-offs, and choose one yourself instead of letting it pick.
- For work touching several files, switch on Plan Mode and read the plan and its questions before approving any building.
- Review the diff the agent shows, then ask it to run the tests, type checker, linter or build your project already uses.
- Run those checks yourself too, and commit only changes you understand.
Limitations
Agent edits can be wrong or incomplete, and a plan that reads well may still be flawed. Treat results as a draft. This guide covers the basic editor workflow, not rules, cloud agents or team features.
Pricing
The docs list models and pricing on a separate page. Plans, usage allowances and model access change, so check the official site rather than relying on this guide.
Privacy and data
Cursor reads files in the folder you open, so keep secrets, customer data and unrelated private projects out of it. Look at its data and privacy settings and your employer's code policy before using it on work repositories.
About the sources
Based on the vendor's published documentation, not hands-on testing. Rules, cloud agents and team features are not covered.
Alternatives
Claude Code works from the terminal; a standard editor with built-in AI assistance is a lighter option. Compare them on the same small bug.
Official sources
The official pages this guide was written from. Read them for current features, limits and terms.