Cursor CLI

Core Capability: Control the Cursor AI-powered code editor (VS Code fork) from the command line.

Quick Start

# Open current directory
cursor .

# Open file at specific line
cursor /path/to/file.ts:42

# Compare two files
cursor --diff file1.ts file2.ts

# Use as git editor
git config --global core.editor "cursor --wait"

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THE EXACT PROMPT — Open Files

# Open file
cursor /path/to/file.ts

# Open at specific line
cursor /path/to/file.ts:42

# Open at line and column
cursor /path/to/file.ts:42:10

# Open multiple files
cursor file1.ts file2.ts file3.ts

# Open in new window
cursor -n /path/to/project

# Reuse existing window
cursor -r /path/to/file

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THE EXACT PROMPT — Diff and Wait

# Compare two files
cursor --diff file1.ts file2.ts
cursor -d file1.ts file2.ts

# Wait for file to close (scripts/git)
cursor --wait /path/to/file
cursor -w /path/to/file

# Use as git editor
git config --global core.editor "cursor --wait"

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THE EXACT PROMPT — Extensions

# List installed extensions
cursor --list-extensions

# Install extension
cursor --install-extension <extension-id>

# Uninstall extension
cursor --uninstall-extension <extension-id>

# Disable all extensions
cursor --disable-extensions

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Essential Commands

Command	Description
cursor .	Open current directory
cursor file.ts:42	Open file at line
cursor -n path	Open in new window
cursor -r path	Reuse existing window
cursor --diff a b	Compare two files
cursor --wait file	Wait for close (scripting)
cursor --add folder	Add to current workspace

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Settings Locations

File	macOS Path
User settings	~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json
Keybindings	~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/keybindings.json

File	Linux Path
User settings	~/.config/Cursor/User/settings.json
Keybindings	~/.config/Cursor/User/keybindings.json

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Portable Mode

# Custom user data directory
cursor --user-data-dir /path/to/data

# Custom extensions directory
cursor --extensions-dir /path/to/extensions

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Piping Input

# Read from stdin
echo "console.log('hello')" | cursor -

# Pipe file contents
cat script.ts | cursor -

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Debugging

# Show version
cursor --version

# Show help
cursor --help

# Verbose output
cursor --verbose /path/to/file

# Inspect extensions
cursor --inspect-extensions

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References

Topic	Reference
Full command reference	COMMANDS.md