Cursor CLI: A New Agentic AI for Your Terminal Explained in 5 Minutes

Beyond the advancements with models like GPD-5, a new agentic AI for the terminal has been developed by Cursor: Cursor CLI. This is a particularly interesting development, and this article will explore what it is and how to use it.

What is Cursor CLI?

Cursor CLI is a command-line interface tool that brings Cursor's AI capabilities directly into your terminal. You can find more details on their landing page at cursor.com/cli.

A key point to note is its current compatibility. The tool is not yet available for Windows and presently supports only macOS and Linux. Windows users will need to use the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to install and run the CLI. Furthermore, the tool is not open-source, and a Cursor account is required for its operation.

Key Features

The CLI tool offers several powerful features for developers looking to enhance their workflow:

  • IDE Integration: It can be integrated into numerous IDEs, including Cursor itself, JetBrains, Ghostty, Warp, Xcode, and likely Neovim and VS Code as well.
  • Real-Time Agent Interaction: You can review agent edits, implement code changes directly in the terminal, and guide the agent in real-time. This means you can send follow-up requests to alter the agent's course of action while it's already working.
  • Customization: There is support for rules, MCP, and custom agents, allowing you to tailor the agent's behavior to your specific needs.
  • Workflow Improvement: The tool includes model selection, giving you access to various cutting-edge models from different providers. You can also write scripts and automations to handle tasks like updating documentation or triggering security reviews automatically.

The primary value of this AI tool is its simplicity: it allows you to leverage Cursor's AI without needing to open the full IDE, using your existing Cursor subscription to power the agent in the terminal.

Installation and Setup

To get started with Cursor CLI, you can run the installation command provided on their website in your terminal.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://cursor.com/install_cli.sh)"

After the installation script completes, you may need to perform an additional step. For instance, you might be prompted to add the local bin folder to your shell's configuration file (e.g., .zshrc).

# Example command to add to your .zshrc or .bashrc
export PATH="$HOME/.cursor/bin:$PATH"

Once that's done, activate Cursor CLI by running the cursor agent command.

cursor agent

This will prompt you to sign into your Cursor account through your web browser. After logging in, return to your terminal, and the Cursor CLI will be active and ready for interaction.

Interacting with the Agent

Upon activation, you'll see a beta notice indicating that the Cursor agent can access and modify files and execute shell commands with your approval. A chat box will appear for you to interact with the agent.

You can type / to see a list of available commands, which include: * /model: Change the selected AI model. * /help: Display the help menu. * /new: Start a new chat session. * /quit: Exit the CLI tool.

Checking the available models reveals options like GBD-5, Sonnet 4, and Opus 4.1.

Using Cursor CLI in an IDE

You can run the Cursor CLI directly within your IDE's integrated terminal. For example, with a project open, you can activate the agent by running cursor agent.

From there, you can ask the agent to perform tasks, such as explaining the project in the current repository. The agent will process the request and provide a detailed breakdown, including: * Project details * Tech stack and dependencies * The structure of the application * Interactivity elements * A list of existing files * Instructions on how to run and deploy the project

Testing with GBD-5

Let's explore a couple of practical tests to see what the agent can do.

Test 1: Building a Browser Game

The first test involves asking the AI to build a Brick Breaker-style browser game with a neon theme and modern animations, using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

After processing the request, GBD-5 creates a complete, neon-themed game. The generated code includes neon glow visuals, a responsive 16:9 canvas with HDPI scaling, and instructions on how to run the index.html file and play the game.

The resulting game is visually unique and fully responsive. The gameplay is functional, though minor adjustments might be needed, such as repositioning the paddle, which can appear too low on the screen. The game includes a "Game Over" screen with an option to play again.

Test 2: Creating a Note Organizer App

For a more complex final test, the AI was tasked with building a note organizer application. The requirements included the ability for users to create notes, organize their knowledge, and interact with a clean UI.

Core Functions Requested: * Data to Save: Title, content, tags, creation date. * Note Format: Markdown support. * Organization: Tags for categorization. * Search & Sort: Capabilities to search by keyword and sort by title or date. * UI Design: A clean, modern, and responsive layout.

GBD-5 successfully generated the application in a single index.html file. The app features a functional data model, a responsive UI, and all the requested features.

App Functionality: * Adding Notes: Users can add a new note with a title, content, and tags. Saved notes appear in the main view, and new tags are added to a filter list at the top. * Sorting: Notes can be organized by title or creation date. * Searching: A search bar allows users to find notes by keyword. * Filtering: Clicking on tags filters the notes. * Editing & Deleting: Notes can be edited and saved, and deleting a note removes it from the list. Tags associated only with a deleted note are also removed from the filter list.

The resulting application is well-built and demonstrates GBD-5's capability in handling moderately complex application development tasks.

Final Thoughts

Cursor CLI provides a powerful way to run AI agents directly from the terminal, leveraging your existing Cursor subscription. This allows you to replace other AI coding tools and consolidate your subscriptions. With the CLI, you can create agents that run in the background and trigger automated workflows for testing, documentation updates, and other development processes, simplifying your workflow significantly.