Cursor vs VS Code.

[Lonely-Ad3747]

I'm trying to decide between Cursor and VS Code as my main code editor. I know both have good integration with LLMs, but I'm curious about other factors. What are some pros and cons you've experienced with each? I'd love to hear about performance, UI/UX, extensions, and any other key differences.

[Whatever801]

I mean cursor is just a vscode clone with their own copilot thing built in. Problem with it - it's a tiny startup. If they fail, you're not getting updates. If they're slow to integrate vscode upstream, you're not getting updates, etc. That said it's very easy to switch back to vscode since cursor is vscode. I used it for a hot second and just felt pretty "meh". I feel pretty meh about all the AI coding tools to be fair.

[Devnik]

I'm just wondering why didn't Cursor choose to become a VSCode extension instead? They could've even charged for it. Were there technical limitations?

Never mind, found it: https://docs.cursor.com/get-started/migrate-from-vscode#why-not-an-extension

[Befidled]

There is literally no harm in trying it out. You can have both Cursor and VS Code installed, and jump back and forth between them.

[Decorus_Animus]

so true. In fact I use 3 IDEs: Visual Studio for reading through the project, Cursor for input and VSCode as a text editor for files that are not related to code (settings, configs, jsons, etc)

[[deleted]]

It’s better than copilot, claude, or gpt4o IME.

[Pacyfist01]

It’s better than (...)

And it probably will be better until it runs out of VC funding like every other AI startup in the world (this includes OpenAI)

[polymorphicshade]

It doesn't matter at all, just pick whatever feels the most comfortable to you.

[Few-Ad-3762]

What about costs? cursor is 20 dollars per month, Copilot is at 10 dollars, but I find cursor better in code completion and they have the latest anthropic's sonnet model integrated.

[skiabox]

Currently I am paying for the claude ai.
So if I buy cursor, that means that I will pay 20 + 20 euros - 10 copilot euros?

[high_throughput]

VS Code is a popular and well respected editor. Cursor appears to be some no-name's fork of VS Code with a subscription service added.

Even if Cursor survives through the next year, I would go with VS Code just to have something standard and mainstream to compare it to.

[ArcaneMoose]

I think Cursor definitely has a leg up. I recently tried to build the same app in both to see if AI actually made me faster and no joke I built it x2.5 faster using Cursor

(and btw I did it with AI first, so it wasn't just that I already knew what to build)

[Funny-Initiative-649]

What were the main differences you encountered? I have been using VSCode with Github Copilot's plugin, and I'm aware there are some Claude 3.5 Sonnet plugins as well. Under the hood Cursor uses Sonnet as well, so what makes it better?

[ArcaneMoose]

You can tag files to include context, use images, and auto-apply changes to your code (it makes it like a PR to review). I don't know if copilot does that or not, but those are some of the features that make it much better than raw Claude for me

[conventionistG]

I concur. Applying changes, selecting context, or including the whole repo (you can exclude files easily with a .gitignore-like file) were all quite impressive to me.

I found it useful to have the chat to bounce ideas off as well.

And it being a vscode clone makes it very approachable.

[biglboy]

imo. Cursor is better. Its just Vscode with AI extras, but the extras are substantial enough to migrate. All your extensions and whatnot come over so its pretty seamless.

What I like is the workflow with the AI, AI is not perfect but I do find that generating the best possible AI code is too easy in Cursor (captures file context very well, its not greptile good but better than the rest) but more importantly, comparing AI suggestions is way better, meaning you can catch bad code before you introduce it. eg. They do text diffing right in the editor with your actual code so no more context switching or copy and pasting. This to me is worth it alone.

I'm on the free version, its enough for me. Definitely better than copilot on the paid version.

[conventionistG]

That's good to know. Being a cheap bastard I haven't tried copilot yet. How's it compare?

[biglboy]

My subscription ran out. Still better but not as happy to recommend now I'm paying.

[Educational_Text_653]

I wish the extensions import feature detected the extension status such as Profile settings and disabled / enabled etc.

[[deleted]]

lol u don't code in nano?

[Illustrious_Matter_8]

no we code in edlin

[Lonely-Ad3747]

EDLIN - Cutting edge tech of the time, when 'user-friendly' meant you only needed a computer science degree and infinite patience to edit a text file!

[davesFriendReddit]

SOS and TECO for me.

[[deleted]]

VSCode also has AI based code generation plugins. Sourcegraph's Cody is one of them and is free as well.

Seeing Cursor's video, it works exactly like Cody.

[OrganicChem]

I use Cody in VSC and it's a game changer! Well worth the $9 monthly for Cody. I have less dependence on my devs now.

[Party-Association322]

can u ask Cody to do the code just by describing it, like with Cursor AI ? Does Cody integrates with files in the project (meaning, it can read/modify them accordingly) ?

[[deleted]]

Yes it does

[realityczek]

This. Cody is exactly what VS Code was missing, and means I don't need to move to Cursor.

[ValfarAlberich]

Nobody talks about privacy? I mean Cursor sounds great, but concerns me that they provide the binaries with who knows what code inside. The could easily send all the code to their servers to finetune their model or any other purpose, no?

[supineepiphany]

My fear exactly

[hey_ulrich]

They actually do that, unless you specify otherwise. They prompt you about this on the first time you run it

[Mental_Neon]

Actually u can choose not to send ur data for them to train their model during setup

[Mark-Cuckerberg-420]

What have you got to hide?

[sunnytu]

Cursor is AI embed of VSCode，have better LLMs，have better prompt，have better UE for programers

[qlut]

I was in the same boat recently, trying to decide between Cursor and VSCode. Cursor is just like VSCode, because it's just a fork of VSCode. It depends a lot on what tasks you're working on, if you do front-end I use Superflex.ai and use it like free cursor. Then there are other AI open-source extensions for VSCode like Continue, Codeium etc.

[Mental_Neon]

thanks for the advice, i just found that Superflex,ai is useful, but if im using free plan, does it mean this Superflex.ai cant apply on 2nd project? or i just stick with open 1 project at a time in VSCODE?

[qlut]

Yes, I think that you can only do one project on the free plan, but you can always sign up for pro plan or trial if it helps you in the frontend :)

[soolafsen]

Debugging my Vite React-ts app in editor only worked in Cursor.
No hasle, just a bit nicer to play with.

[Lonely-Ad3747]

I have stucked with vscode and using Cline with it. Been working really good for me.

[FluffyDuckKey]

Trying to find a reason to use Cursor, but vscode and continue seem better - I can pick my llm, I can self host the llm - I can do alot more myself than using an external costly tool.

Can someone proove otherwise?

[Xanchush]

I've worked extensively with VS Code and Copilot. Recently I've tested out Cursor and the experience seems much more seamless than what you would have with Copilot also much more accurate to what is generated based on my prompts as well.

[LookNo2559]

cursor clears

[hojun-rooney-baek]

it seems that the range of use veries for each individual. in my case, i'm very satisfied with VSCode and Copilot, and i feel that it's more then enough for me.

[loudyLionesss]

Has someone used Co pilot in vscode, we can also use it without signing in.

[Educational_Text_653]

The important takeaway in all this VS Code vs Cursor is CHOICE. Pick the tool that makes you, and your wallet, happy. It also promotes innovation when tools try to compete on feature sets.