Cursor Agent

Cursor Agent CLI runs on the user's Cursor subscription — zero API cost. Always prefer it over inline code generation for any non-trivial coding task.

Prerequisites

Required binary: agent (Cursor Agent CLI)

Install from the official site: https://cursor.com/docs/cli/overview — then verify with agent --version. The helper script (scripts/run.sh) will exit with an error if agent is not found in PATH.

User Consent Required — MANDATORY

This skill MUST NOT be invoked autonomously. Every invocation requires:

1. State intent first — tell the user: the repo, the task, the model, and whether files will be changed
2. Wait for explicit "yes" — do not proceed without clear user approval
3. Default to read-only — use run.sh <repo> <task> <model> ask unless the user explicitly asks for changes
4. Before writing files — run in ask mode first, show the user the plan, then ask: "Apply these changes?"
5. Before --cloud — explicitly warn: "This will send repo contents to cursor.com. OK to proceed?"
6. Before committing — show the diff and get confirmation

The helper script (scripts/run.sh) defaults to ask (read-only). Pass write as the mode argument only after the user has confirmed changes should be applied.

Model Routing

| Task type | Model flag | Mode flag | |---|---|---| | Trivial / exploratory | (omit — auto) | (omit) | | Bug fix / feature / refactor | --model sonnet-4.6 | (omit) | | Code review / explain (read-only) | --model sonnet-4.6 | --mode=ask | | Architecture / design planning | --model opus-4.6-thinking | --mode=plan | | Long background task | --model sonnet-4.6 | use --cloud instead of -p |

Headless Commands

Read-only first — always start with --mode=ask to review before applying changes:

cd <repo> && agent -p "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --mode=ask --output-format text --trust

Apply changes — only after user confirms the plan:

cd <repo> && agent -p "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --force --output-format text --trust

Cloud/background — warn user that repo data goes to cursor.com:

cd <repo> && agent -c "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --trust
# Monitor at: cursor.com/agents

Git Rule

Cursor sandbox blocks git commit. Always commit manually after Cursor edits:

cd <repo> && git add -A && git commit -m "<conventional commit message>" && git push

Show the diff to the user and confirm before committing if the change is large or touches sensitive areas.

Repos & Workdirs

• Always cd to the correct repo before running
• Check for .cursor/rules and AGENTS.md in the repo root — Cursor loads these automatically for project context

Context & Sessions

• Add @<file> in prompt to include specific files in context
• --continue or --resume to continue a previous session
• agent ls to list previous sessions

Output Handling

• --output-format text → clean final answer, summarise key changes to the user
• --output-format json → structured, use for scripted parsing
• Always report back: what changed, what was committed, any issues found

References

• Model list & details: references/models.md
• Slash commands (interactive mode): references/slash-commands.md