Why a Beginner Should Use Cursor Over VS Code

by Dharitri — A Tech Explorer💙

When I wrote my first “Hello World” in C, it was magical. But what followed was... a mess. Choosing the right code editor, setting it up, and configuring extensions—everything felt overwhelming as a beginner.

Like most beginners, I started with Visual Studio Code. It’s the most popular editor, right? Everyone uses it. But soon, I found myself stuck: constantly Googling errors, watching tutorials to understand the tools I had just installed, and wondering if I was doing this whole “coding” thing wrong.

That’s when I discovered Cursor—a VS Code fork with AI built into its core.

And honestly?
It felt like someone finally built a code editor for me—a beginner, a learner, a dreamer trying to make sense of this beautiful (and sometimes brutal) world of code.

🧩 The Beginner Problem with VS Code

VS Code is powerful. But power comes with complexity.
Here’s what many beginners (like me) struggle with:

• Too many extensions: You need to know what to install. Copilot, IntelliCode, Prettier, debugger tools... it’s confusing.

• No built-in help: Unless you pay for GitHub Copilot, you’re on your own.

• Setup feels like a mini project: Before you even start coding, you’re learning how to make the editor work.

• Error handling is tough: You write a line of code, get an error, and then… Google. Stack Overflow. Trial. Error. Repeat.

💡 Enter Cursor: The VS Code Fork With a Brain

Cursor is built on top of VS Code, so it feels familiar—but it’s enhanced with built-in AI tools designed to help you learn and grow as a developer.

Here's what makes Cursor beginner-friendly:

✅ Ask your code questions directly:
“What does this function do?” — Cursor explains it in plain English.

✅ AI bug fixes:
No more copy-pasting error messages into Google. Just highlight the bug and ask Cursor to fix it.

✅ Autocomplete with brains:
Unlike basic suggestions, Cursor understands the context of your code and completes it smartly.

✅ Focus on learning, not setting up:
You don’t have to install 20 extensions to make it useful. It’s ready out-of-the-box.

✅ Code walkthroughs:
Trying to understand someone else's code? Cursor can help explain files, functions, even entire codebases.

🧠 My Journey: Why Cursor Made Me Fall in Love With Coding Again

I’m a BCA student currently learning C++, diving into AI, and even exploring Kotlin and machine learning. But like many learners, I hit walls—especially with recursion, pointer errors, or syntax mistakes that made me feel like giving up.

When I tried Cursor, I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore.
I could write code and get help in real-time. It was like having a personal coding buddy who didn’t judge me, didn’t get tired, and always had an answer.

In fact, while preparing for my Google coding interviews, Cursor helped me simplify complex problems—breaking them into steps and even explaining the logic I struggled with.

🛠️ But Wait... Is VS Code Useless?

Absolutely not!

VS Code is amazing for:

• Advanced developers

• Larger projects

• Full-stack environments with deep custom setups

In fact, many professionals still use VS Code daily.
But as a beginner?
It’s like handing a DSLR camera to someone who just wants to take a selfie.

Cursor, on the other hand, is like a smartphone camera with smart filters and auto settings—it helps you focus on learning, not just surviving.

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🌱 Final Thoughts: Start with Tools That Grow With You

Learning to code is already tough. You don’t need your tools to make it tougher.
Cursor helps you code faster, learn smarter, and grow braver.

If you’re just starting out, try Cursor. Let it guide you, correct you, and most importantly—let it empower you to fall in love with coding all over again.

Here is quick comparison between Cursor and VS code:

Have you used Cursor yet? Planning to switch from VS Code?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your journey! And if you're learning C++ like me, let's connect 💙