FREE: Cursor AI Code Editor Github Copilot & VS Code Alternative!🤖👨‍💻 Complete AI Coding Tool

Josh Pocock
28 Jul 202414:18

TLDRIn this video, Josh Pook introduces 'Cursor', a free AI code editor that serves as an alternative to GitHub Copilot, aiming to enhance productivity. Cursor, likened to an AI-powered version of VS Code, offers features like predictive coding, natural language editing, and chat-based code interaction. It supports various AI models and allows importing extensions and themes from VS Code. Pook also discusses the possibility of integrating additional models like Olama and compares Cursor with other tools like 'Continue Dev', highlighting Cursor's strengths and limitations, including its closed-source nature.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 Cursor is a free AI code editor that serves as an alternative to GitHub Copilot, offering AI-powered coding assistance without the need for purchase.
  • 👨‍💻 Cursor is designed to enhance productivity, much like an integrated development environment (IDE), and is similar in appearance and functionality to Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
  • 🔍 The AI backbone of Cursor allows it to understand and interact with your codebase, enabling features like chatting with your codebase for insights or referring to specific files and documents.
  • 🛠️ Cursor's predictive model can suggest the next code edit, making it easier to breeze through changes with a simple press of the 'Tab' key.
  • ✍️ With a natural language command interface, Cursor lets you write or update code using plain language instructions, updating entire classes or functions as needed.
  • 🔄 Users can import their extensions, themes, and key bindings from VS Code to Cursor with a single click, ensuring a seamless transition.
  • 🔒 Cursor offers a privacy mode where no code is stored by the service, allowing users to bring their own encryption keys for added security.
  • 🌐 The editor supports various AI models, including open-source options like ComposeAI, and allows users to add custom models via API keys.
  • 🔄 There is an active community around Cursor, with resources such as a Discord channel, GitHub for issue tracking, and comprehensive documentation.
  • 📚 The video mentions the possibility of using other tools like ComposeAI alongside Cursor, suggesting flexibility in integrating different AI coding assistants.
  • 🚀 The presenter, Josh Pook, highlights the power of having an AI backbone in a code editor and encourages viewers to explore Cursor for their coding needs.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is introducing Cursor, a free alternative to GitHub Copilot, which is an AI code editor designed to enhance productivity.

  • How is Cursor described in the video?

    -Cursor is described as an AI code editor that is similar to Visual Studio Code (VS Code) but with AI as its backbone, offering features like auto-completion, predictive coding, and natural language commands.

  • What is the significance of Cursor's AI backbone in coding?

    -The AI backbone in Cursor allows it to provide auto-completion, predict the next edit, and understand natural language commands to write or modify code, making the coding process more efficient.

  • What are some of the features that Cursor offers to improve coding productivity?

    -Cursor offers features like chat interfaces for interacting with the codebase, predictive models for suggesting the next code edit, and the ability to write or update code using natural language instructions.

  • Can you use Cursor without paying for any additional features?

    -Yes, Cursor is free to use, and it offers a two-week Pro trial for users who want to try out additional features.

  • How does Cursor handle privacy with user code?

    -Cursor has a privacy mode that ensures none of the user's code is stored by the service, and it allows users to bring their own API keys for services like Open AI.

  • What is the relationship between Cursor and other AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot or Continue Dev?

    -Cursor is positioned as an alternative to GitHub Copilot, offering similar AI-powered coding assistance. It also allows users to import Continue Dev as an extension if desired.

  • How does Cursor compare to Continue Dev in terms of customization and open-source availability?

    -Continue Dev is open-source and offers more customization options, including the ability to change the auto-completion model. Cursor, while powerful, is not open-source and has a more limited selection of models.

  • What steps can a user take to migrate from VS Code to Cursor?

    -Users can migrate to Cursor by installing it and importing their extensions, themes, and key bindings from VS Code in one click, with the option to enable privacy mode for added security.

  • Does Cursor support integration with other AI models or APIs?

    -Yes, Cursor allows users to enter API keys for various AI services like Open AI, Anthropic, and Google API, and it supports adding different models for enhanced functionality.

  • What community resources are available for users interested in Cursor?

    -Cursor has a Discord community and a GitHub repository for issues, as well as a documentation section for users to learn more about the tool and its features.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Introduction to Cursor: The AI Code Editor

Josh Pook introduces a free alternative to GitHub Copilot called Cursor, an AI code editor designed to enhance productivity. Cursor is likened to a more advanced version of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with AI at its core. The video promises to explore Cursor's features, such as its chat interface and auto-completion capabilities, which are similar to other AI coding tools. It also mentions the possibility of using different AI models, including GPT and llama, and the potential for customization with open-source tools like continue Dev. Cursor offers a free version and a two-week Pro trial, with features that allow users to interact with their codebase through chat and predictive coding models.

