Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on top of VS Code. It looks and feels like VS Code, but with AI superpowers: you can press Cmd+K to edit code with AI, chat about your project in a sidebar, and get smart autocomplete as you type.
What makes Cursor different
Cursor is a full code editor with AI built in — not a chatbot or a browser tool. You see and control every file. Best for people who want to understand and customize their code, or who already have a project to improve.
Go to cursor.com and download the app for your operating system. It installs just like any other app. If you use VS Code, Cursor can import all your settings and extensions automatically.
Open an existing project folder or create a new one. Cursor works with any project in any language. If you don't have a project yet, create an empty folder and open it.
Press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows) to open the AI edit bar. Select code and ask it to change things, or open the chat panel (Cmd+L) to have a conversation about your entire project.
1. Understand a project (use the chat panel)
"Explain what this project does and how it's structured. List the main files and what each one is for."
2. Add a new feature (use Cmd+K or chat)
"Add a contact form to this page with name, email, and message fields. Style it to match the existing design."
3. Fix a bug (use chat with the file open)
"There's a bug where the mobile menu doesn't close after clicking a link. Find and fix it."
Select the code you want to change, press Cmd+K, and describe the change. This is faster than chat for small edits.
The chat panel (Cmd+L) can see your whole project. Use it for questions like 'where does this data come from?' or 'how would I add authentication?'
In the chat, type @ to reference specific files. For example: '@src/app/page.tsx add a footer to this page'. This tells Cursor exactly which file to focus on.
Cursor shows you a diff of every change before applying it. Read the green (added) and red (removed) lines before hitting Accept.
As you type code, Cursor suggests completions. Press Tab to accept. The suggestions are context-aware and get better the more code you have.
Unlike Bolt or Lovable, Cursor doesn't create projects from scratch. Create a folder, open it in Cursor, then use chat to scaffold the project.
If you use Cmd+K without selecting code first, it might edit the wrong part. Always select the code you want to change.
If your app isn't updating, check the terminal at the bottom of Cursor for error messages.
