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VS Code and Cursor Guide

VS Code (Visual Studio Code) and Cursor are powerful code editors with excellent Python support, debugging capabilities, and extensive customization options. Cursor is a fork of VS Code with built-in AI features.

What are VS Code and Cursor?

VS Code

VS Code is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It features: - IntelliSense: Smart code completion - Debugging: Built-in debugger - Git Integration: Version control built-in - Extensions: Huge ecosystem of extensions - Terminal: Integrated terminal - Multi-language: Support for many programming languages

Cursor

Cursor is a VS Code fork with AI capabilities: - All VS Code features: Everything VS Code can do - AI Chat: Built-in AI assistant (Cmd+L) - AI Completions: Context-aware code suggestions - AI Edit: AI-powered code editing (Cmd+K) - AI Composer: Multi-file editing with AI

Installation

VS Code Installation

# Install via Homebrew
brew install --cask visual-studio-code

# Or download from: https://code.visualstudio.com/

Cursor Installation

# Install via Homebrew
brew install --cask cursor

# Or download from: https://cursor.sh/

Command Line Access

After installation, enable command line access:

VS Code: 1. Open VS Code 2. Cmd+Shift+P → "Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH"

Cursor: 1. Open Cursor 2. Cmd+Shift+P → "Shell Command: Install 'cursor' command in PATH"

Now you can use: 

code .          # Open current directory in VS Code
cursor .        # Open current directory in Cursor

Essential Extensions

Python Development

Install these extensions for Python development:

  1. Python (by Microsoft)
  2. Python language support

  3. IntelliSense, linting, debugging

  4. Pylance (by Microsoft)

  5. Fast Python language server

  6. Type checking, auto-imports

  7. Python Debugger (by Microsoft)

  8. Debugging support for Python

  9. Jupyter (by Microsoft)

  10. Jupyter notebook support
  11. Run cells, view outputs

Code Quality

  1. Black Formatter (by Microsoft)

  2. Code formatting with Black

  3. Pylint (by Microsoft)

  4. Linting with Pylint

  5. Ruff (by Astral Software)

  6. Fast Python linter and formatter

Git Integration

  1. GitLens (by GitKraken)
  2. Enhanced Git capabilities
  3. Blame annotations, commit history

Other Useful Extensions

  1. Error Lens (by Alexander)

  2. Inline error highlighting

  3. Path Intellisense (by Christian Kohler)

    • Autocomplete file paths

  4. Bracket Pair Colorizer (or built-in)

    • Color matching brackets

  5. Material Icon Theme (by Philipp Kief)

    • File and folder icons

Installing Extensions

# Via Command Palette
Cmd+Shift+P → "Extensions: Install Extensions"

# Via Command Line (VS Code)
code --install-extension ms-python.python

# Via Command Line (Cursor)
cursor --install-extension ms-python.python

Python Configuration

Select Python Interpreter

  1. Cmd+Shift+P → "Python: Select Interpreter"
  2. Choose your conda environment: ~/miniconda3/envs/lab-env/bin/python

Or create .vscode/settings.json in your project:

{
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "~/miniconda3/envs/lab-env/bin/python"
}

Workspace Settings

Create .vscode/settings.json in your project root:

{
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "~/miniconda3/envs/lab-env/bin/python",
    "python.formatting.provider": "black",
    "python.linting.enabled": true,
    "python.linting.pylintEnabled": true,
    "python.linting.ruffEnabled": true,
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
        "source.organizeImports": true
    },
    "files.exclude": {
        "**/__pycache__": true,
        "**/*.pyc": true,
        "**/.pytest_cache": true
    },
    "python.analysis.typeCheckingMode": "basic",
    "python.analysis.autoImportCompletions": true
}

User Settings

Access via Cmd+, or Cmd+Shift+P → "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)"

