Cursor
AI-powered IDE built on VS Code. I use it mainly for codebase exploration - understanding unfamiliar repos, navigating large codebases, and quick edits with strong context awareness.
Cursor is an AI-native IDE built on top of VS Code that brings intelligent code understanding directly into the editor. It supports all VS Code extensions while adding AI-powered features like inline completions, codebase-aware chat, and multi-file editing.
I use Cursor primarily for codebase exploration and navigation. When I'm diving into an unfamiliar repo or working with a large codebase, Cursor's ability to index and understand the full project makes it much faster to find what I need. The inline AI completions are good for quick edits where you want contextual suggestions without switching to a separate tool.
The chat feature is useful for asking questions about how specific parts of the codebase work, and the multi-file editing capabilities let you make coordinated changes across several files at once. It fits well alongside Claude Code - I tend to use Cursor for exploration and quick edits, and Claude Code for heavier autonomous work.
Other AI & Coding tools
Claude Code
My daily driver for AI-assisted coding and running agentic teams. Claude works directly in the codebase via terminal, IDE, or web - great for multi-step tasks and autonomous workflows.
Codex
OpenAI's coding agent for background tasks like issue triage, CI monitoring, and automated workflows. Runs headless or via CLI without blocking the main workflow.
GitLens
Git superpowers for VS Code and Cursor. Inline blame, commit graph, worktrees, and AI commit messages. Makes Git history and collaboration much easier.