Begin with a change whose result is observable
Cursor’s agent documentation describes codebase search, file editing and terminal execution. Those capabilities suit a developer investigating an existing repository: trace an error, identify the relevant files, propose a correction and run an appropriate check. Give the agent a concrete expected behavior and the repository’s working instructions. A vague request to improve the whole codebase makes the resulting diff difficult to judge.
Use the repository as the review surface
Ask for an explanation of the failure before approving a broad rewrite. Preserve a clean baseline, inspect the diff and verify that tests exercise the behavior you intended to change. Separate a successful command exit from a correct result; a generated test may simply repeat the implementation’s assumptions. For database or deployment work, prepare a representative isolated environment. An editor’s ability to run a shell also gives it access to whatever that shell’s user can reach.
Privacy settings change handling, not network geography
Cursor’s data-use page describes how Privacy Mode affects training and retention, including exceptions and model-specific conditions. It also states that requests using your own API key still pass through Cursor’s backend. Read that account before sending private source or logs. Identify the selected model and any external tools, remove unnecessary credentials, and decide which repositories may be processed. A local editor window does not demonstrate that inference happens on your machine.
Read the account’s current cost model
The pricing page describes access tiers and usage treatment that vary by plan and model. Check the actual account’s included usage, additional consumption and team controls before a trial. Use a bounded task and record all attempts, review time and the accepted outcome. A fast first edit can be poor value when it requires extensive correction; a longer investigation can be useful when it leaves a clear diagnosis and a small maintainable change.
Treat the product as commercial software
Cursor’s terms grant limited access to the service and reserve platform rights. This is a proprietary product listing; the presence of open-source components or integrations does not make the entire service an open-source distribution. Generated suggestions also require evaluation for accuracy and suitability. Review dependency and asset licenses when accepting a change, especially when an agent introduces a new package to solve a small problem.
Choose it when someone can own the result
Consider Cursor when a developer benefits from code-aware assistance and can inspect commands, design decisions and tests. An air-gapped team or a buyer seeking a self-hosted model runtime should first establish whether the required operating mode exists for their situation. Start with one reproducible bug and a limited set of credentials. Continue when the diagnosis, diff and verification are understandable to another maintainer. This is documentation-based selection advice, not a hands-on Cursor review or a productivity score.