Cursor Is Beating VS Code (...by forking it)

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses their experience with Cursor, a new AI code editor, despite being an investor. Initially skeptical, they found Cursor surprisingly useful for tasks like calculating revenue percentages and handling Cloudflare Workers. The video highlights Cursor's autocomplete and code modification capabilities, comparing it to other tools like Super Maven. The creator also touches on the challenges of forking VS Code to achieve deeper UI integration and the potential of open-source alternatives like Code Frying Pan.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is an investor in Cursor, an AI code editor, but initially did not enjoy using it and churned twice.
• 👨‍💻 The speaker prefers Super Maven, a co-pilot alternative in VS Code, for its speed, despite also investing in it.
• 🔍 After giving Cursor another chance, the speaker found the experience surprisingly enjoyable and useful.
• 🎥 The video is sponsored, but not by Cursor, and the speaker emphasizes that Cursor has had no input on the content.
• 📊 The speaker demonstrates Cursor's capabilities by using it to calculate and compare revenue from different viewer segments.
• 🤖 Cursor's AI correctly performs math operations and autocompletes code, impressing the speaker with its accuracy.
• 🛠️ The speaker appreciates Cursor's ability to make bulk changes across code with commands like 'Command Shift K'.
• 💬 The speaker discusses the limitations of VS Code extensions and why Cursor's team forked VS Code to create a more integrated experience.
• 🔗 The video mentions other projects like Code Frying Pan, which is an open-source fork of VS Code aiming for better extensibility.
• 📝 The speaker concludes that Cursor is not about replacing developers but making the tedious parts of coding less burdensome.

Q & A

What is Cursor and why has it been a topic of discussion?

Cursor is a new AI code editor that has been causing a stir due to its advanced features and capabilities. It has been a topic of discussion because of its potential to revolutionize coding by offering AI-assisted coding suggestions and automation.

Why did the speaker initially have a negative experience with Cursor?

The speaker initially did not like using Cursor and churned from the product twice because they found it less appealing compared to Super Maven, another AI tool they invested in and preferred for its speed.

What changed the speaker's opinion about Cursor?

The speaker's opinion changed after giving Cursor an honest try and discovering its capabilities, such as auto-completion that correctly performed math operations and helped with data analysis tasks, which surprised and impressed them.

How does the speaker feel about the auto-completion feature in Cursor?

The speaker is impressed with Cursor's auto-completion feature, finding it helpful for tasks like calculating total revenue and percentages, and updating costs across different models without manual effort.

What is the significance of the 'command shift K' functionality mentioned in the script?

The 'command shift K' functionality in Cursor allows the user to make changes across multiple lines or files efficiently. It was highlighted as a significant time-saver and a feature that contributed to the speaker's positive experience with the editor.

Why did the speaker decide to give Cursor another chance despite their initial dislike?

The speaker decided to give Cursor another chance to provide an honest evaluation of the product, especially after receiving hints about new features and updates that might enhance the user experience.

What is the role of Cloudflare Workers in the speaker's experience with Cursor?

Cloudflare Workers played a significant role as the speaker was working on a project that involved handling CORS, and Cursor was able to generate the necessary code to handle requests efficiently, showcasing its utility in real-world scenarios.

What are the limitations the speaker experienced with Cursor?

The speaker experienced limitations with Cursor's auto-completion speed, which was not as fast as Super Maven, and occasional confusion when referencing the wrong numbers during code changes.

Why did Cursor decide to fork Visual Studio Code instead of creating an extension?

Cursor forked Visual Studio Code to overcome the limitations of creating an extension, which would not allow for deep integration into the editor's UI or the creation of interactive features that Cursor offers.

What is the speaker's view on the open-source nature of Visual Studio Code and its impact on projects like Cursor?

The speaker acknowledges the benefits of open-source projects like Visual Studio Code but also points out the potential downsides, such as others forking the project and potentially profiting from it, which will be discussed in an upcoming article.