# Build brief — a focused alternative to Cursor

> **Verdict:** Partly, if you narrow it · **Buildability:** 58/100 · **Category:** Dev Tools
> **Source:** https://www.canitbevibecoded.com/cursor
> Independent editorial assessment from Can It Be Vibe Coded? Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or derived from Cursor. Verify current pricing and capabilities before acting.

## Context

**Cursor** — AI-first code editor with agents, composer, and model routing. It currently costs $20/mo.

You can assemble VS Code plus open-source agents, but Cursor's moat is editor-native agent UX, model routing, cloud agents, context handling, and rapid product iteration.

This brief describes a focused, single-operator replacement for the part of Cursor that is genuinely reproducible. It is deliberately narrower than the product it replaces, and it says so in writing. Build the useful core; do not pretend to have rebuilt the rest.

## What you are building

Use VS Code/VSCodium plus an open-source agent extension, configure model APIs, index repos, and add workflows for edits/tests.

- Build the focused developer workflow you use repeatedly, with local configuration.
- A responsive interface with real empty, loading, success, and error states.

## Requirements

### Functional

- VS Code-compatible editor.
- Repo indexer.
- Terminal/tool permissions.
- Optional remote agent runtime.

### Data and integrations

- LLM API.

Each of these needs a real account, credential, or quota. Set them up before writing feature code.

### Non-functional

- Accessibility: semantic markup, labelled controls, visible focus, and reduced-motion support.
- Security: server-side secrets, validated input, and no credentials in the client bundle.
- Reliability: retries with backoff on external calls, and a clear failure state when a provider is down.
- Portability: the operator can export their data and leave without losing it.

## Implementation brief

Build me an AI coding setup to replace Cursor, assembled from parts I own.
Requirements:

- Do not write an editor or an agent. Install and wire together: VS Code or
  VSCodium, the Continue extension for in-editor chat, edit, and
  autocomplete, and a terminal agent (aider or Claude Code) for multi-file
  jobs.
- Continue config at ~/.continue/config.yaml: chat and edit on Claude
  Sonnet, autocomplete on a cheap fast model (Codestral, or qwen2.5-coder
  via Ollama to keep completions local and free).
- All API keys read from environment variables set in my shell profile,
  nothing hardcoded in any config file.
- Enable Continue's codebase indexing on my main repo and verify a
  where-is-this-defined question retrieves the right file.
- Keybindings mapped to muscle memory: cmd+K edit selection, cmd+L chat,
  Tab accepts completions.
- A spend check in the README: per-token API pricing vs the $20 flat fee,
  and a reminder to compare the provider dashboards after two weeks of real
  use.
- Out of scope: cloud and background agents, Cursor's composer UX, and team
  features; that iteration speed is exactly what the subscription buys.
- README: install commands per OS, the full config file, and how to swap
  models later.

## Delivery standard

- Inspect the repository first, then write a short implementation plan before writing code.
- Deliver the smallest complete end-to-end workflow first; every primary control must work against persisted data.
- Use real validation and storage; never substitute fake dashboards, decorative controls, hard-coded success states, or mock integrations.
- Include responsive layouts plus genuine empty, loading, success, validation, and failure states.
- Keep secrets server-side in environment variables, provide .env.example, and never commit credentials or user data.
- Add structured logs around every external call and return actionable errors without leaking sensitive details.
- Write unit tests for the core logic and one automated test of the main user journey.
- Finish with a README covering setup, architecture, data location, backups, tests, deployment, and known limitations.

## Acceptance criteria

- [ ] A clean install starts the app using only the README and .env.example.
- [ ] The primary journey works from first visit through saved result, reload, edit, export, and deletion where applicable.
- [ ] Invalid input, missing configuration, provider failure, and an empty database each have a usable state.
- [ ] The interface works at 390px and 1440px, is keyboard navigable, and shows visible focus on every control.
- [ ] Tests, type checking, linting, and a production build all pass with no ignored failures.
- [ ] No part of the interface implies a live integration, security guarantee, or scale capability that was not actually built and verified.

## Non-goals

Do not build these, and do not claim to have replaced them:

- Native composer/agent UX.
- Model routing/credits.
- Cloud agents.
- Editor polish.
- The last 20 percent is sync, migration fidelity, speed, and edge cases.
- Model quality and inference operations are part of the product.

## What you still own after launch

- Secure credentials, rotate secrets, and handle provider rate limits.
- Run migrations, backups, restores, and dependency updates.
- Test the critical journey after every model, API, or hosting change.
- Monitor failures and fix the edge cases a first prompt will miss.

## Risk

**Manageable.** A personal version is realistic if you test the critical journey and keep reliable backups.

Editorial confidence in this assessment: high. No independent one-shot implementation is linked yet.

## Prior art

Working open-source software you can read, fork, or borrow from before starting:

- [Continue](https://github.com/continuedev/continue) — Open-source AI code assistant; closest practical DIY substitute when paired with VS Code o

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