ChatGPT editor query
August 23, 2025 ¡ AI Conversations
– **Inline code editing (Canvas / Code mode):**
You can open a code snippet inside a side-by-side editor (âCanvasâ) where you and ChatGPT can iterate on it. This works best for small to medium pieces of code, not entire projects.
– **File uploads + analysis:**
You can upload your code files (PHP, JS, Python, etc.), and ChatGPT can open them, explain, and suggest changes â similar to a lightweight review.
– **Chat-based iteration:**
Unlike Cursor, which is a dedicated AI-first IDE, ChatGPT is more conversational. You tell it what to change, and it rewrites the file or snippet accordingly.
– **Third-party integrations:**
If you want a **Cursor-like experience**, youâd integrate ChatGPT with VS Code using extensions (like âCodeGPTâ, âContinueâ, or âChatGPT â Officialâ). Cursor itself is built on top of GPT models.
đ In short:
– **Cursor** = an AI-powered IDE.
– **ChatGPT** = an AI assistant with limited built-in editing, but you can connect it to editors (VS Code, JetBrains, etc.) for a similar experience.
Do you want me to show you how to set up ChatGPT inside VS Code so it feels almost like using Cursor?
Hereâs a visual glimpse into **Cursor vs. Windsurf**, two prominent AI-powered IDEsâone built around Cursor AI and the other around Windsurf Editor.
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## What are Cursor and Windsurf?
Both are advanced, AI-enhanced code editors designed to streamline development workflowsâbuilt on top of VS Code and featuring capabilities like intelligent autocomplete, multi-file editing, chat-driven code generation, and agentic workflows.
### **Cursor**
– A proprietary, AI-assisted IDE (forked from VS Code) available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.îciteîturn0search16î
– Offers features like:
– Natural language instructions for code generation and edits.
– Codebase indexing and smart rewrites for efficient refactoring.
– âTab to Jumpâ functionality for predicting cursor moves.îciteîturn0search16î
– Strong focus on security and privacy including Privacy Mode and SOC 2 compliance.îciteîturn0search16î
### **Windsurf Editor**
– An âagenticâ AI IDE developed by Codeium, also built atop VS Code, and available on Mac, Windows, and Linux.îciteîturn0search3îturn0search11î
– Core features include:
– **Cascade**: deep codebase understanding, context awareness, toolchain integration, and command execution.îciteîturn0search3îturn0search0îturn0search11î
– **Tab to Jump**, **Supercomplete**, inline commands (e.g., Cmd + I for code generation/refactoring), and Codelenses.îciteîturn0search3î
– Live preview and deploy features integrated directly in the editor.îciteîturn0search3î
– Minimally cluttered, âflow stateâ-focused UX aimed at seamless AI collaboration.îciteîturn0search3îturn0search0î
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## Cursor vs. Windsurf: User Experiences & Insights
### Simplicity & UX
– **Windsurf** is praised for its intuitive UI and smoother workflowâideal for beginners or anyone seeking minimal friction.îciteîturn0search5îturn0search11îturn0search2î
> _âWindsurf UX beats Cursor for novices like me… just type my prompt, go away, and there's a web preview waiting.â_îciteîturn0search7î
– **Cursor**, with its feature-rich interface and customizable workflows, often appeals more to power users.îciteîturn0search8îturn0search5î
> _âCursorâs seamless context settings, flexible MCP setup… make it a more comfortable and efficient tool.â_îciteîturn0search8î
### Task Performance & Context Handling
– **Windsurfâs Cascade** demonstrates strong context understanding and can complete complex, multi-step coding tasks more effectively than Cursor in some cases.îciteîturn0search2îturn0search0î
– But others note **Cursor** can deliver more precise code outcomes in certain scenarios.îciteîturn0search11îturn0search5î
### Project Workflow & Real-World Use
– Some developers highlight **Windsurf's smoothness and context awareness**:
> _âThe getting startedâŚfelt easier with Windsurf.â_îciteîturn0search1î
– Others prefer **Cursorâs control, settings flexibility, and teamwork features**:
> _âCursor stands out⌠context settings, flexible MCP setup⌠blazing-fast code generation.â_îciteîturn0search8î
### Benchmarks & Code Generation
– In a real-world build task (e.g., a to-do app from Swagger definition), **Windsurf completed the build** in ~20 minutes albeit with some UI shortcomings; **Cursor failed** to complete it.îciteîturn0search10î
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## Summary Comparison
| Feature / Focus | **Cursor** | **Windsurf Editor** |
|—————————|———————————————–|—————————————————————————|
| **UI & Ease of Use** | Feature-rich, configurable, power-user oriented | Clean, minimalist, âjust worksâ approach, beginner-friendly |
| **Context Handling** | Manual or MCP-based, more developer control | Fully automatic codebase indexing (Cascade) |
| **Agentic Capabilities** | Yes â Composer, chat completion | Yes â Cascade, inline commands, previews, terminal integration |
| **Advanced Workflows** | Broad flexibility, custom rules, privacy-focused | Integrated deployments, auto-fixing, project-wide awareness |
| **Performance** | Very capable with customization | Often faster, smoother interactions, particularly for complex tasks |
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## Final Thoughts â Which One to Choose?
– **Go with Windsurf** if you want a streamlined, smoother, beginner-friendly AI coding experience rich in context awareness and automation.
– **Choose Cursor** if you value flexibility, deep customization, team collaboration, and granular control over AI behavior and workflows.
Many developers recommend trying both via their free tiers to see which fits your workflow better. Curious about how to get startedâlike installing Windsurf or setting up Cursorâs agent mode? Just say the word!