Cursor (also called Cursor IDE) is an AI-powered code editor developed by Anysphere, built on top of Visual Studio Code but enhanced with intelligent tools to boost developer productivity.
Rather than being just a simple editor, Cursor integrates agentic modes, context-aware features, and codebase indexing to assist you with writing, refactoring, and querying your code using natural language.
Key Features & Capabilities
- AI-Assisted Coding & Smart Rewrites
Cursor helps you generate, refactor, or rewrite code automatically, rather than just suggesting one line. - Agent Mode / Agentic Behavior
In Agent Mode, Cursor can plan and execute multi-step tasks across files, understanding dependencies and making coherent changes. - Modes / AI Personalities
It offers different modes for different workflows - some more autonomous, some more guided - so you can pick how much control versus automation you want. - Codebase Understanding & Natural Language Queries
Cursor indexes the entire project and lets you query your codebase in plain English, retrieving relevant parts from context. - Privacy & Security Features
Cursor has a Privacy Mode where your code is not stored remotely, and it is SOC 2 certified.
Why Cursor Matters for Developers
- It transforms the coding experience: instead of manually writing many boilerplate lines, you can describe your intent in natural language and let the tool assist.
- It bridges the gap between code and intent: your code changes are context-aware, not isolated suggestions.
- By using modes and agentic behavior, it can handle bigger, multi-file tasks rather than just line-by-line edits.
- It’s already drawing attention: Amazon has reportedly considered deploying Cursor internally.
