Setup: Install Cursor AI Code Editor on Linux

Introduction

This guide helps you install Cursor AI Code Editor as a desktop application on Linux operating systems, regardless of which distribution you use, simplifying the setup process.

What is Cursor AI Code Editor?

Cursor IDE is an AI-powered code editor, built on the foundations of Visual Studio Code and enhanced with ChatGPT integration. It offers a rich development experience with AI-based coding assistance. To learn more about Cursor IDE, visit the official Cursor website.

Prerequisites

Before starting the installation, ensure the following dependencies are installed on your system:

• Git: Used to clone the repository.
• Curl: Required to download the installation files.
• Bash: The script is written in Bash, so ensure it's available in your shell.

To install these dependencies (if not already installed), use the following commands, depending on the distribution you use:

Instructions for installing dependencies on your Linux operating system

Debian/Ubuntu and derivados

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git curl bash -y

Arch Linux/Manjaro/EndeavourOS

sudo pacman -Sy
sudo pacman -S git curl bash --noconfirm

Fedora

sudo dnf install git curl bash -y

OpenSUSE

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install git curl bash

Gentoo

sudo emerge --ask dev-vcs/git net-misc/curl app-shells/bash

Solus

sudo eopkg install -y git curl bash

Installation

To install Cursor IDE, run the following command in your terminal. This will clone the repository, navigate into it, and start the installation process:

git clone https://github.com/IsRengel/InstallCursorEditorLinux.git --depth=1 && cd InstallCursorEditorLinux && ./install.sh && cd .. && rm -rf InstallCursorEditorLinux

This script will:

1. Download the Cursor IDE application.
2. Set it up as a desktop application.
3. Create a .desktop file for easy access from your applications menu.
4. Configure an automatic update script using systemd.

Customizing the Installation

If you'd like to change the installation directory or other settings, you can modify the install.sh script before running it. The default installation path is /opt/cursor/.

Features

• AI-powered coding: Leverages ChatGPT for real-time code suggestions and improvements.
• Cross-platform: Cursor IDE is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• VSCode-based: Built on the familiar interface of Visual Studio Code, making it easy for VSCode users to adapt.

Command Line Usage

After installation, you can use the cursor command from your terminal:

cursor --help

Automatic Updates

The installation process configures a systemd service that checks for and installs the latest updates of Cursor IDE. To manually trigger an update, run the following command:

sudo systemctl start update-cursor.service

To enable automatic updates at startup:

sudo systemctl enable update-cursor.service

Uninstallation

You can uninstall Cursor IDE using either of these methods:

1. Using the uninstall command:

cursor --uninstall

2. Manually removing the files:

sudo rm -rf /opt/cursor
sudo rm -f /usr/local/bin/cursor
rm ~/.config/systemd/user/update-cursor.service
sudo systemctl disable update-cursor.service

Contributors 🤝

Contributions of all kinds are welcome, thanks to all contributors for their contributions!

Learn More

For more details about Cursor IDE and its features, visit the official website.