Is Cursor AI the VS Code Killer

Scott and Wes serve up a discussion on AI coding assistants with a deep look at Cursor AI, exploring its unique features like multi-line auto-complete and Smart Rewrites. They also discuss why Cursor’s intuitive UI stands out and tackle the big question: is it worth the investment?

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
01:48 Handling objections around AI assistants.
02:55 Context windows and how they're improving functionality.
04:08 Cursor's UI.
04:51 This is cool, why is it not a plugin?
08:12 What makes the UI interesting.
09:13 Smart Rewrites.
11:44 It can create multiple files.
13:05 Using the chat interface.
16:32 Another chat example.
20:22 The main features of Cursor.
21:55 Multi-line auto-complete.
23:55 Using docs for additional context.
27:26 AI is here to help you, not replace you.
33:27 Is it worth it?
33:55 The pricing.
44:10 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs.

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[Iron.Historian]

Thanks for the shoutout Scott, glad you enjoy the videos! Keep up the great work guys 🙏

[smithdoesstuff]

Being (re)new to all of this, I’ve decided to stay away from the embedded AI assistants while I get better at the basic stuff and it seems to be working. I use Chat GPT as a mentor to answer things like “how do I…” or “is there a way to…” and use the responses to understand the concepts rather than to just get working code written for me.

[oabdulazeez]

I have been expecting this.


Thank you guys, for all you do!

[jonathankurtis]

in order for Cursor to create files for you and edit multiple files you need to hit CMD + I to launch composer instead of CMD + L to launch chat. Composer can be expanded and you can create projects inside of it for re-use as well. For instance, you could create a project on adding new features including steps like 1. create database migration, 2. create page with DataTable, 3. Create modal form for Add New, 4. Create Edit Page. Then everytime you want to add a new Feature to your app (i.e. Blogs, Popups, Products, etc.) you would launch composer and re-use that project to do the generation instead of starting from scratch each time. You can also do one offs just like in chat too, but Composer is what gives it the power to create brand new files on your behalf or edit multiple files without them even being open.

[deejaydev]

I have Cursor open right now! Can't wait for the future of Web Development!

[staubracing]

Holy crap! I have been using Cursor and never realized you can have a .cursorrules file! Now I can have specific rules per directory!

[kristianlavigne]

I used it on my latest project. Had it work for me the first week producing hundreds of files… then I had to spend weeks to clean up and de-complexify. Still junior level coding in terms of architecture and best practices for maintainability in the long run… 😅

[columkelly]

Scott sick-picking the bodybuilding show after insisting he's not a tech bro. 🤓💪

[duzantheman]

It seems like there are systems in place that should make version-specific recommendations "relatively" easy.

For example, look at your package.json file to know what version of packages you're using and then do some kind of RAG to inject version-specific documentation into your query context.

Seems like an easy win, but I'm probably grossly oversimplifying the problem.

[MatDGVLL]

If Cursor was just a VSCode plugin, Zed would have been at the same place trending now 😄

[dancarter]

You guys completely missed out on the best feature Cursor Composer

[michelbelisle]

for me the best of the best pepper grinder : Peugeot ; you buy one for life

[SR-tijj]

The average dev in 5 years is going to be so god damn bad lmao

[JohnPywtorak]

Nothing against Cursor or anyone who does, but I will not be using it for reasons. When you get to the electric cars, hopefully you have owned one for 5 plus years, otherwise you are still in the honeymoon. Ideally 7 or more years.

[liammullan]

Am I the only one who uses Webstorm? I do a little VSCode too but I find Webstorm is better in general. Anyone else using it?

[drugoviic]

could cursor have just been a plugin ?

[spietrza]

Why I need to pay 20USD when we have Cody AI plugin for free or 9 USD without limits. Its sponsor footage ?

[ForwardGo-ub]

Two dudes jibber-jabbered about a software for 50 mins they probably did not even use for 50 mins. FYI, there is no hobby plan. So that is that. add something new, say something bad, do not just talk out of your front end.