I Finally Tried The AI-Powered VS Code Killer | Cursor IDE Review

Your Average Tech Bro
1 Jul 202408:52

TLDRIn this review, the video creator shares their experience with Cursor IDE, an AI-powered code editor that has impressed them more than GitHub Copilot and JetBrains IDEs. They highlight Cursor's seamless integration of AI for code prediction and chat, as well as its contextual awareness and new 'next line prediction' feature that significantly speeds up coding by autocompleting code with a simple tab. Despite some drawbacks like extension management and lack of certain JetBrains features, the creator finds Cursor's AI capabilities to be a game-changer in their development workflow.

Takeaways

  • 😀 The speaker has been coding for 9 years, using various IDEs over time, and is now trying out Cursor IDE.
  • 🤖 Initially skeptical of Cursor due to their satisfaction with GitHub Copilot, the speaker was impressed by Cursor after a two-week trial.
  • 🔧 Cursor is built off of VS Code, offering a familiar environment for VS Code users and compatibility with its extensions.
  • 💬 Two main improvements of Cursor over GitHub Copilot are the AI integration experience and new AI use cases for code prediction and chat.
  • 🚀 Cursor's AI is more contextually aware compared to GitHub Copilot and JetBrains AI, better predicting and generating code based on project context.
  • 🔑 Quick keyboard shortcuts in Cursor allow for immediate interaction with the AI, making the coding experience more efficient.
  • 🔮 A unique feature of Cursor is its next line of code prediction, which can automatically update code across a project after a change is made.
  • 🛠️ The speaker finds Cursor's AI to be faster and better at generating code than GitHub Copilot, significantly speeding up their coding process.
  • 💼 Despite the benefits, the speaker dislikes managing VS Code extensions and prefers JetBrains' more opinionated and out-of-the-box approach.
  • 🛑 The speaker misses certain features of JetBrains, such as a better Git UI and refactoring experience, which are not as robust in VS Code or Cursor.
  • 🌟 The ideal editor for the speaker would combine JetBrains' user experience with Cursor's AI capabilities for an optimal coding environment.
  • 📢 The speaker encourages others to try Cursor and share their experiences, highlighting the potential for Cursor to revolutionize coding with its AI features.

Q & A

  • What is the title of the video being discussed?

    -The title of the video is 'I Finally Tried The AI-Powered VS Code Killer | Cursor IDE Review'.

  • How long has the speaker been coding?

    -The speaker has been coding for the past 9 years.

  • What was the speaker's initial coding environment?

    -Initially, the speaker was a VM/neovim user for the first 3 years.

  • Which IDE did the speaker switch to after using neovim?

    -After using neovim, the speaker switched to being a VS Code user for the next 3 years.

  • What is the speaker's current IDE preference before trying Cursor?

    -Before trying Cursor, the speaker's current IDE preference was JetBrains IDE, specifically WebStorm.

  • What is the main feature of the Cursor IDE according to the speaker?

    -The main feature of the Cursor IDE, as per the speaker, is that it is the first AI-powered IDE built from the ground up.

  • What was the speaker's initial skepticism about Cursor IDE?

    -The speaker was initially skeptical about Cursor IDE because they were already a satisfied user of GitHub Copilot and doubted how Cursor could be much better.

  • What is the speaker's opinion after trying Cursor IDE for two weeks?

    -After trying Cursor IDE for two weeks, the speaker was impressed and found Cursor to be better than GitHub Copilot and other AI solutions.

  • What are the two major improvements Cursor IDE has over GitHub Copilot according to the speaker?

    -The two major improvements Cursor IDE has over GitHub Copilot are the user experience of the AI integration into the product and the actual net new AI use cases in VS Code.

  • What does the speaker find particularly impressive about Cursor IDE's AI?

    -The speaker finds Cursor IDE's AI impressive due to its contextual awareness and its ability to predict the next line of code, reducing the amount of code they have to manually write.

  • What is the speaker's main concern about Cursor IDE?

    -The speaker's main concern about Cursor IDE is that it is based on VS Code, which they do not like due to the need to manage extensions and the initial open canvas with minimal customization.

  • What features does the speaker wish Cursor IDE had from JetBrains IDE?

    -The speaker wishes Cursor IDE had a great Git UI and a better refactoring experience similar to what they have experienced with JetBrains IDE.

  • What is the speaker's ideal coding environment?

    -The speaker's ideal coding environment would be a JetBrains editor with Cursor AI functionality, including quick keyboard shortcuts for code generation and prediction.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Transitioning to the New AI-Powered IDE: Cursor

The speaker reflects on their coding journey, moving from Vim/Neovim to VS Code, and then to JetBrains IDEs, particularly WebStorm for full-stack web development. They express initial skepticism towards the hype surrounding the new AI-powered IDE, Cursor, but after a two-week free trial, they are impressed by Cursor's integration and performance compared to GitHub Copilot and other AI solutions. The speaker plans to share their experience with Cursor and its advantages over JetBrains IDEs, despite some preferences for JetBrains' features.

