Cursor (code editor) explained

Developer:Anysphere
Latest Release Version:Cursor 2.4
Latest Release Date:[1]
Programming Language:TypeScript
Genre:Integrated development environment
License:Proprietary

Cursor is an AI-assisted integrated development environment for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is a fork of Visual Studio Code with additional AI features. Cursor is proprietary software and developed by Anysphere, a San Francisco-based startup company founded in 2022.[2]

Service

Cursor uses large language models to manipulate text with autocomplete and chat query function. It is a fork of Visual Studio Code. Several media outlets have described Cursor as a vibe coding app.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Cursor allows developers to produce code from natural language instructions. Users can generate or update parts of their code by providing prompts. It can also index the codebase, which can be queried in natural language.[7] The editor offers "smart rewrite" capabilities, allowing users to change multiple lines of code simultaneously.[8]

In April 2025, Cursor experienced a bug preventing the use of the software on multiple devices at once. A Cursor customer support email using AI-generated responses falsely cited a policy prohibiting a single subscription license from being used on multiple devices for security reasons, and falsely stated that a separate subscription had to be purchased for each device. Amid criticism of the new "policy" on Reddit, an Anysphere spokesperson issued a retraction clarifying that no such policy existed, and that it was an erroneous response from a "front-line AI support bot".[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2026-01-12 . Changelog . Anysphere.
  2. Web site: Aubry . François . 2024-09-02 . Cursor AI: A Guide With 10 Practical Examples . 2024-12-19 . DataCamp . en . 2024-12-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241217070248/https://www.datacamp.com/tutorial/cursor-ai-code-editor . live .
  3. News: Bradshaw . Tim . May 2025 . Maker of AI 'vibe coding' app Cursor hits $9bn valuation . Financial Times . 13 October 2025.
  4. Goode . Lauren . 24 July 2025 . Cursor's New Bugbot Is Designed to Save Vibe Coders From Themselves . WIRED . Condé Nast . 13 October 2025.
  5. News: Zeff . Maxwell . Anysphere launches a $200-a-month Cursor AI coding subscription . 14 October 2025 . TechCrunch . 17 June 2025.
  6. News: Novet . Jordan . OpenAI looked at buying Cursor creator before turning to AI coding rival Windsurf . 14 October 2025 . CNBC . 17 April 2025 . en.
  7. Web site: Cursor Codebase Understanding . 2024-12-20 . Cursor.
  8. Web site: Cursor Smart Rewrites . 2024-12-20 . Cursor.
  9. Web site: Edwards . Benj . 2025-04-17 . Company apologizes after AI support agent invents policy that causes user uproar . 2025-04-22 . Ars Technica . en . 2025-04-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250421202614/https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/04/cursor-ai-support-bot-invents-fake-policy-and-triggers-user-uproar/ . live .