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Cursor

The document outlines customizable features in Cursor, including prompt injection via inline comments, environment configuration through project files, and workspace setup that affects context. It also mentions limitations on customization, such as the inability to edit the system prompt or invoke tools, and offers workarounds like building a local VS Code extension or using Continue.dev for more control. Additionally, it summarizes realistic customizations for agent instructions, environment settings, and Cursor Labs settings.

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Gyanendra Sharma
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22 views4 pages

Cursor

The document outlines customizable features in Cursor, including prompt injection via inline comments, environment configuration through project files, and workspace setup that affects context. It also mentions limitations on customization, such as the inability to edit the system prompt or invoke tools, and offers workarounds like building a local VS Code extension or using Continue.dev for more control. Additionally, it summarizes realistic customizations for agent instructions, environment settings, and Cursor Labs settings.

Uploaded by

Gyanendra Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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✅ What You Can Customize in Cursor

1.

Prompt Injection via Inline Comments

You can influence Cursor’s behavior by typing inline comments in your code or instructions in
the chat pane.

Examples:

// explain what this function does

// refactor this code to be async and use try/catch

// convert this to use React hooks

// make this return early if input is invalid

Cursor uses these as natural language prompts passed to the underlying GPT-4 engine. You don’t
need to do anything more than type them above a function, variable, or block.

2.

Environment and Tooling Configuration

You can configure your project environment, which affects how Cursor interprets your code.

• tsconfig.json or jsconfig.json for TypeScript/JavaScript resolution


• .env files for environment variables
• requirements.txt, package.json, poetry.lock, etc., to define dependencies
• ESLint, Prettier, and custom linters to enforce style (Cursor will often auto-fix to match)
3.

Workspace Setup Affects Context

Cursor reads from:

• Open files
• Recently viewed files
• Project history
• Linter output

You can “steer” what Cursor sees by:

• Keeping only relevant files open


• Closing noisy or unrelated ones
• Triggering linter or test output if you want it to “notice” issues

4.

Cursor Labs Settings (Limited Beta)

If enabled for your account, use:

Cmd+K → Cursor Labs

From here, depending on the feature rollout:

• Enable “Auto-agent”
• Change reply behavior (more verbose, step-by-step, etc.)
• Toggle experimental tools like command execution, agent chaining

❌ What You

Cannot
Customize (yet)
Area Status
System prompt (the message you posted) ❌ Not user-editable
Tool invocation rules (codebase search, edit_file,
❌ Fixed in backend
etc.)
❌ No native support for setting
Assistant personality config
tone/voice
Full local agent behavior (like AutoGPT) ❌ Not exposed to users
Plugin system (like VS Code extensions) ❌ Not available yet

🛠 Workaround: Self-Hosted Cursor-Like Agent

If you want true customization (e.g., modifying the system prompt you posted), here’s what you
can do:

Option A: Build a Local VS Code Extension

Use OpenAI API and write a local extension that:

• Sends system, user, and tool instructions


• Injects your preferred prompt
• Emulates Cursor’s features

Option B: Use

Continue.dev

Continue is an open-source alternative to Cursor with:

• Custom model config


• Editable system prompt
• Pluggable tools
• Local context control

You can write:

{
"model": "gpt-4",
"systemPrompt": "You are a TypeScript assistant focused on..."
}

🚀 Summary of Realistic Customizations


Feature How to Customize
Agent instructions Use inline comments and chat input
Environment Update project files (tsconfig, .env, etc.)
Cursor Labs settings Cmd+K → Cursor Labs (if enabled)
Visual theme and layout Settings menu
Full prompt and logic Use Continue.dev or your own GPT setup

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