In December 2024, I wrote an article sharing my expertise utilizing VSCode (GitHub Copilot) and Cursor (Claude 3.5 Sonnet) from the attitude of a Information Scientist.
I concluded the article by stating:
After utilizing Cursor for the previous two weeks, I’ve determined to make use of it for all of my future tasks.
Since writing this text, not solely have there been vital developments to VSCode and Cursor, however a brand new wave of AI-powered IDEs (e.g. Windsurf) have emerged. Upon evaluating and testing these different IDEs, I’ve determined to revert to VSCode as my major IDE of selection.
On this article, I’ll talk about why I’m not utilizing Cursor, why I’ve reverted to VSCode and GitHub Copilot, and my opinion on what IDE you need to be utilizing as a Information Scientist.
What I Preferred Most About Cursor
Let me state this primary: Cursor is a superb product. I saved listening to builders talk about Cursor an increasing number of, with many benefiting from their 2-week free trial. I used to be hesitant at first, however after studying persistent reward for the software program, I made a decision to type my very own opinion firsthand.
I cherished that Cursor’s interface was the identical as VSCode. Upon set up, Cursor enabled you to obtain all of your current VSCode extensions, which positively helped with adoption because it made you are feeling proper at house.
In December 2024, two key Cursor options made it stand out from the group. The primary was the power to make use of various totally different LLMs, in contrast to GitHub Copilot, which had restrictions on what LLMs had been obtainable. Secondly, Cursor had a function known as “Composer” that allowed customers to generate a whole venture code base by merely describing it by way of a immediate.
As described in my article “Must you change from VSCode to Cursor?”, these had been the 2 options I used to be most enthusiastic about and based mostly my preliminary overview on.
Why I Switched Again to VSCode
VSCode has been my major IDE for over 7 years, I used to be additionally a beta tester for GitHub Copilot, one thing I’ve been paying for since its launch.
As beforehand defined, a key advantage of Cursor is its similarity to VSCode from an interface perspective. Though a minor cause, switching again to VSCode meant I didn’t must refamiliarise myself with an alternate UI.
GitHub Copilot eradicated one of many two most important causes for my preliminary transfer to Cursor when it enabled the power to implement SOTA newly-released LLMs. As of writing in April 2025, beneath is the prevailing listing of LLMs obtainable by way of GitHub Copilot:
Claude 3.7 Sonnet was launched on February twenty fourth, 2025. On the identical day, Microsoft introduced that this mannequin was now obtainable by way of GitHub Copilot. GPT-4.5 was launched on February twenty seventh, 2025, and was additionally made obtainable on the identical day in GitHub Copilot Chat to Copilot Enterprise customers.
An enormous enchancment on their LLM providing when in comparison with again in December 2024.
As a Information Scientist, I typically work in Jupyter Notebooks for exploration duties. Though AI-assistance works higher when Programming utilizing .py recordsdata, I discover VSCode is healthier than Cursor when working with Jupyter Notebooks.
Vscode gives GitHub Copilot directions when including a brand new cell to your pocket book, this isn’t obtainable utilizing Cursor. Though AI-assistance is accessible, it’s harder because the person has to make use of Ctrl/⌘ + Ok to start writing their immediate.
When working with Jupyter Notebooks utilizing VSCode and GitHub Copilot, you even have the power to speak along with your AI-assistant, referencing the cells in your pocket book you need the AI to concentrate on. This performance makes it extremely simple to implement AI-assistance in your coding workflow.
The ultimate two components, which had been much less necessary however positively performed a job in my general resolution, had been price and utilization in my skilled position.
GitHub Copilot prices $10 per 30 days in comparison with Cursor, which prices $20 per 30 days. I requested myself, am I getting twice the worth from utilizing Cursor over VSCode? The reply to this query was no, subsequently, this added extra weight in the direction of reverting to VSCode.
Lastly, in my skilled position as a Lead Information Scientist, I exploit VSCode each day. I’d by no means choose an IDE based mostly solely on the one I exploit in my skilled position, though it positively helps to maintain issues aligned the place potential.
For the aim of this text, I’m highlighting high-level factors from my expertise with VSCode and GitHub Copilot. Be at liberty to message me by way of social media if in case you have extra particular questions you wish to ask.
How GitHub Copilot Closed the Hole
GitHub was bought for $7.5 billion by Microsoft in 2018. As Microsoft is a far bigger firm than Anysphere Inc., they’re in a position to place much more sources on bettering their product providing.
As an finish person, competitors is inspired because it pushes corporations to innovate and develop at a tempo that permits them to maintain up with one another. This additionally signifies that when a brand new function is launched and is broadly adopted by the group, the entire competitor corporations rush to develop that very same function into their very own product providing.
When Cursor was first gaining recognition, it had many options (e.g., Composer, Tab, and Cursor Prediction) that its opponents didn’t have. That is not the case.
As proven in GitHub Copilot’s changelog, releases are occurring weekly, with some days consisting of a couple of new function being made obtainable to all GitHub Copilot customers.
As of at this time, there aren’t many options that Cursor gives that aren’t additionally obtainable utilizing VSCode and GitHub Copilot. Microsoft has proven prior to now 4 months that it’s inserting large significance on making GitHub Copilot the very best AI coding assistant in the marketplace. Whereas some enhancements are nonetheless wanted, they’re shifting at a fast tempo, closing the hole, and are able to steer the market by the top of 2025.
Remaining Ideas
Firstly, I don’t imagine any textual content editor/IDE is healthier than another. You need to all the time make this judgment your self based mostly on trial-and-error and never finalise your resolution based mostly on what’s most spoken about on-line.
I’ve been utilizing VSCode for a number of weeks now since reverting from Cursor, and I’ve not regretted my resolution. I imagine Microsoft is making nice progress with GitHub Copilot and has actually closed the hole to all the brand new AI-assistant IDEs.
There’ll all the time be options that pop up right here and there that aren’t obtainable within the IDE you’re presently utilizing. In the event that they’re broadly adopted by the group, all opponents will implement them with time. Don’t use this as a chance to maintain switching your IDE.
Disclaimer: All opinions shared on this article are my very own based mostly on my private expertise; I’ve no affiliation with Cursor, VSCode, or GitHub Copilot. Except acknowledged in any other case, the creator owns all photographs included on this article.
Should you loved studying this text, please observe me on Medium, X, and GitHub for comparable content material regarding Information Science, Synthetic Intelligence, and Engineering.
Glad studying! 🚀
