Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VS Code. It combines familiar editing with an AI agent that can read your codebase, run commands, edit files, and help you ship faster. This guide covers installation on Linux, first-time setup, and the features I use daily as a developer.
Prerequisites: A Linux desktop (Ubuntu, Arch, or Fedora) and a Cursor account.
Table of Contents
- Install Cursor on Linux
- First-Time Setup
- Core Features
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Rules & Customization
- Productivity Tips
1. Install Cursor on Linux
Download the latest build from cursor.com/downloads. Choose the .AppImage or .deb package for your distro.
AppImage (works on any distro)
chmod +x cursor-*.AppImage
./cursor-*.AppImage
Move it to a permanent location and optionally add a desktop entry:
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
mv cursor-*.AppImage ~/.local/bin/cursor
~/.local/bin/cursor
Debian / Ubuntu (.deb)
sudo dpkg -i cursor_*.deb
sudo apt-get install -f -y # fix missing dependencies
cursor
Arch Linux (AUR)
yay -S cursor-bin
# or
paru -S cursor-bin
2. First-Time Setup
- Launch Cursor and sign in with GitHub or email.
- Open a project folder: File → Open Folder or
Ctrl+K Ctrl+O. - Choose your default AI model in Settings → Models.
- Enable Privacy Mode in settings if you work on sensitive codebases.
Cursor imports most VS Code extensions and keybindings automatically, so your existing setup usually carries over.
3. Core Features
Chat (Ask)
Open the chat panel with Ctrl+L. Ask questions about your code, request refactors, or debug errors. Use @ to reference files, folders, docs, or the web.
Agent Mode
Agent mode (Ctrl+I) lets the AI make multi-file edits, run terminal commands, and iterate on tasks autonomously. Great for feature work, bug fixes, and scaffolding new projects.
Tab Completion
Cursor predicts your next edit inline — not just the next line. Press Tab to accept suggestions as you type. This alone can save hours per week.
Inline Edit
Select code and press Ctrl+K to describe a change in plain English. Cursor rewrites the selection in place.
4. Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+L | Open AI chat |
Ctrl+I | Open Agent mode |
Ctrl+K | Inline edit selection |
Tab | Accept AI suggestion |
Ctrl+Shift+P | Command palette |
Ctrl+` | Toggle terminal |
5. Rules & Customization
Cursor supports Rules — persistent instructions that shape how the AI behaves in your project. Add them via Settings → Rules or create .cursor/rules/ files in your repo.
Example project rule:
- Use TypeScript strict mode
- Follow existing naming conventions in the codebase
- Write minimal, focused diffs — no unrelated changes
You can also set user-level rules that apply across all projects, like preferred language, commit style, or testing requirements.
6. Productivity Tips
- Be specific — include file paths, error messages, and expected behavior in prompts.
- Use @ references — point the agent at relevant files instead of pasting large blocks.
- Review diffs — always check Agent changes before accepting; treat AI output like a PR review.
- Combine with Git — commit before big agent tasks so you can revert easily. See the GitHub Guide.
- Terminal access — let the agent run build/test commands to verify its own changes.
Related Guides
Pair Cursor with solid tooling workflows:
- GitHub CLI Guide — manage repos from the terminal
- Ubuntu Installation Guide — set up your Linux dev environment
- Hugo Static Sites — deploy projects like this blog
Check out my projects on github.com/aayrix.