Cursor

ApplicationAnysphere

Also called cursor editor, anysphere cursor

AnysphereProductivity

Anysphere's AI code editor. It is a Visual Studio Code fork. The process is Cursor.exe. Microsoft VS Code is still Code.exe.

What you need to know

Cursor.exe is Anysphere. Code.exe is Microsoft VS Code.

Cursor forks VS Code, so the UI can look familiar. It is a different install, different account, and different exe. Visual Studio the IDE is devenv.exe. Windsurf is another vendor's VS Code-based AI editor.

What is it?: Anysphere AI editor, a VS Code fork
Is it VS Code?: No. Code.exe is Microsoft
Process name?: Cursor.exe

Feex says

If Cursor.exe is busy on a huge repo, I check watchers and extensions inside Cursor. I do not uninstall Visual Studio Code to quiet this process. Code.exe is Microsoft. This window is Anysphere.

What is Cursor?

Cursor is Anysphere's paid-and-free-tier AI editor built on the VS Code codebase. It is not Visual Studio (devenv.exe) and not Microsoft Code.exe.

If you have never used it

If a coworker said install Cursor, this is Anysphere's editor, not Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Download it from cursor.com. The window can look like VS Code because it is a fork. Code.exe is Microsoft. Cursor.exe is this product. Uninstalling VS Code does not remove Cursor.

What is it used for?

Edit a folder of code

A VS Code-like workspace. Extensions and settings live in Cursor, not in Microsoft VS Code.

Inline AI and chat

Anysphere features that VS Code does not ship as this product. Copilot in Code.exe is a different add-on.

Language servers

Python and TypeScript servers still raise RAM. That bill is the same class as VS Code, but the process name is Cursor.exe.

Who is it for?

People who want an AI editor and already know VS Code keybindings
Users who must not confuse Cursor.exe with Code.exe
Anyone comparing it with Windsurf, another VS Code-based AI editor

Current status

Cursor (2023) is a current ai code editor from Anysphere. The vendor still points Windows users at https://cursor.com/.

How old is it?

Anysphere launched Cursor in 2023 as a VS Code-based AI editor. VS Code itself shipped in 2015. Cursor is younger than VS Code and in the same generation as Windsurf. Monthly editor builds are the current product.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Cursor stable

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	A current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per Cursor
RAM	1 GB class editors run. Language servers and AI chat want more

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
Cursor.exe	Anysphere Cursor editor

Startup components

Cursor can reopen the last folder. That is session restore, not a VS Code service.

File locations

Common Cursor locations
Typical install	C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Programs\cursor\

File formats

Many via extensionsJSONMarkdown

Common problems

People close Code.exe to stop Cursor

Two products. Programs\cursor is this article. Microsoft VS Code is Code.exe.

Marketplace and settings do not follow automatically

Importing VS Code settings is optional. Cursor extensions are not the VS Code profile.

Getting unstuck

Open file location on Cursor.exe versus Code.exe

Anysphere under Programs\cursor is this process. Microsoft VS Code is a different install.

Disable extensions inside Cursor as a test

Use Cursor's extension list, not the VS Code one.

Install only from cursor.com

A Cursor pro AI editor listing is junk. Anysphere hosts the real installer.

Alternatives

Visual Studio Code if you want Microsoft's editor. Windsurf is another VS Code-based AI editor. Visual Studio is devenv.exe and a different product.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	cursor.com/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	cursor.com/docs Vendor support
Official site	cursor.com/ Start here, not a random exe host
Cursor docs	docs.cursor.com/ Editor and account help

Related hardware

SSD and RAM help large repos more than a gaming GPU. AI features need a network path to Anysphere services.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Cursor official site · Vendor product page
Cursor help · Vendor support
Cursor documentation · Vendor docs for the Anysphere editor
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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