機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
@aifriends
AI Friends（https://aifriends.jp）のクロスポスト公式アカウント。AIツールの紹介・使い方・できることを、中学生でもわかるやさしい日本語で届けます。
Cursor is a code editor (software for writing programs) equipped with AI (artificial intelligence: a computer that thinks and works like a human). It was built on top of Microsoft's popular editor "Visual Studio Code (VS Code)," with AI features added on top.
Cursor's biggest feature is that AI supports you at every stage of programming work. It not only offers code auto-completion (a feature that suggests how to finish code you've started writing), but also automatically writes code for you when you simply describe in plain language what feature you want to build.
As of April 2026, it has earned high praise from developers (programmers: people who write programs) around the world.
A free plan is available, so even programming beginners can easily give it a try.
Unlike traditional editors, a new style of writing code through dialogue with AI has won the support of many developers.
Cursor has many features that dramatically improve programming efficiency. Here are five standout features as of 2026.
The Cursor Tab feature has AI understand the flow of your code and predict what you should write next, offering suggestions accordingly.
For example, if you start writing a function name (a component of a program that bundles a specific process), it will automatically generate the contents of that function as well.
It can suggest not just simple single-line completions, but complex multi-line code as well.
For commonly used code patterns, you can finish almost without writing anything yourself.
Cursor has a built-in chat feature that lets you converse with AI just like ChatGPT.
When you don't know how to write code, or when you want to know the cause of an error (a mistake in a program), simply ask "What does this code mean?" and the AI will explain it in an easy-to-understand way.
There's no need to open ChatGPT in a separate web browser — you can ask questions right inside the editor, so your workflow stays uninterrupted.
Since it also understands the contents of your codebase (all the code in your project), you get accurate answers.
Simply give instructions in plain language — such as "I want to build a login feature" or "Write code to retrieve information from a database (a place where data is stored)" — and the AI will automatically generate the appropriate code.
Even programming beginners can get code written if they can describe the feature they want to build.
Of course, the generated code can be used not only as-is but also as a learning resource.
You can learn what code to write to implement a given feature by looking at real examples.
Composer is one of Cursor's most powerful features.
Normally, a program is spread across multiple files, but with Composer you can simply instruct it to "add a user registration feature," and it will automatically edit all the necessary files (screens, processing logic, database, tests, etc.).
This saves the effort of jumping back and forth between multiple files and results in significant time savings.
This is a strength unique to Cursor that GitHub Copilot (a Microsoft AI code completion tool) does not have.
Cursor indexes the entire project's code (organizes it like a table of contents).
This means AI offers suggestions with an understanding not just of a single file, but of the entire project's structure and the relationships between files.
For example, if you ask "Where is the function that retrieves user information?", it will immediately find the relevant location within the project.
The larger the project, the greater the benefit of this feature.
Cursor is easy to start using in just 3 steps, even for beginners. Here is an explanation of the basic usage.
First, go to Cursor's official website (cursor.com).
It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Click the "Download" button and download the version that matches your OS.
Open the downloaded file, install it, and you can start using it right away.
No credit card registration is required, and the free plan (Hobby plan) is available from the start.
The default display language is English.
If you want to switch to Japanese, search for "Japanese Language Pack for Visual Studio Code" in the extensions (plugins that add features to the editor) and install it.
After installing, restart the editor and the display will switch to Japanese.
You can use it in English as well, but beginners may find it easier with Japanese.
Once you open a project, try using the AI features.
Press "Ctrl + K" on Windows or "Cmd + K" on Mac to display an AI input window within the code.
Type your instructions here in plain language.
For example, if you type "Create a function that adds two numbers," the AI will automatically generate the code.
If you select existing code before giving an instruction, it will modify that code for you.
To ask questions in chat format, press "Ctrl + L" (Mac: Cmd + L) to open the chat panel.
Cursor has both convenient aspects and things to be aware of. Before you start using it, let's look at the pros and cons.
Cursor is perfect especially for developers handling complex projects and for those who want to make programming more efficient. Specifically, it is recommended for the following types of people:
On the other hand, people who mainly use editors other than VS Code (such as JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA), or those who want to use AI coding tools as cheaply as possible, might find GitHub Copilot more suitable. Since Cursor specializes in "complex edits spanning multiple files," it may be overkill if your only goal is simple single-file code completion.
Cursor is a VS Code-based AI-powered code editor that can dramatically improve development efficiency. Here is a summary of the key points in this article, including the latest information as of April 2026.
Cursor is an extremely powerful tool, especially for those who carry out complex development work spanning multiple files.
A free plan is available, so we recommend downloading it from the official website (cursor.com) and trying it out for yourself.
Please experience this new style of development — writing code through dialogue with AI.
However, always make sure to review the contents of any generated code before using it.
This article is a cross-post from AI Friends.
