| name | cursor-agent |
| description | Run Cursor Agent CLI for coding tasks — writing, editing, refactoring, reviewing, or planning code — without spending OpenClaw API credits. Use when the user asks to write/fix/refactor/review code, a coding task would otherwise be done inline with Sonnet/Haiku, the user says "do this in cursor" or "use cursor for this", or any substantial file-editing task in a known repo. NOT for conversational questions about code (answer inline) or tiny one-liners that don't warrant a subprocess. |
Cursor Agent
Cursor Agent CLI runs on the user's Cursor subscription — zero API cost. Always prefer it over inline code generation for any non-trivial coding task.
Prerequisites
Required binary: agent (Cursor Agent CLI)
Install from the official site: https://cursor.com/docs/cli/overview — then verify with agent --version.
The helper script (scripts/run.sh) will exit with an error if agent is not found in PATH.
User Consent Required — MANDATORY
This skill MUST NOT be invoked autonomously. Every invocation requires:
- State intent first — tell the user: the repo, the task, the model, and whether files will be changed
- Wait for explicit "yes" — do not proceed without clear user approval
- Default to read-only — use
run.sh <repo> <task> <model> ask unless the user explicitly asks for changes
- Before writing files — run in
ask mode first, show the user the plan, then ask: "Apply these changes?"
- Before
--cloud — explicitly warn: "This will send repo contents to cursor.com. OK to proceed?"
- Before committing — show the diff and get confirmation
The helper script (scripts/run.sh) defaults to ask (read-only). Pass write as the mode argument only after the user has confirmed changes should be applied.
Model Routing
| Task type | Model flag | Mode flag |
|---|
| Trivial / exploratory | (omit — auto) | (omit) |
| Bug fix / feature / refactor | --model sonnet-4.6 | (omit) |
| Code review / explain (read-only) | --model sonnet-4.6 | --mode=ask |
| Architecture / design planning | --model opus-4.6-thinking | --mode=plan |
| Long background task | --model sonnet-4.6 | use --cloud instead of -p |
Headless Commands
Read-only first — always start with --mode=ask to review before applying changes:
cd <repo> && agent -p "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --mode=ask --output-format text --trust
Apply changes — only after user confirms the plan:
cd <repo> && agent -p "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --force --output-format text --trust
Cloud/background — warn user that repo data goes to cursor.com:
cd <repo> && agent -c "<task>" --model sonnet-4.6 --trust
Git Rule
Cursor sandbox blocks git commit. Always commit manually after Cursor edits:
cd <repo> && git add -A && git commit -m "<conventional commit message>" && git push
Show the diff to the user and confirm before committing if the change is large or touches sensitive areas.
Repos & Workdirs
- Always
cd to the correct repo before running
- Check for
.cursor/rules and AGENTS.md in the repo root — Cursor loads these automatically for project context
Context & Sessions
- Add
@<file> in prompt to include specific files in context
--continue or --resume to continue a previous sessionagent ls to list previous sessions
Output Handling
--output-format text → clean final answer, summarise key changes to the user--output-format json → structured, use for scripted parsing- Always report back: what changed, what was committed, any issues found
References
- Model list & details:
references/models.md
- Slash commands (interactive mode):
references/slash-commands.md
