Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VSCode. It integrates AI assistance directly into your coding workflow, allowing you to write, edit, and understand code faster with natural language interactions. Features include inline AI editing, chat-based assistance, and intelligent code completion.
Quick Reference
Cmd+K: Inline AI edit - select code and describe changes
Cmd+L: Open AI chat panel for conversations
Tab: Accept AI suggestions as you type
Cmd+Shift+L: Add current file to chat context
@file: Reference specific files in your prompts
@codebase: Search across your entire project
.cursorrules: Define project-wide AI behavior rules
Cmd+Shift+K: Quick fix suggestions on errors
Escape: Cancel current AI operation
Cmd+Enter: Submit prompt in chat
Setup Guide
# Getting Started with Cursor
## Installation
1. Download Cursor from https://cursor.com
2. Install and open the application
3. Sign in with your account (GitHub, Google, or email)
## Key Features
### Cmd+K / Ctrl+K - Inline AI Edit
Select code and press Cmd+K to ask AI to edit it. Examples:
- "Add error handling"
- "Convert to TypeScript"
- "Optimize this function"
### Cmd+L / Ctrl+L - AI Chat Panel
Open the chat panel to have a conversation about your code:
- Ask questions about your codebase
- Get explanations for complex code
- Plan features before implementing
### Tab - Accept Suggestions
AI provides inline completions as you type. Press Tab to accept.
## .cursorrules File
Create a `.cursorrules` file in your project root to customize AI behavior:
```
You are an expert TypeScript developer.
Always use functional components with React hooks.
Prefer const over let.
Use descriptive variable names.
Add JSDoc comments to exported functions.
Follow the existing code patterns in this project.
```
## Best Practices
- Be specific in your prompts
- Use @file to reference specific files
- Add context by selecting relevant code
- Review and understand all generated code
- Use .cursorrules for project-wide consistency