Is Claude Code Better Than Cursor? A Real-World Test with Convex

In a personal exploration of AI-driven coding, Mike Cann examines the capabilities of Claude Code, a terminal-based AI coding assistant, in building a full-stack Convex app without using an IDE. The experiment highlights Claude Code's strengths, including its plugin extensibility, autonomous planning mode, and effective tool usage, particularly within Convex's TypeScript-native API, which allows seamless AI interaction due to its consistent and predictable nature. Despite the impressive speed and autonomy of Claude Code, Cann notes significant drawbacks compared to IDE-based tools like Cursor, such as issues with discoverability, mouse interaction, model switching, and cost control. These challenges make it less practical for routine development tasks where visual feedback and cost efficiency are crucial. Cann concludes that while Claude Code excels in agentic workflows for greenfield projects, Cursor remains advantageous for everyday development due to its intuitive interaction model and flexibility. The exploration underscores a shifting landscape in software development, where developers may need to adapt to roles focusing more on architecture and decision-making rather than solely on coding expertise.

Use this post, company, and trend context to find content marketing opportunities, perform competitive analysis, or address product feature gaps via the Plushcap MCP server or the Plushcap API.