05:02

🔧 Setting Up and Using Cursor with continue Dev

The script proceeds with a practical guide on setting up Cursor, highlighting its user interface that resembles VS Code but with a notable difference in the menu navigation bar's position. It demonstrates how to use Cursor's chat interface to write code with natural language instructions and how to import settings from VS Code. Privacy is emphasized with a feature that allows users to bring their own key. The video also touches on the ability to add different AI models through API keys and the process of manually adding models like GPT 40 mini and clae 3.5 Sonet. There's a mention of a community effort to add support for the Olama model in Cursor, which currently lacks native support.

10:03

🌐 Exploring Cursor's Features and Community Resources

The final paragraph delves into Cursor's advanced features, the community's interest in AMA support, and the process of setting up a proxy URL to integrate Olama models. It acknowledges Cursor's limitations, such as its closed-source nature and limited AI models compared to open-source alternatives like continue Dev. The script also discusses the benefits of having an AI backbone in a code editor and the presenter's intention to use both Cursor and continue Dev to evaluate their strengths. The video concludes with a call to action for feedback on preferred code editors and strategies, an invitation to join the presenter's community, and a plug for his book on leveraging AI for business growth.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cursor AI Code Editor

Cursor AI Code Editor is a free alternative to GitHub Copilot, designed to enhance coding productivity through artificial intelligence. It is likened to an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) with AI as its core, making it a significant tool in the video's narrative. The video discusses its features and how it compares to other coding tools, emphasizing its AI-driven capabilities.

💡GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is a widely recognized AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub. It is mentioned in the video as a point of comparison for Cursor AI Code Editor. The video suggests that Cursor can be a cost-effective alternative to GitHub Copilot, allowing developers to save money while still benefiting from AI-assisted coding.

💡AI Backbone

The term 'AI Backbone' refers to the foundational role that artificial intelligence plays in the functionality of a tool or system. In the context of the video, Cursor's AI backbone is what differentiates it from traditional code editors, providing智能化 coding suggestions and predictions based on the codebase.

💡IDE

IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment, which is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. The video describes Cursor as being similar to an IDE, highlighting its comprehensive features that facilitate coding, such as the inclusion of AI for enhanced productivity.

💡Auto-completion

Auto-completion is a feature in coding tools that predicts and completes code snippets as a developer types. The video mentions this feature in the context of AI tools like Cursor, where it is powered by AI models to provide intelligent code suggestions, streamlining the coding process.

💡Chat Interface

A chat interface in the context of AI coding tools allows developers to interact with the AI through a conversational format. The video describes how Cursor, similar to other AI tools, includes a chat interface where developers can discuss their codebase or ask for specific coding actions to be performed.

💡Predictive Model

A predictive model in AI refers to a system's ability to forecast future outcomes based on existing data. In the video, Cursor's predictive model is showcased as a feature that allows the tool to suggest the next likely code edits, improving the efficiency of coding.

💡Natural Language

Natural language is the conversational language that humans use, as opposed to formal programming languages. The video explains how Cursor allows developers to interact with their codebase using natural language, making complex coding tasks more accessible and intuitive.

💡Privacy Mode

Privacy mode is a feature that ensures user data, such as code, is not stored or shared without consent. The video mentions Cursor's privacy mode, emphasizing that none of the user's code is stored by the platform, which is an important aspect for developers concerned about data security.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to a type of software whose source code is available to the public for use, modification, and enhancement. The video contrasts Cursor's closed-source nature with the open-source nature of Continue Dev, highlighting a key difference in how developers can interact with and customize the tools.

💡API Token

An API token is a unique identifier used to authenticate requests to an API (Application Programming Interface). The video discusses how developers can use their own API tokens with Cursor, integrating with various AI models from providers like Open AI, Anthropic, or Google, to customize their coding experience.

Highlights

Introduction to Cursor, a free alternative to GitHub Copilot for AI coding assistance.

Cursor is a code editor designed to enhance productivity with AI capabilities.

Comparison of Cursor to Visual Studio Code, highlighting Cursor's AI backbone.

Discussion on the popularity and features of Cursor in the developer community.

Overview of Continue Dev, an open-source tool similar to Cursor, with customization options.

Demonstration of how to set up and use Continue Dev within VS Code and JetBrains.

Cursor's ability to import extensions, themes, and key bindings from VS Code.

Cursor's privacy mode ensures no code is stored by the service.

Features of Cursor's AI, including predictive coding and natural language editing commands.

How Cursor's model code allows for one-click model integration.

Cursor's free version and Pro trial, with options for additional features.

Instructions on migrating from VS Code to Cursor, emphasizing the simplicity of the process.

The visual differences between Cursor and VS Code, focusing on the navigation bar.

How to use Cursor's chat interface to interact with the codebase and AI models.

Configuring Cursor to use different AI models and adding custom models manually.

Community efforts to add support for models like Olama in Cursor.

The limitation of Cursor being closed-source compared to the open-source nature of Continue Dev.

Personal preference and use case scenarios for both Cursor and Continue Dev.

Invitation for feedback on the best coding tools, extensions, or strategies from the audience.

Promotion of the author's book 'Client Acquisition Code' for business growth with AI.