{
    "editor.fontSize": 14,
    "editor.fontFamily": "Menlo, Monaco, 'Courier New', monospace",
    "editor.tabSize": 4,
    "editor.insertSpaces": true,
    "editor.rulers": [80, 120],
    "files.autoSave": "afterDelay",
    "files.autoSaveDelay": 1000,
    "editor.minimap.enabled": true,
    "workbench.colorTheme": "Default Dark+",
    "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 12
}

Working with Jupyter Notebooks

Open Notebook

  1. Open .ipynb file
  2. VS Code/Cursor will prompt to select kernel
  3. Choose your conda environment

Run Cells

  • Run cell: Shift+Enter
  • Run cell and move to next: Shift+Enter
  • Run cell and insert below: Option+Enter
  • Run all cells: Cmd+Shift+P → "Notebook: Run All"

Install Jupyter Extension

The Jupyter extension is usually installed with Python extension. If not:

code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter

Debugging

Set Breakpoints

  1. Click in the gutter (left of line numbers) to set breakpoint
  2. Or press F9 on a line

Start Debugging

  1. F5 or click Debug icon in sidebar
  2. Select "Python: Current File"
  3. Or create launch.json:
{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Python: Current File",
            "type": "python",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${file}",
            "console": "integratedTerminal",
            "justMyCode": true
        },
        {
            "name": "Python: Debug Tests",
            "type": "python",
            "request": "launch",
            "module": "pytest",
            "args": ["-v"],
            "console": "integratedTerminal"
        }
    ]
}

Debug Controls

  • Continue: F5
  • Step Over: F10
  • Step Into: F11
  • Step Out: Shift+F11
  • Restart: Cmd+Shift+F5
  • Stop: Shift+F5

Git Integration

Basic Git Operations

VS Code/Cursor has built-in Git support:

  • View changes: Click Source Control icon (or Ctrl+Shift+G)
  • Stage files: Click + next to file
  • Commit: Enter message and press Cmd+Enter
  • Push/Pull: Click ... menu

GitLens Features

With GitLens extension:

  • Blame annotations: See who wrote each line
  • File history: View file's commit history
  • Compare: Compare branches, commits, files
  • Commit graph: Visualize commit history

Terminal Integration

Open Terminal

  • New terminal: Ctrl+` (backtick)
  • Split terminal: Cmd+\
  • Kill terminal: Trash icon

Terminal Settings

{
    "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 12,
    "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "Menlo",
    "terminal.integrated.shell.osx": "/bin/zsh",
    "terminal.integrated.cursorBlinking": true
}

Cursor-Specific Features

AI Chat

  • Open chat: Cmd+L
  • Ask questions: Type your question
  • Insert code: Click "Insert at cursor"
  • Explain code: Select code, then ask in chat

AI Completions

  • Automatic: Cursor suggests code as you type
  • Accept: Tab or Cmd+→
  • Dismiss: Esc

AI Edit

  • Select code: Highlight code you want to edit
  • Open AI edit: Cmd+K
  • Describe changes: "Add error handling", "Refactor this function"
  • Apply: Review and accept changes

AI Composer

  • Open composer: Cmd+I
  • Multi-file editing: Describe changes across files
  • Generate code: Create new files or modify existing ones

Cursor Settings

{
    "cursor.ai.enableAutoCompletions": true,
    "cursor.ai.enableInlineCompletions": true,
    "cursor.ai.model": "gpt-4",
    "cursor.ai.maxTokens": 2000
}

Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential Shortcuts

Cmd+P              Quick Open (files)
Cmd+Shift+P        Command Palette
Cmd+B              Toggle sidebar
Cmd+J              Toggle panel
Ctrl+`             Toggle terminal
Cmd+\              Split editor
Cmd+W              Close tab
Cmd+K Cmd+W        Close all tabs

Cmd+/              Toggle line comment
Shift+Option+A     Toggle block comment
Cmd+D              Select next occurrence
Cmd+Shift+L        Select all occurrences

Cmd+F              Find
Cmd+Shift+F        Find in files
Cmd+H              Replace
Cmd+Shift+H        Replace in files

