Cursor
Cursor's agent mode goes further than autocomplete tools, planning and executing multi-file changes across a whole codebase.
Cursor's agent mode can plan and execute changes across multiple files, which goes further than simple line-by-line autocomplete tools.
Generated changes are generally sound and well-scoped, though larger refactors still benefit from careful review before merging.
Being a fork of VS Code means existing extensions and shortcuts carry over, so the learning curve is mostly about the new AI features.
Pro is $20/mo with a usable free tier for light, occasional use; heavy daily use will want Pro's higher request allowance.
Even Pro's fast premium request allowance can run out during a heavy day of agent-driven work, falling back to slower requests.
- 1Download Cursor
Install the editor from cursor.com — it imports your VS Code settings and extensions automatically.
- 2Open a project
Point Cursor at an existing codebase so it can index it for context-aware suggestions.
- 3Use inline chat
Select code and ask Cursor to explain, fix, or refactor it directly in the editor.
- 4Try agent mode
For larger tasks, describe the change you want and let agent mode plan and edit across multiple files.
- 5Review before committing
Always review AI-proposed diffs before committing, especially for multi-file agent changes.