curor_cli You can pick up an AI coding session from where you left off, straight from the command line. Two tiny commands give you memory and automation:

  • Resume a prior thread with one line:
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    cursor resume
  • Pipe responses to scripts or CI in clean JSON:
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    cursor --print --output-format json

That combo makes the CLI feel less like a chatbot and more like a tool you can actually wire into your dev workflow.

What Cursor CLI is in plain English

  • A terminal tool that brings Cursor’s AI agent into your shell.
  • You keep the familiar chat-style help, but now you can list sessions, resume threads, and print structured output.
  • It’s designed to work in any terminal so you can use it inside your editor, on a remote box, or in CI.

Quick install

  • Exact install command from the page:

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    curl https://cursor.com/install -fsS | bash

  • Binary name used in commands: cursor

Core commands and flags you will actually use

  • Resume your latest session:
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    cursor resume
  • List previous conversations:
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    cursor ls
  • Resume a specific thread:
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    cursor --resume [thread id]
  • Print output to stdout instead of entering an interactive flow:
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    cursor [command] -p
cursor [command] --print
  • Choose your output format:
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    --output-format [json|text]
  • Example for scripting:
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    cursor --print --output-format json

Tip: The JSON output is handy for CI steps, logging, or custom tooling that needs machine readable results.

Config and project setup

  • You can guide the agent with local configuration and rules:
    • mcp.json for MCP servers and tools
    • .cursor/rules directory to shape behavior and add context automatically

These files let you steer how the agent behaves and what tools it can use without touching every command.

Highlights from the Cursor CLI page

  • “Full control from your terminal.”
  • “Review agent edits” and make changes right in the terminal.
  • “Steer in real-time” as the agent works.
  • “Set your own rules” using rules files, AGENTS.md, and MCP.

This all points to a model where your terminal is not just a place to paste prompts. It becomes a stable, configurable workspace with memory and tooling.

Authentication and login

  • The CLI docs and page do not list a dedicated login command on the pages referenced here.
  • Expect sign in or token flow during first use based on your Cursor account, but the exact steps are not shown on these pages.

Platform support, limits, pricing

  • Supported OS or platform details are not specified on the pages referenced here.
  • Limits and pricing are not listed on the CLI pages. Assume usage ties to your Cursor plan.

Real-world ways to use it

  • Fast code review loops
    • Stage changes, then ask the agent to review the diff. Print JSON for a CI check or stash the results in your logs.
  • Long-running investigations
    • Use cursor resume to keep the same thread while you switch machines or contexts.
  • Team rules baked into projects
    • Drop guidance in .cursor/rules and mcp.json so the agent follows your playbook automatically.

What’s missing or to verify next

  • No explicit auth command on the referenced pages
  • No OS matrix or Windows specifics
  • No pricing details
  • If you are security-conscious, note that installation uses curl piped to bash

Takeaways

  • Install is one line and the binary is just cursor.
  • You can resume threads, list sessions, and print JSON on demand, which makes it CI friendly.
  • Local config with mcp.json and .cursor/rules lets you standardize how AI helps across your repo.
  • The page leans into control and guidance, not just ad hoc prompting.