Lecture Notes: Free Cursor Alternative

Introduction

• Presenter: Nathan from Code with Nathan
• Topic: Introduction to a free, local, open-source alternative to Cursor, a premium code editor with AI features.
• Cursor Overview:
  • Premium code editor with AI for generating files, refactoring code, and debugging.
  • Built on a fork of Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
  • Free version perceived as limited; pro version costs $20/month.

VS Code as an Alternative

• VS Code:
  • Developed by Microsoft, open source, highly extendable.
  • Loved by professional developers.
• Criticism of Cursor:
  • Seen as unoriginal by some; essentially VS Code with added AI features.
• Benefits of VS Code Setup:
  • Full control over data and costs.
  • Free and local model usage.

Setup Process

1. Install VS Code:
   • Download from code.visualstudio.com.
2. Install Olama:
   • Enables access to local AI models, e.g., DeepSc R1, Quen.
   • Models can be downloaded and used offline.
3. Install Extensions:
   • Continue.dev: For code completion and multi-line edits.
   • Client: For better multi-file editing and command execution.

Configuring AI Models

• Using Olama:
  • DeepSc R1 for chat mode (7 billion parameters).
  • Quen 2.5 Coder for autocomplete (1.5 billion parameters).
• Commands to Download Models:
  • Using terminal: Olama pull DeepScR1 and Olama pull Quen2.5Coder.
• Integration with VS Code:
  • Set up models in the Continue extension.
  • Test features like autocomplete and chat mode.

Additional Features and Testing

• Keyboard Shortcuts:
  • For highlighting code, suggestions, and auto-completions.
• Limitations Compared to Cursor:
  • Lacks multi-file editing and terminal command execution.
• Using Client:
  • Handles complex tasks better with trial access to powerful models.
  • Demonstrated with a Flappy Bird game creation.

Using Open Router for Free Models

• Open Router:
  • Provides access to a variety of AI models via a unified API.
  • Sign up for an account and create an API key.
• Model Recommendations:
  • Use large models like DeepSc R1 for better performance.

Conclusion

• Discussion Invitation:
  • Invite viewers to share their preference between VS Code setup and Cursor.
• Call to Action:
  • Encourage likes, subscriptions, and notifications for future content.
• Closing Remarks:
  • Keep learning and exploring new tech solutions.