Cursor Limitations: What It Can't Do
Cursor IDE is ai-powered code editor that helps developers write, edit, and understand code faster. While it excels at accelerating experienced developers, code refactoring, understanding unfamiliar codebases, it has significant limitations for non-developers trying to build apps, replacing developer judgment. The main issues are: requires developer skills, context window limits, hallucinations and errors.
Key Takeaway: Cursor gets you about 70% of the way to a working app. The last 30% typically requires professional development to achieve production quality.
Main Limitations of Cursor
Requires Developer Skills
Cursor accelerates developers but doesn't replace them. Non-technical users will struggle to direct the AI effectively or evaluate its output.
Context Window Limits
Large codebases exceed Cursor's context window. The AI may miss important dependencies or produce inconsistent code across large projects.
Hallucinations and Errors
Cursor can confidently generate incorrect code, invent APIs that don't exist, or misunderstand requirements. Developer review is essential.
Subscription Costs Add Up
The Pro tier is needed for serious use, and premium models cost extra. Power users can easily spend $50-100/month.
When Cursor Works Well
Cursor is best for: Accelerating experienced developers, code refactoring, understanding unfamiliar codebases
- Works with any codebase
- Powerful code understanding
- Git integration
- Multi-file editing
When to Avoid Cursor
Cursor is NOT suitable for: Non-developers trying to build apps, replacing developer judgment
- AI suggestions break existing code
- Context gets confused in large projects
- Generated tests don't cover edge cases
- Still need developer to review everything
Taking Your Cursor Project to Production
Use Cursor to accelerate development while maintaining code review, testing, and architectural decisions with human oversight
Need help taking your Cursor project to production?
We specialize in taking AI-built prototypes and turning them into production-ready applications. Our team has rescued dozens of Cursor projects.
Learn About Our Prototype-to-Production Service →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Cursor without knowing how to code?
Not effectively. Cursor is a developer tool that accelerates coding, not a replacement for coding skills. You need to understand code to direct the AI and evaluate its output.
Is Cursor better than Lovable for building apps?
They're different tools. Lovable generates complete apps from prompts (but not production-ready). Cursor helps developers write code faster. Developers often use Cursor to finish or fix Lovable projects.
Why does Cursor keep making mistakes?
AI code generation isn't perfect. Cursor can misunderstand context, invent non-existent APIs, or produce subtle bugs. Always review AI-generated code carefully before using it.
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