Question 1

How does Cursor's 'Global Codebase Indexing' differ from a standard 'Find in Files' feature in VS Code, and what are the performance implications for large projects?

Accepted Answer

Cursor's Global Codebase Indexing goes beyond simple text search. It creates a semantic understanding of your code, allowing it to answer complex queries and suggest more relevant code completions. While initial indexing may take time for large projects, subsequent searches are significantly faster and more accurate than traditional 'Find in Files' due to the pre-built index.

Question 2

Can I use Cursor's 'Composer' feature to refactor code across multiple files, and what safeguards are in place to prevent unintended consequences during these large-scale edits?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Cursor's Composer is designed for refactoring code across multiple files simultaneously. It allows you to 'tab' through the entire diff before applying the changes, giving you full control and visibility. Additionally, Cursor's codebase indexing provides a comprehensive understanding of dependencies, helping to minimize unintended consequences during complex refactoring operations.

Question 3

If I choose the 'Privacy Mode' option, does that mean my code is never sent to any external servers, including for AI model processing, and does it limit which AI models I can use?

Accepted Answer

When using 'Privacy Mode', your code remains local and is not sent to any external servers. This ensures complete data privacy. However, using Privacy Mode may limit access to certain AI models that require cloud processing, but you can still leverage local code options within the editor.

Question 4

Since Cursor is a fork of VS Code, can I easily migrate my existing VS Code settings, extensions, and keybindings to Cursor, and are there any known compatibility issues?

Accepted Answer

Yes, migrating from VS Code to Cursor is designed to be seamless. You can import your existing settings, extensions, and keybindings. While Cursor strives for full compatibility, some extensions may not function perfectly due to the AI-native features. Refer to the Cursor documentation for a list of known incompatibilities.

Question 5

How does the free tier of Cursor compare to the Pro tier ($20/month) in terms of usage limits for AI features, such as code generation and chat queries, and which AI models (Claude/GPT) are available on each tier?

Accepted Answer

The free tier of Cursor offers limited usage of AI features like code generation and codebase chat. The Pro tier ($20/month) provides unlimited access to these features and unlocks priority access to the latest AI models, including Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Both tiers allow you to switch between Claude and GPT models, but Pro users may experience faster response times and access to more advanced model versions.

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