Both Cursor and Claude Code use Claude models. The difference is in how they integrate with your work.
Cursor: AI inside the editor
Cursor lives in your IDE. You write code, it suggests completions, you ask it questions inline, it applies edits directly to files you're viewing. The workflow is editor-native — tab to complete, cmd-K to edit, cmd-L to chat.
The strength: tight feedback loops. See the code, ask about it, get the edit, move on. Fast for small to medium changes.
The limitation: Cursor doesn't run your tests, your build, or arbitrary commands. It edits files. The verification step is yours.
Claude Code: AI in the terminal
Claude Code runs in your terminal. You describe a task, it reads files, runs commands, makes decisions, writes code, runs tests — all without you watching each step.
The strength: autonomy for larger tasks. "Implement pagination, write tests, make CI pass" is something Claude Code can do end-to-end.
The limitation: slower feedback loop. You're not editing alongside it — you're reviewing after.
Which to use
Cursor for: active editing, quick fixes, questions while you're in the code, completions, anything under 30 minutes.
Claude Code for: tasks you're delegating, anything needing command execution, end-to-end feature implementation, overnight work.
They're complementary
I use both. Cursor while I'm actively in the editor. Claude Code for tasks I want to hand off.
The .cursorrules and CLAUDE.md files serve the same purpose in each tool: tell the AI how your project works. Write both, keep them in sync on naming conventions and patterns.
The configuration that matters most
For either tool: explicit scope rules. Both Cursor and Claude Code benefit from "only touch files you need to touch." The rule is slightly different but the principle is the same.
For Cursor rules: builtbyzac.com/tools/cursorrules-generator.html
For Claude Code: builtbyzac.com/tools/claudemd-builder.html
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