05:02

📝 Cursor's Superior AI Integration and Code Prediction

The speaker discusses their experience using Cursor, noting its familiarity for VS Code users and compatibility with VS Code extensions. They highlight Cursor's two major improvements over GitHub Copilot: a more seamless AI integration into the product and new AI use cases. Cursor's quick keyboard shortcuts for generating or chatting with code are praised for their efficiency. The speaker also appreciates Cursor's contextual awareness, which outperforms GitHub Copilot and JetBrains' AI assistant in their experience. Cursor's ability to predict the next line of code and automatically update references across the project is demonstrated through examples, showcasing its efficiency in reducing manual coding efforts.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI-Powered IDE

AI-Powered IDE refers to an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that utilizes artificial intelligence to assist developers in coding tasks. In the video, the AI-powered IDE is the main subject, with Cursor IDE being highlighted as a revolutionary tool that uses AI to enhance coding efficiency and accuracy. The video discusses how Cursor IDE stands out from other IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains by integrating AI in a more seamless and effective manner.

💡VS Code

VS Code, short for Visual Studio Code, is a popular open-source IDE developed by Microsoft. It is known for its extensibility and user-friendly interface. In the script, the creator mentions transitioning from being a VS Code user to trying out the new Cursor IDE, which is built off of VS Code, allowing for the use of any VS Code extension within Cursor.

💡JetBrains IDE

JetBrains IDE refers to a family of IDEs developed by JetBrains, such as WebStorm for web development. These IDEs are known for their powerful features and integrated tools. The video script mentions the creator's experience with JetBrains IDEs, particularly WebStorm, and how they were using it before trying Cursor IDE.

💡GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It assists developers by predicting and autocompleting code. The video script compares Cursor IDE's AI capabilities with GitHub Copilot, highlighting Cursor's improvements in user experience and AI use cases.

💡Code Prediction

Code prediction is a feature where an IDE suggests or predicts the next lines of code a developer is likely to write. In the context of the video, Cursor IDE's code prediction is a key improvement over GitHub Copilot, as it not only completes the current line but also predicts and assists with the next lines of code in different parts of the project.

💡Code Completion

Code completion is a feature that automatically completes code snippets or lines of code as a developer types. The video demonstrates how Cursor IDE's AI enhances code completion by understanding the context of the project and providing more accurate and relevant suggestions compared to other tools.

💡Refactoring

Refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior to make it more understandable, manageable, or efficient. The script describes how Cursor IDE's AI can assist in refactoring by automatically updating function names across the entire project, which is a significant improvement over traditional methods.

💡Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys on a keyboard that perform specific actions within an application, such as an IDE. The video emphasizes Cursor IDE's quick keyboard shortcuts (command K or command L) that allow for immediate interaction with the AI for code generation or chatting with the code, enhancing the coding workflow.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to a type of software whose source code is available to the public for use, modification, and enhancement. The creator mentions an open-source social media scheduling tool they are building, which serves as a practical example of how Cursor IDE's AI can be applied in real-world projects.

💡Tab to Predict

Tab to Predict is a feature in Cursor IDE that allows developers to press the tab key to automatically jump to and update references of a changed function or variable throughout the code. This feature is highlighted in the video as a significant time-saver and a demonstration of Cursor's advanced AI capabilities.

💡Git UI

Git UI stands for Git User Interface, which is a graphical interface for interacting with the Git version control system. The video script mentions the creator's preference for JetBrains' Git UI over the need to purchase GitLens for VS Code, indicating a desire for a more integrated and user-friendly Git experience within the IDE.

Highlights

The reviewer has been coding for 9 years and has experience with various IDEs.

Initially skeptical about the new IDE, Cursor, due to their satisfaction with GitHub Copilot.

After a 2-week free trial, the reviewer was impressed with Cursor's capabilities.

Cursor is built off of VS Code, providing a familiar environment for existing users.

Cursor allows the use of any VS Code extension, seamlessly integrated.

Two major improvements over GitHub Copilot: integrated AI experience and new AI use cases.

Cursor's quick keyboard shortcuts for AI interaction are a significant advantage.

Cursor's AI is contextually aware, outperforming GitHub Copilot and JetBrains AI.

Cursor's AI can predict and write the next line of code in different parts of the project.

The 'Tab to jump' feature in Cursor automates code refactoring, enhancing productivity.

The reviewer demonstrates Cursor's AI generating code for social media scheduling tool 'Social Q'.

Cursor's AI can understand plain English prompts and generate complex code logic.

Cursor's code prediction is shown to be faster and more accurate than GitHub Copilot.

Despite Cursor's advantages, the reviewer dislikes managing VS Code extensions.

The reviewer prefers JetBrains' git UI and refactoring experience over VS Code.

The ideal editor for the reviewer would combine JetBrains' features with Cursor's AI.

The reviewer encourages others to try Cursor and share their experiences.

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