Cursor CLI – An AI-powered command-line tool launched by Cursor

What is Cursor CLI？

Cursor CLI is a command-line tool developed by the Cursor team that brings AI programming capabilities to any environment, including terminal and headless modes. It enables developers to use the powerful features of the Cursor Agent directly from the command line, such as code generation, file operations, and terminal command execution. Users can interact with the AI through simple commands (e.g., cursor-agent chat) to quickly solve programming problems or optimize code. Cursor CLI supports multiple AI models and integrates seamlessly with models included in the Cursor subscription. It’s ideal for developers using Neovim, JetBrains, and other IDEs, running in parallel with those tools to provide a more flexible coding experience.

Key Features of Cursor CLI

• AI Programming Capabilities

  • Code generation and editing: Describe requirements in natural language and have Cursor CLI generate the corresponding code, offering multiple suggestions for selection or modification.

  • Code review and optimization: Review code for issues such as security vulnerabilities, or translate code from one programming language to another.

  • Real-time model updates: Directly connects to AI servers so you can use the latest model versions without waiting for plugin updates.

  • Flexible model switching: Supports multiple mainstream AI models (e.g., Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini) and allows users to switch models as needed.

  • File creation and modification: Generate new files or modify existing ones via AI.

  • File navigation and switching: Quickly navigate between files using arrow keys.

  • Terminal command execution: Run terminal commands directly and view the output.

  • Command-line tool integration: Works with various CLI tools, including JetBrains’ Debug console, VSCode’s integrated terminal, or server SSH sessions.

  • Automated script development: Supports non-interactive print mode for scripts, CI/CD pipelines, and other automation scenarios.

  • Specialized task handling: For example, in React projects, configure anti-aliasing and performance modes via a single command.

  • Interactive sessions: Have an interactive conversation with the AI agent in the terminal to write, review, and edit code.

  • Conversation history: Resume past conversations to continue working across different tasks.

  • Cross-environment support: Compatible with multiple development environments (VSCode, JetBrains, Android Studio, etc.) and can run in any terminal.

Official Website

https://cursor.com/cli

How to Use Cursor CLI

• Install Cursor CLI:

• Start Cursor CLI: After installation, start it with a prompt:

Example:

Core Commands

• Code generation: Describe requirements in natural language and get generated code.

• File operations: Create new files or modify existing ones.

• Command execution: Run terminal commands and view outputs directly.

• Code review: Perform security reviews or translate code between languages.

• Resume previous conversations:

• View conversation list:

• Switch models:

• Custom agent rules: Add rule files under .cursor/rules to customize agent behavior.

Use Cases of Cursor CLI

• Quick bug fixes in production: In emergencies, developers can use Cursor CLI in the terminal to quickly locate and fix issues without switching to an IDE.

• Cross-language project migration: Convert Python code to Go or other languages quickly, saving time and effort.

• Teaching and learning: Teachers can generate example code to help students understand complex programming concepts.

• Cross-IDE development: For developers using multiple IDEs (Neovim, JetBrains, VSCode), Cursor CLI integrates seamlessly to provide a unified AI coding experience.