Repository / project instructions
Documented.cursor/rules can supply version-controlled project instructions.
View source detailAgent intelligence
Cursor
Official Cursor evidence covers rules, memories, agent tools, model choice, and CLI permissions without establishing a published full system prompt.
Cursor is documented as an AI code editor and agent harness with version-controlled project rules, user-level guidance, repository memories, codebase tools, selectable models, and CLI permission controls. The selected official sources do not establish a complete current base system prompt.
Scope: Cursor editor · Cursor CLI · Selectable provider models · reviewed Aug 11, 2026
Reviewed product surfaces
Product Surface Schematic
Each layer links to the detailed evidence map. Its state applies only to the reviewed evidence.
Reviewed surfaces Cursor editor · Cursor CLI
- Base system promptNot established
- Project rulesDocumented
- User rulesDocumented
- Repository memoriesDocumented
- Agent toolsDocumented
- CLI permissionsDocumented
- Not established
- Documented
Source-backed answers
Key behaviors
Each answer is scoped to the selected evidence. “Not established” means the evidence does not support the claim; it does not assert absence.
Persistent user guidance
DocumentedUser-level rules provide preferences across projects.
View source detailMemory / persistent guidance
DocumentedApproved memories preserve repository-scoped learnings as rules.
View source detailFilesystem, shell, and agent tools
DocumentedSearch, read, edit, delete, terminal, and MCP tools are documented.
View source detailApprovals / permissions
DocumentedAllow and deny controls can constrain shell, read, and write operations.
View source detailBase prompt visibility
Not establishedThe selected official sources do not publish a complete current Cursor base system prompt.
Review evidence scopeEditorial guidance
What this means in practice
These conservative editorial implications come from the linked evidence. They add no vendor claims or generic prompt advice.
Editorial implication
Use version-controlled project rules for repository guidance.
.cursor/rules is the documented project scope, while user rules provide preferences across projects.
Supporting evidenceEditorial implication
Treat repository memories as approved persistent guidance.
Memories preserve repository-scoped learnings as generated rules rather than establishing the hidden base prompt.
Supporting evidenceEditorial implication
Account for explicit CLI operation boundaries.
Global and project allow/deny controls can constrain shell, read, and write operations even when the agent has corresponding tools.
Supporting evidenceUseful next actions
Continue your research
Compare agent behaviorsReview the same evidence-backed questions across all six products.
How does Claude Code structure project instructions?Compare Cursor rules and memories with CLAUDE.md scopes and auto memory.
What first-party prompt evidence exists for Codex?Compare Cursor's documentation evidence with Codex's limited first-party excerpt.
Review source and provenance detailsVerify origin, retrieval, completeness, publication limits, and rights.
Product scope
Cursor is the coding product; its agent mode and selected provider model are separate context.
- Organization
- Cursor
- Product
- AI code editor and agentic coding product
- Surface
- Cursor editor · Cursor CLIThe code-editor surface for agentic codebase work.
- Model context
- Selectable provider modelsCursor documents model selection and Auto mode separately from the editor and agent harness.
Evidence status
Coverage and review
Official Cursor documentation covers rules, memory, tools, models, and CLI permissions. The review does not claim a complete current base system prompt.
- Coverage
- partial
- Primary source
- Tier A · vendor-published
- Review freshness
- currentOfficial Cursor documentation was reviewed for the editor agent, rules, tools, memories, model selection, and CLI permissions.
- Reviewed
- Aug 11, 2026
Detailed instruction layers
Instruction-system map
The map separates the unestablished base prompt from project and user rules, repository memories, agent tools, models, and permission controls.
Base system promptnot established
The selected official sources do not publish a complete current Cursor base system prompt.
Source detailProject rulesdocumented
.cursor/rules can supply version-controlled project instructions.
Source detailRepository memoriesdocumented
Approved memories preserve repository-scoped learnings as rules.
Source detailAgent toolsdocumented
Search, read, edit, delete, terminal, and MCP tools are documented.
Source detailCLI permissionsdocumented
Allow and deny controls can constrain shell, read, and write operations.
Source detailSupporting instruction evidence
Documentation and source coverage
Official sources document the product but do not support a standalone public system-prompt page.
- Selected snapshot
- Cursor instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026
- Evidence coverage
- Through Aug 11, 2026Cursor instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026
- Latest known vendor version
- Not established by selected evidence
- Current product state
- Not established by selected evidence
- Publication
- Full prompt unavailable
- Instruction page
- Not availableNo verified current full first-party Cursor prompt artifact was established in the selected official sources.
Evidence-backed capabilities
Capabilities with evidence
Each capability links to its supporting instruction section and keeps its stated confidence level.
| Capability | What the source establishes | Confidence | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agentic codebase work | Cursor's agent is documented as searching, understanding, and changing codebases. | high | Source detail |
| Project and user rules | Project rules and user rules supply persistent model context at different scopes. | high | Source detail |
| Repository memories | Approved memories preserve repository-scoped learnings as generated rules. | high | Source detail |
| Agent tools | Search, read, edit, delete, terminal, and MCP tools are documented. | high | Source detail |
| CLI permission controls | Global and project configuration can allow or deny shell, read, and write operations. | high | Source detail |
| Selectable models | Cursor supports models from multiple providers and an automatic selection mode. | high | Source detail |
Version evidence
Snapshots and meaningful changes
The selected evidence establishes no compatible first-party full-prompt snapshots. Documentation updates are not treated as prompt versions.
- selected Cursor instruction architecture · reviewed August 11, 2026Reviewed Aug 11, 2026Documentation coverage
Provenance
Source ledger
Every source lists its origin, retrieval date, completeness, publication limits, and rights separately.
Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor documentation overview
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation; no prompt text copied.
Establishes the coding-product and agent context, not a complete runtime prompt.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor rules documentation
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Documents rule inputs rather than the complete instruction assembly.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor agent tools
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Tool availability and automatic execution can vary with configuration.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor models documentation
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Model availability can change and does not define one universal Cursor runtime.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor memories documentation
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Documents saved memory behavior, not every context input.
Open primary source Tier A · vendor-published
Cursor CLI permissions
- Publisher
- Cursor
- Retrieved
- Aug 11, 2026
- Upstream ref
- Live official documentation reviewed 2026-08-11
- Rights posture
- Original summary of official documentation.
Documents CLI permission configuration; editor and deployment controls can differ.
Open primary source