F5                 Start debugging
F9                 Toggle breakpoint
F10                Step over
F11                Step into

Cmd+P              Go to file
Cmd+Shift+O        Go to symbol in file
Ctrl+G             Go to line
Cmd+T              Go to symbol in workspace
Cmd+Shift+P        Command Palette

Editing

Cmd+X              Cut line
Cmd+C              Copy line
Option+↑/↓         Move line up/down
Shift+Option+↑/↓   Copy line up/down
Cmd+Enter          Insert line below
Cmd+Shift+Enter    Insert line above
Cmd+]              Indent
Cmd+[              Outdent

Project Setup

my-project/
├── .vscode/
│   ├── settings.json
│   └── launch.json
├── src/
│   └── main.py
├── tests/
│   └── test_main.py
├── notebooks/
│   └── analysis.ipynb
├── .gitignore
├── requirements.txt
└── README.md

Multi-root Workspaces

Open multiple folders:

  1. File → Add Folder to Workspace
  2. Save workspace: File → Save Workspace As...
  3. Open workspace: File → Open Workspace

Best Practices

1. Use Workspace Settings

Create .vscode/settings.json in each project for project-specific settings.

2. Configure Python Interpreter Per Project

Set Python interpreter in workspace settings, not globally.

3. Use Format on Save

Enable editor.formatOnSave to keep code consistently formatted.

4. Organize Extensions

  • Install only what you need
  • Disable unused extensions
  • Keep extensions updated

5. Use Tasks

Create tasks for common operations (.vscode/tasks.json):

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "tasks": [
        {
            "label": "Run Tests",
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "pytest",
            "group": "test"
        },
        {
            "label": "Format Code",
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "black .",
            "group": "build"
        }
    ]
}

Run tasks: Cmd+Shift+P → "Tasks: Run Task"

6. Use Snippets

Create custom code snippets:

  1. Cmd+Shift+P → "Preferences: Configure User Snippets"
  2. Select "Python"
  3. Add your snippets

Example: 

{
    "Print to console": {
        "prefix": "print",
        "body": [
            "print(f\"$1: {$1}\")"
        ],
        "description": "Print with f-string"
    }
}

Troubleshooting

Issue: Python Interpreter Not Found

Problem: VS Code/Cursor can't find Python

Solution: 1. Cmd+Shift+P → "Python: Select Interpreter" 2. Manually enter path: ~/miniconda3/envs/lab-env/bin/python 3. Or add to PATH in settings

Issue: Extensions Not Working

Problem: Extension installed but not working

Solution: 1. Reload window: Cmd+Shift+P → "Developer: Reload Window" 2. Check extension output: View → Output → Select extension 3. Reinstall extension

Issue: Formatting Not Working

Problem: Code not formatting on save

Solution: 

{
    "python.formatting.provider": "black",
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "[python]": {
        "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter"
    }
}

Issue: IntelliSense Not Working

Problem: No code completion or errors

Solution: 1. Select correct Python interpreter 2. Cmd+Shift+P → "Python: Restart Language Server" 3. Check Pylance is installed and enabled

Issue: Terminal Not Opening

Problem: Terminal won't open

Solution: 1. Check shell path in settings 2. Ctrl+` to toggle terminal 3. Cmd+Shift+P → "Terminal: Create New Terminal"

Quick Reference

Essential Settings

{
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "~/miniconda3/envs/lab-env/bin/python",
    "python.formatting.provider": "black",
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "files.autoSave": "afterDelay"
}

Essential Extensions

  • Python (Microsoft)
  • Pylance (Microsoft)
  • Jupyter (Microsoft)
  • Black Formatter (Microsoft)
  • GitLens (GitKraken)

Essential Shortcuts

Cmd+P              Quick Open
Cmd+Shift+P        Command Palette
Cmd+,              Settings
Ctrl+`             Terminal
F5                 Debug
Cmd+K Cmd+S        Keyboard Shortcuts

Last updated: December 18, 2025