Cursor - A Better Visual Studio Code/Copilot?

Gamefromscratch
11 Apr 202411:07

TLDRCursor is a new code editor that enhances the Visual Studio Code experience by integrating AI coding assistants more deeply than the traditional co-pilot extension. It's based on Visual Studio Code 1.86 and offers features like inline code suggestions and chat integration with customizable AI models. Despite being a version behind, it provides a more intuitive interface for AI enthusiasts, with privacy modes and the option to use personal API keys to avoid costs. The free tier offers limited requests, but for faster responses and more extensive use, a subscription model is available.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Cursor is a new code editor that is essentially a fork of Visual Studio Code, with a focus on AI coding assistants.
  • 🔍 It is designed to be more tightly integrated with AI, offering a co-pilot-like experience built around the idea of AI coding assistance.
  • 🛠️ The editor is based on Visual Studio Code 1.86, which is a patch from a February release, meaning it may be slightly behind the latest updates.
  • 📚 Extensions from the Visual Studio marketplace are fully available in Cursor, ensuring compatibility with various programming languages and tools.
  • 🗝️ Hotkeys Ctrl+K and Ctrl+L are central to Cursor's functionality, allowing for inline code instructions and chat-based explanations of code.
  • 🆓 A free version of Cursor offers a limited number of requests per month, with the option to use personal API keys for certain AI services at no cost.
  • 🔒 Privacy mode in Cursor ensures that no code is stored on their servers, and user prompts are not logged, although there are some exceptions.
  • 💬 The chat feature can be customized with '@mentions' to direct the AI to specific documentation or aspects of a codebase for more accurate responses.
  • 🔄 Cursor includes the ability to translate code line by line and to accept or reject changes chunk by chunk, enhancing the coding workflow.
  • 💰 There are different pricing tiers for Cursor, including a free tier with limited AI capabilities and paid tiers offering more extensive features and faster responses.
  • 🔧 Users can host their own models on aier and integrate them with Cursor, providing flexibility for those who prefer custom AI solutions.

Q & A

  • What is Cursor and how does it relate to Visual Studio Code?

    -Cursor is a code editor that is a fork of Visual Studio Code, designed to be more tightly integrated with AI coding assistants. It is essentially a Visual Studio Code alternative that is built around the concept of AI pairs programming, offering a more seamless experience than using extensions like GitHub Copilot.

  • What is the main feature that differentiates Cursor from other code editors?

    -The main feature that differentiates Cursor is its deep integration with AI coding assistants. It is built entirely around the idea of working with an AI co-pilot, which they call 'Co-pilot Plus+', providing a more integrated and user-friendly experience compared to other editors where AI assistants are offered as extensions.

  • Is Cursor based on the latest version of Visual Studio Code?

    -Cursor is based on Visual Studio Code version 1.86, which is a patch from a February release. As of the recording of the video, it is one release behind the latest version available in early April.

  • What are the hotkeys in Cursor for interacting with the AI assistant?

    -The two main hotkeys in Cursor for interacting with the AI assistant are 'Control K' for inline code instructions and 'Control L' for opening the command chat on the side.

  • How does Cursor handle extensions that are available in Visual Studio Code?

    -Cursor supports all the standard Visual Studio Code extensions. Users can install extensions for languages like C or Python, and all marketplace extensions are available, just like in Visual Studio Code.

  • What are the limitations of using the free version of Cursor?

    -The free version of Cursor provides a limited number of requests per month to the AI assistant. Users can also choose to provide their own API keys to avoid costs, but this may require managing API limits and costs from the AI provider.

  • How does Cursor's 'Co-pilot Plus+' differ from the original GitHub Copilot?

    -Cursor's 'Co-pilot Plus+' is more tightly integrated into the editor, offering a more seamless experience. It includes features like single-tab autocomplete, pseudo-code translation into proper code, and the ability to fix linting errors quickly, which are improvements over the original GitHub Copilot.

  • What privacy features does Cursor offer to users?

    -Cursor offers a privacy mode where it does not store any of the user's code on its servers or logs. However, it is important to note that prompts are stored, which is a feature inherited from OpenAI.

  • What are the pricing options for Cursor's premium features?

    -Cursor offers a free tier with limited AI assistant requests and a Pro tier at $20 a month, which provides unlimited features but only 500 fast Chat GPT 4 uses per month. There is also a business level for corporate environments with centralized billing.

  • How does Cursor perform in terms of speed and efficiency?

    -Cursor's performance can be slower when using the free tier due to the use of slower AI models. However, for users who opt for the paid Pro tier, they get faster access to Chat GPT, which can improve the speed of operations like code translation.

  • What future plans does Cursor have regarding self-hosting capabilities?

    -Cursor has mentioned plans for the ability to run their servers self-hosted in the future, which would allow users to have more control over their AI coding assistant environment.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Cursor: AI-Integrated Code Editor

The video introduces Cursor, a new code editor that is essentially a fork of Visual Studio Code, with an AI coding assistant integrated into its core. Unlike Visual Studio Code extensions like GitHub Copilot, Cursor is built around the concept of AI pair programming, offering a more seamless experience. The video mentions that Cursor is based on Visual Studio Code version 1.86, and while it is one release behind, it includes all standard extensions and marketplace options. The main features of Cursor are accessed through hotkeys, with a focus on AI explanations and code assistance, including the ability to use custom API keys for services like OpenAI's GPT models without additional costs.

