Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: which AI code editor should you choose?

# In Cursor, you select code and press Cmd+K (or Ctrl+K on Windows)
# The AI sees your selected function AND your codebase imports/conventions

def process_data(items):
    result = []
    for item in items:
        if item['active']:
            result.append(item['id'])
    return result

# Cursor's prompt:
# "Add type hints and docstrings using patterns from the rest of the codebase"
# Cursor automatically includes your project's typing conventions from imports

# Cursor's response (auto-edits in place):
def process_data(items: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> list[int]:
    """Extract active item IDs from a list of dictionaries.
    
    Args:
        items: List of item dictionaries with 'active' and 'id' keys.
    
    Returns:
        List of integer IDs for active items.
    """
    return [item['id'] for item in items if item['active']]

# In VSCode with GitHub Copilot, you type a comment and Copilot suggests completions

def process_data(items):
    result = []
    for item in items:
        if item['active']:
            result.append(item['id'])
    return result

# You add a comment asking for the refactored version:
# Add type hints and docstrings
# Copilot suggests:

def process_data(items: List[Dict[str, Any]]) -> List[int]:
    """Extract active item IDs from a list of dictionaries.
    
    Args:
        items: List of item dictionaries with 'active' and 'id' keys.
    
    Returns:
        List of integer IDs for active items.
    """
    result = []
    for item in items:
        if item['active']:
            result.append(item['id'])
    return result

# For full rewrites, use Copilot Edits (beta) instead:
# Highlight code, press Ctrl+K in the editor, type your request
# Copilot suggests changes in a side panel (less integrated than Cursor)