The Composer (Ctrl+I) is Cursor's most powerful feature. Unlike Chat (which explains) or Inline Edit (which modifies one file), Composer can create, modify, and delete multiple files simultaneously based on natural language instructions.
| Mode | Capabilities | Oversight |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Composer | Multi-file edits based on your prompt | You review and apply each change |
| Agent Mode | Autonomous planning, file creation, terminal commands, iteration | AI decides what to do and executes |
Create a REST API endpoint for user authentication with: - POST /api/auth/login with JWT tokens - POST /api/auth/register with validation - Middleware for protected routes - Unit tests for all endpoints
In Normal mode, Composer generates the files and shows diffs for approval. In Agent mode, it also runs npm install jsonwebtoken, creates the files, runs the tests, and fixes any failures — all autonomously.
git commit before running Agent mode on complex tasks. This gives you a clean rollback point if the agent goes in the wrong direction.