Cursor Tutorial - Why Leave Github Copilot?

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More and more developers are switching from Github Copilot to Cursor - but why is Cursor becoming so popular? When it comes to AI-assisted coding, what capabilities matter most? Many articles recommending Cursor haven’t clearly explained what makes it superior to Github Copilot.

At its core, Cursor’s main advantages lie in two key areas:

  1. Code modification capabilities
  2. Context referencing abilities

Code Modification: Cursor’s Core Advantage

Imagine you’re writing an article. “Inserting” is like adding new content at the end, while “modifying” means adjusting and improving existing content. The same applies to programming:

  • “Inserting code” is like adding new functionality at the end of a program
  • “Modifying code” involves optimizing or correcting existing code

These two operations create vastly different coding experiences. With modification capabilities, it’s like having a programming assistant on standby, ready to help you quickly adjust and refine code, not just add new content at the end.

This core advantage not only makes Cursor more powerful but also creates a smoother and more efficient coding experience.

Github Copilot’s Limitations

Github Copilot primarily focuses on inserting code based on context. While this is helpful, its functionality is limited to appending new code.

In Github Copilot’s official examples:

You need to type a function header in a JavaScript file:

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function calculateDaysBetweenDates(begin, end) {

Then GitHub Copilot will automatically suggest the rest. This operation only appends code without modifying existing code.

Cursor’s Comprehensive Editing Capabilities

In contrast, Cursor can not only insert new code but also directly modify existing code.

This capability is demonstrated in several ways:

  1. Multi-line Editing: Cursor can suggest modifications for multiple lines of code based on the current context. All you need to do is press Tab to let Cursor make the changes.

    Cursor multi-line editing example

    This smooth experience really makes you feel like someone is coding alongside you.

  2. Inline Editing: Using the Ctrl/Cmd K shortcut, you can select a code block to edit and enter modification instructions in the prompt bar. Cursor will intelligently modify the selected code based on your instructions.

    Cursor inline editing example

    If you’re satisfied with Cursor’s modifications, simply click Accept. This interaction style is one reason why developers find Cursor so user-friendly (mainly because Github Copilot doesn’t support modifications, making this experience impossible).

  3. Smart Predictions: Cursor can intelligently predict your next coding intentions and provide relevant suggestions.

    Cursor smart prediction example

    In this example, when you change the variable name from ‘updates’ to ‘updatesToServer’, Cursor predicts that other instances of ‘updates’ should also be updated to ‘updatesToServer’.

    So after you modify code in one place, Cursor automatically suggests synchronizing changes in other places,
    allowing you to simply press Tab repeatedly to apply all changes - it’s incredibly satisfying.

  4. Composer Feature: Although still in Beta, Cursor’s Composer feature already demonstrates the ability to edit and generate multiple files simultaneously, which is particularly useful in complex projects.

These comprehensive editing capabilities make Cursor’s user experience far superior to Github Copilot, giving developers a true sense of “taking off” in their coding.

Context Referencing: More Intuitive, More Powerful

In AI-assisted coding, accurately understanding and utilizing context information is crucial. Cursor excels in this area, providing more intuitive and powerful context referencing capabilities.

Cursor’s @ Symbol References

In Cursor’s AI input box (like Cmd K, Cmd L, or Terminal Cmd K), simply typing the @ symbol brings up a suggestion list showing referenceable context information. This list automatically filters based on your input, showing only the most relevant suggestions.

Cursor @ symbol reference example

The available context options are clear and straightforward - users immediately understand what kind of context information each option represents. These options cover virtually all context information you might need in daily development.

The @Codebase feature provides global code search capabilities. Cursor pre-indexes your project code and stores the index information locally (while Copilot relies on Github’s API for remote searches).

Github Copilot’s Complex Reference System

In comparison, Github Copilot offers two types of context references: Chat participants and Chat variables, using @ and # symbols respectively. This design not only increases complexity but also lacks intuitive naming.

Compared to Cursor, GitHub Copilot’s range of context options is more limited and cannot match Cursor’s comprehensive coverage.

Chat participants:
Github Copilot Chat participants

Chat variables:
Github Copilot Chat variables

Notably, Github Copilot only caught up with multi-file context referencing earlier this year. From Github’s changelog, it’s clear they still have much to learn and adopt from Cursor in this area.

Conclusion

Through its powerful code modification capabilities and intuitive context referencing, Cursor provides developers with a more efficient and intelligent AI coding assistant than Github Copilot. If you’re looking for a tool that can truly enhance your coding efficiency and quality, give Cursor a try. It might give you an unprecedented sense of coding “lift-off”!

Have you used Cursor or Github Copilot? Feel free to share your experiences and thoughts!