AI Tool Tuesday: Cursor — The Code Editor That Actually Understands Your Project

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Week 1 of my AI Tool Tuesday series, where I test AI tools in real scenarios so you don't have to..

What is Cursor?


Cursor isn't just another AI coding assistant bolted onto an existing editor. It's a fork of VS Code rebuilt from the ground up with AI as a first-class citizen. Think of it as having a senior developer sitting next to you who has read your entire codebase and can write, edit, and debug code while understanding the full context of your project.

The key difference? While GitHub Copilot suggests completions, Cursor can understand and modify entire files, reference your project structure, and even help refactor complex codebases.

My Real-World Test


I’ve worked with cursor to build multiple projects from scratch and to edit already built projects, but my first ever use case with Cursor was on a React project I’ve been working on, a task management app with about 15 components and a Node.js backend. Here’s what I tested:

-  The Challenge: I needed to add user authentication, update multiple components to        handle auth state, and modify the API routes accordingly.

-  The Result: What would typically take me 3-4 hours of careful coding and testing took     about 45 minutes. Cursor understood the existing patterns in my codebase and                 consistently applied them across all the files it touched.

What Works Really Well

Context Awareness: Cursor reads your entire project. When I asked it to "add authentication to the user dashboard," it automatically imported the right components, used my existing styling patterns, and even followed my naming conventions.

Multi-file editing: This is where Cursor shines. It can edit multiple files simultaneously while keeping everything consistent. I watched it update 8 different files to implement a feature, and every change made sense.

Natural language commands: I could say "make this component responsive" or "add error handling to all API calls" and it would know exactly what to do.

Debug assistance: When I had a useState hook causing infinite re-renders, Cursor identified the issue and fixed it in seconds.

The Limitations 

Occasional over-engineering: Sometimes Cursor adds more complexity than needed. You need to guide it toward simpler solutions.

Learning curve: If you're used to traditional autocomplete, Cursor's approach takes adjustment. Sometimes it's almost too helpful.

Resource heavy: It uses more RAM than VS Code, especially on large projects. My MacBook fan definitely noticed.

Limited offline use: The best features require an internet connection, unlike traditional IDEs.

Pricing Reality Check



  • Free tier: 2,000 completions/month (generous for testing)
  • Pro ($20/month): Unlimited basic features, 500 premium requests
  • Business ($40/month): Advanced features, priority support

For context: I hit the free limit in about 4 days of regular use. If you're coding daily, you'll need the Pro plan.

Who Should Use Cursor?

Perfect for:

  • Developers working on medium to large codebases
  • Teams wanting consistent coding patterns
  • Anyone doing lots of refactoring or feature additions
  • Developers comfortable with AI assistance

Skip it if:

  • You prefer minimal, lightweight editors
  • You're working on very simple projects
  • You have security concerns about AI analyzing your code
  • You're just starting to learn programming (it might do too much for you)

My Verdict: 4.2/5 ⭐

Cursor genuinely changed how I approach coding. It's not perfect, but it's the first AI coding tool that feels like having an intelligent pair programmer rather than a fancy autocomplete.

-  The Good: Context awareness, multi-file editing, natural language commands 

-  The Bad: Resource usage, learning curve, occasional over-complexity 

-  The Bottom Line: Worth the $20/month if you code regularly and work on projects            with more than a few files.

Try It Yourself

Cursor offers a generous free tier. Download it, import one of your existing projects, or start a new one and try asking it to add or create a simple feature. You'll immediately see if this approach clicks with your workflow.

Follow for more honest AI tool reviews.

What AI tool should I review next? Drop suggestions in the comments below.

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