Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free

Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together. No credit card required to start.

30 min · Reviewed 2026

Two Paths, Both Free to Start

You have two clean ways to get started in 2026: Cursor (a full AI-first IDE) or VS Code with the GitHub Copilot extension. Both have free tiers that are good enough for every lesson in this track. Pick one and stop agonizing over the choice.

Option A: Cursor

Go to cursor.com and click Download
Install the app like any other program
Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
Accept the free Hobby tier — it includes enough completions and chat for learning
Open a folder and start typing

Option B: VS Code + GitHub Copilot

Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
Sign in with a GitHub account — students get Copilot free via GitHub Student Pack
Create a new file and start typing; ghost text should appear within a line or two

First checks to do

# Type this comment on line 1:
# Function that returns the first N Fibonacci numbers as a list.

# Press Enter. Wait two seconds. Gray text should appear.
# Accept with Tab. You should see something like:

def fibonacci(n):
    sequence = [0, 1]
    while len(sequence) < n:
        sequence.append(sequence[-1] + sequence[-2])
    return sequence[:n]

print(fibonacci(10))If you see gray autocomplete text appear, your setup works. Save the file, open a terminal, and run `python fib.py`.

Common install gotchas

If ghost text never appears, check you are signed in — extensions need auth
If Python is not recognized, install it from python.org and restart the editor
Corporate laptops may block extensions — ask IT or use a personal machine
On a Chromebook, use the Linux developer environment or the web-based vscode.dev

The best editor is the one you actually open every day.
— Every senior dev, eventually

The big idea: setup is not the lesson, but it is the gate. Install one of these two, verify ghost text works, and you are ready for everything that follows.

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-coding-setting-up-cursor-builders

What is the core idea behind "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together. No credit card required to start.
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which term best describes a foundational idea in "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. extension
2. IDE
3. Cursor
4. VS Code
A learner studying Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free would need to understand which concept?
1. IDE
2. Cursor
3. extension
4. VS Code
Which of these is directly relevant to Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. IDE
2. extension
3. VS Code
4. Cursor
Which of the following is a key point about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Go to cursor.com and click Download
2. Install the app like any other program
3. Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
4. Accept the free Hobby tier — it includes enough completions and chat for learning
Which of these does NOT belong in a discussion of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
2. Install the app like any other program
3. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
4. Go to cursor.com and click Download
Which statement is accurate regarding Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
2. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
3. Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
4. Sign in with a GitHub account — students get Copilot free via GitHub Student Pack
Which of these does NOT belong in a discussion of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
2. Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
3. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
4. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
What is the key insight about "Which chat keyboard shortcut?" in the context of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. In Cursor: Cmd+L (or Ctrl+L on Windows) opens chat. In VS Code + Copilot: Ctrl+Alt+I opens Copilot Chat.
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which statement accurately describes an aspect of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. You have two clean ways to get started in 2026: Cursor (a full AI-first IDE) or VS Code with the GitHub Copilot extension.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
What does working with Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free typically involve?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
3. The big idea: setup is not the lesson, but it is the gate. Install one of these two, verify ghost text works, and you are ready for everythi…
4. performance
Which best describes the scope of "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. It is unrelated to ai-coding workflows
2. It applies only to the opposite beginner tier
3. It was deprecated in 2024 and no longer relevant
4. It focuses on Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together.
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Option A: Cursor
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Option B: VS Code + GitHub Copilot
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
3. First checks to do
4. performance

← Back to interactive lesson

Tendril · Builders · AI-Assisted Coding

Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free

Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together. No credit card required to start.

30 min · Reviewed 2026

Two Paths, Both Free to Start

Option A: Cursor

Go to cursor.com and click Download
Install the app like any other program
Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
Accept the free Hobby tier — it includes enough completions and chat for learning
Open a folder and start typing

Option B: VS Code + GitHub Copilot

Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
Sign in with a GitHub account — students get Copilot free via GitHub Student Pack
Create a new file and start typing; ghost text should appear within a line or two

First checks to do

# Type this comment on line 1:
# Function that returns the first N Fibonacci numbers as a list.

# Press Enter. Wait two seconds. Gray text should appear.
# Accept with Tab. You should see something like:

def fibonacci(n):
    sequence = [0, 1]
    while len(sequence) < n:
        sequence.append(sequence[-1] + sequence[-2])
    return sequence[:n]

print(fibonacci(10))If you see gray autocomplete text appear, your setup works. Save the file, open a terminal, and run `python fib.py`.

Common install gotchas

If ghost text never appears, check you are signed in — extensions need auth
If Python is not recognized, install it from python.org and restart the editor
Corporate laptops may block extensions — ask IT or use a personal machine
On a Chromebook, use the Linux developer environment or the web-based vscode.dev

The best editor is the one you actually open every day.
— Every senior dev, eventually

The big idea: setup is not the lesson, but it is the gate. Install one of these two, verify ghost text works, and you are ready for everything that follows.

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-coding-setting-up-cursor-builders

What is the core idea behind "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together. No credit card required to start.
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which term best describes a foundational idea in "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. extension
2. IDE
3. Cursor
4. VS Code
A learner studying Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free would need to understand which concept?
1. IDE
2. Cursor
3. extension
4. VS Code
Which of these is directly relevant to Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. IDE
2. extension
3. VS Code
4. Cursor
Which of the following is a key point about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Go to cursor.com and click Download
2. Install the app like any other program
3. Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
4. Accept the free Hobby tier — it includes enough completions and chat for learning
Which of these does NOT belong in a discussion of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Launch it and sign in with Google or GitHub
2. Install the app like any other program
3. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
4. Go to cursor.com and click Download
Which statement is accurate regarding Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
2. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
3. Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
4. Sign in with a GitHub account — students get Copilot free via GitHub Student Pack
Which of these does NOT belong in a discussion of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com
2. Open the Extensions panel (the blocks icon in the sidebar)
3. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
4. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install
What is the key insight about "Which chat keyboard shortcut?" in the context of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. In Cursor: Cmd+L (or Ctrl+L on Windows) opens chat. In VS Code + Copilot: Ctrl+Alt+I opens Copilot Chat.
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which statement accurately describes an aspect of Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. You have two clean ways to get started in 2026: Cursor (a full AI-first IDE) or VS Code with the GitHub Copilot extension.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
What does working with Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free typically involve?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
3. The big idea: setup is not the lesson, but it is the gate. Install one of these two, verify ghost text works, and you are ready for everythi…
4. performance
Which best describes the scope of "Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free"?
1. It is unrelated to ai-coding workflows
2. It applies only to the opposite beginner tier
3. It was deprecated in 2024 and no longer relevant
4. It focuses on Time to get hands on. Install a real AI coding editor, sign in, and write your first line together.
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Option A: Cursor
2. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Option B: VS Code + GitHub Copilot
3. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
4. performance
Which section heading best belongs in a lesson about Setting Up Cursor (or VS Code + Copilot) for Free?
1. Ask AI to explain anything you don't understand.
2. Use AI to break large refactors into small, verifiable diffs.
3. First checks to do
4. performance

← Back to interactive lesson