Why Developers are Abandoning VS Code for Cursor

The Integrated Advantage

For years, VS Code has dominated. It's free, extensible, and backed by Microsoft. But Cursor changed the game by embedding AI into the editor's core loop, not just as a sidebar extension.

Tab is the new Enter

Cursor's "Tab" autocomplete isn't just a snippet; it predicts your next refactor. It understands your entire codebase's context (RAG) locally, making suggestions that feel telepathic. It predicts where you will go next, often writing the code before you even think of it.

Shadow Workspace & Composer

The new "Composer" feature allows you to edit multiple files simultaneously using natural language commands. "Rename this component and update all imports" happens in one click. Behind the scenes, the "Shadow Workspace" runs your code to verify that the suggested changes actually compile. This "Compile-check loop" was the missing link in generative coding.

Is it worth $20?

If you code for a living, yes. The time saved in boilerplate reduction alone covers the cost in an hour. VS Code + Copilot is a good "assistant", but Cursor is a "collaborator".