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Getting Started with Cursor 1.2: A Comprehensive Guide

Cursor 1.2 represents a significant upgrade to the AI-powered coding IDE, introducing powerful new features like Agent Planning, improved context handling, and faster Tab completion. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Cursor 1.2 and take advantage of its latest capabilities.

What's New in Cursor 1.2​

Before diving into the setup and usage, let's explore the key improvements in this version:

  • Agent To-dos: Agents now plan ahead with structured to-do lists for long-horizon tasks
  • Queued messages: Queue follow-up messages for Agent while it's working on current tasks
  • Memories (GA): The Memories feature is now generally available with improved quality
  • PR indexing & search: Search and understand PRs just like you do with files
  • Improved embeddings: More accurate codebase search with a new embedding model
  • Faster Tab: Tab completions are ~100ms faster with 30% reduced time to first token (TTFT)
  • Merge conflict resolution: Let Agent resolve merge conflicts directly in chat

Installation and Setup​

System Requirements​

  • Operating Systems: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, or Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)
  • Memory: 8GB RAM minimum, 16GB recommended
  • Storage: At least 1GB of free disk space
  • Internet Connection: Required for AI features

Installation Steps​

  1. Visit cursor.sh and download the appropriate version for your operating system
  2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
  3. Launch Cursor after installation completes
  4. Sign in with your account or create a new one
  5. If upgrading from a previous version, Cursor will automatically update to 1.2

Core Features and How to Use Them​

Agent To-dos​

Cursor 1.2's Agent To-dos feature helps break down complex tasks into manageable steps:

  1. Open a project in Cursor
  2. Press Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+A to open the chat panel
  3. Describe a complex task like "Refactor our authentication system to use JWT tokens"
  4. The Agent will create a structured to-do list with dependencies
  5. Each item can be tracked as Agent works through them
  6. To view to-dos in Slack, ensure Slack integration is set up in Dashboard → Integrations

Queued Messages​

With queued messages, you can plan ahead while Agent is working:

  1. While Agent is executing a task, type your next instruction
  2. Send the message, and it will be queued for processing
  3. Access the queue by clicking the "Queue" icon in the chat interface
  4. Reorder queued tasks by dragging them in the queue panel
  5. Start execution by clicking "Run Queue"

Using Memories​

The Memories feature helps Cursor remember project-specific information:

  1. Enable Memories in Settings → Rules if not already enabled
  2. Cursor will automatically generate memories based on your interactions
  3. View and manage memories in Settings → Memories
  4. To create a memory manually, use the format: "Remember that [important information]"
  5. Reference memories by mentioning related concepts in your prompts

To leverage the new PR indexing capabilities:

  1. Connect your GitHub repository in Settings → Integrations → GitHub
  2. Allow Cursor to index your PRs (this happens automatically)
  3. Search PRs using natural language in the search bar with @pr prefix
  4. Example: @pr authentication refactoring
  5. Click on a PR to view its summary, comments, and associated code changes

Merge Conflict Resolution​

When encountering merge conflicts:

  1. Open the file with conflicts in the editor
  2. Click the "Resolve in Chat" button that appears
  3. Agent will analyze the conflicts and suggest resolutions
  4. Review the suggested changes and apply them if appropriate
  5. Commit the resolved changes

Advanced Features​

Background Agent Improvements​

Cursor 1.2 enhances the Background Agent functionality:

  1. Access Background Agent by clicking the cloud icon in chat or pressing Cmd/Ctrl+E
  2. Background Agents now follow your team's PR templates automatically
  3. Changes to agent branches are auto-pulled in
  4. Conflicts are surfaced as actionable follow-ups
  5. Commit directly from the sidebar with the new "Commit changes" button
  6. Use deeplinks from Slack or web to open the associated repo

The new embedding model provides more accurate search results:

  1. Use @codebase followed by your query to search the codebase
  2. For more specific searches, try @file, @folders, or @symbol
  3. Results are now more contextually relevant and precise
  4. Search across multiple repositories in multi-root workspaces

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Memory Leaks​

If you encounter performance degradation over time:

  1. Update to the latest patch version (at least 1.2.1)
  2. Restart Cursor to clear memory
  3. Check Task Manager/Activity Monitor for excessive memory usage
  4. Disable and re-enable extensions if issues persist

Chat Rendering Issues​

For problems with chat display:

  1. Use Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P to open the command palette
  2. Type "Developer: Reload Window" and press Enter
  3. If issues persist, try "Clear Chat History" from the chat menu

Token Auth Issues​

If experiencing authentication problems:

  1. Sign out and sign back in
  2. Check your internet connection
  3. Ensure your account has proper permissions
  4. Contact support if issues persist

Best Practices for Cursor 1.2​

  1. Organize Projects: Use multi-root workspaces for related repositories
  2. Leverage Agent Planning: Start with high-level tasks and let Agent break them down
  3. Use Memory Effectively: Explicitly tell Cursor to remember important project conventions
  4. Optimize Prompts: Be specific in your requests to get better results
  5. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Master key combinations to speed up your workflow

Conclusion​

Cursor 1.2 represents a significant step forward in AI-assisted development. With improved planning capabilities, faster performance, and enhanced context understanding, it offers a more productive coding experience. By following this guide, you should be well-equipped to leverage the full potential of Cursor 1.2 in your development workflow.

Remember to check for updates regularly, as the Cursor team frequently releases patches with additional improvements and bug fixes.

Happy coding with Cursor 1.2!