Cursor

Cursor is an AI-driven code editor developed by Anysphere, Inc. and belongs to the Code Assistance & Development (CA&D) category. It is based on the Visual Studio Code (VS Code) fork, launched in 2023, and rapidly evolving into an AI-first coding tool between 2024 and 2025.Cursor helps developers build software faster by integrating large-scale language models, such as the GPT family, with real-time code suggestion, generation, and editing, and is especially suited for developers ranging from beginners to professionals.

Key Features and Functionality:

1. Code generation and auto-completion:
   • AI predicts and generates code, and supports editing with natural language hints. For example, type “Create a To-Do list app” and it will automatically generate code frames, multi-line edits, or rewrites.
   • Intelligent Rewrite and Agent Mode: Automatically optimize code, run commands, or handle error detection.
2. Code assistance and queries:
   • Codebase Understanding: analyzes the entire project, providing context-sensitive suggestions, debugging, and explanations.
   • Inline Editing & Chat: query or modify code directly in the editor via Ctrl+K or AI chat interface, supporting multiple rounds of interaction.
3. Advanced Extensions:
   • Integrated Frontier Models: Support for custom models using OpenAI or other LLMs.
   • Cross-platform support: Windows, macOS, and Linux, free base version available, Pro subscription provides unlimited usage and advanced features.
   • Security and Collaboration: Built-in version control integration to avoid code leaks.

Application Scenarios:

• Software development: Accelerate full-stack application building, such as rapid prototyping or bug fixing.
• Education & Learning: Beginners learn to program with AI-guided instruction that provides explanations and examples.
• Business & Productivity: Improve coding efficiency in team collaboration, data science, or game development.
• Entertainment & Experimentation: Generate creative code projects such as simple games or automated scripts.

Cursor has been described as an “AI pairing programmer” that dramatically improves development speed, but with data privacy in mind. As the leading tool in code assistance, it is driving the popularity of AI in programming.