05:01

🔧 Exploring Cursor's AI Features and Pricing

This paragraph delves into Cursor's AI capabilities, such as inline code translation and command chat integration with the terminal. It highlights the single-tab autocomplete feature that streamlines code completion and the ability to translate code line by line. The video also addresses the performance, noting that the free version uses a slower model of GPT, which can be upgraded for faster responses with a paid subscription. The pricing model is discussed, with options ranging from a free tier with limited chat GPT requests to a Pro tier at $20 per month for unlimited features, excluding 500 fast chat GPT 4 uses. The potential for self-hosted servers in the future is also mentioned.

10:04

📝 Cursor's User Experience and Integration with AI Assistants

The final paragraph emphasizes Cursor's intuitive design and user experience, focusing on its integration with AI coding assistants. It contrasts Cursor with GitHub Copilot, suggesting that Cursor's tighter integration and polished interface make it a more attractive option for those already using Visual Studio Code with AI assistants. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to share their thoughts on Cursor and ends with a sign-off.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cursor

Cursor is a new code editor that is described as a Visual Studio alternative. It is a fork of Visual Studio Code, but with a significant twist: it is designed with AI coding assistants at its core. This means that instead of being an extension, the AI integration is more seamless and integral to the editor's functionality. In the script, Cursor is positioned as a more user-friendly alternative to tools like GitHub Copilot, particularly for those who embrace the concept of AI pair programming.

💡Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code, often abbreviated as VS Code, is a popular free source-code editor made by Microsoft. It supports a wide array of programming languages and is extensible, allowing for the addition of third-party extensions. In the context of the video, Cursor is a fork of Visual Studio Code, meaning it started as VS Code but has been modified and improved with additional features, particularly around AI integration.

💡AI coding assistants

AI coding assistants refer to tools that use artificial intelligence to assist in the coding process. They can provide code suggestions, explain code functionality, and even translate code from one language to another. In the video, Cursor is built around the concept of AI coding assistants, offering a more integrated experience compared to other editors where AI might be offered as an extension or separate tool.

💡Fork

In the context of software, a 'fork' is a copy of the source code of a project which is then independently developed. Cursor is described as a fork of Visual Studio Code, indicating that it started as a copy of VS Code and has been further developed with additional features, most notably the integration of AI coding assistants.

💡Co-Pilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that offers suggestions and autocompletion as the user types. In the script, the term 'Co-Pilot' is used to refer to the integrated AI assistant in Cursor, which is described as 'Co-Pilot Plus+'. This suggests a more advanced or enhanced version of the AI assistant concept found in other editors.

💡Extensions

Extensions in the context of code editors like Visual Studio Code or Cursor are additional software components that add functionality to the editor. The script mentions that Cursor, being a fork of Visual Studio Code, retains the ability to use all the marketplace extensions, ensuring that users have access to the same range of tools and languages as they would in VS Code.

💡Control L and Control K

These are hotkeys mentioned in the script that are used in Cursor for specific AI-related functions. Control L is used to bring up a chat interface for asking questions or getting explanations about the code, while Control K is used for inline code instructions, allowing the AI to perform tasks directly on a line of code.

💡Chat GPT

Chat GPT likely refers to a chat-based interface using the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) model, which is a type of AI that can generate human-like text. In the video, it is mentioned that users can use their own API keys for GPT models, allowing for integration with Cursor without additional cost, depending on the tier of service chosen.

💡Privacy Mode

Privacy Mode in Cursor is a feature that allows users to set rules for the AI to follow, ensuring that the AI's responses are tailored to the user's specific domain or preferences. The script mentions that users can specify things like language preferences or avoid certain coding practices, and these settings apply to all AI requests.

💡Autocomplete

Autocomplete is a feature in code editors that suggests possible completions for the code as the user types. In Cursor, the implementation of autocomplete is described as more intuitive and less intrusive than in other editors. It is part of the 'Co-Pilot Plus+' feature set, which aims to improve the coding experience by providing complete edits with a single tab press.

💡Pricing

The script discusses the different pricing tiers for using Cursor, which include a free tier with limited AI capabilities and paid tiers that offer more extensive features and faster access to AI models. The pricing structure is designed to accommodate individual developers as well as business users, with options for self-hosting in the future.

Highlights

Cursor is a new code editor, a fork of Visual Studio Code, designed around AI coding assistants.

It is considered a Visual Studio Code and Copilot alternative, offering a more integrated experience.

Cursor is built around the concept of AI pairs programming, providing a more user-friendly interface than Copilot.

Based on Visual Studio Code 1.86, Cursor is one release behind but includes all standard extensions.

Cursor introduces a new command chat feature accessible via the hotkey 'Ctrl + L'.

Users can ask the AI to explain code functionality directly within the editor.

Cursor offers the option to use free API keys or pay for a premium service with faster responses.

The AI can be directed to specific documentation or aspects of the codebase for more accurate responses.

Cursor includes privacy mode and the ability to set rules for the AI's responses.

Users can enable different AI models and even use their own hosted models with a product key.

Cursor features an inline code instruction tool activated by 'Ctrl + K'.

The editor can translate code line by line and handle complex instructions.

Cursor's single-tab autocomplete is considered more efficient than traditional methods.

Pricing tiers offer different levels of access, from free with limitations to a pro version at $20/month.

Cursor stores no code on their servers, ensuring privacy, but prompts are stored as per OpenAI's policy.

The free tier allows for integration with personal API keys, bypassing the need for payment.

Cursor's interface is intuitive, with easy-to-remember hotkeys for AI interactions.

For those heavily invested in AI coding assistants, Cursor offers a more integrated and polished experience compared to Visual Studio Code.

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