Cursor

Cursor, developed by Cursor Inc., is an AI code editor built on VS Code's open-source core but with AI capabilities deeply integrated into every aspect of the editing experience. Unlike GitHub Copilot's plugin approach, Cursor redesigns the editor-AI interaction from the ground up. Core features include: Cmd+K inline editing, where you select code and describe modifications in natural language; Composer mode for simultaneous multi-file code changes; and codebase indexing that lets AI understand your entire project context, not just the current file. For indie developers, Cursor's greatest value lies in dramatically lowering the "zero-to-one" development barrier—describe requirements in natural language and AI generates complete functional modules. Cursor supports top-tier models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o, letting you choose the best AI for each task. The free tier offers limited premium model requests, while Pro at $20/month provides 500 fast premium model requests. Note that Cursor's support for Chinese comments and documentation is still imperfect, sometimes misinterpreting Chinese requirements. If you're a full-stack indie developer, Cursor may be the most efficient coding tool available today.