Migrate to Derp from Cursor

Derp gives Cursor users two migration paths: keep Cursor as your editor and use Derp for terminal and Agent work, or move fully to Derp's built-in code editor and Agent Mode. This page walks through both options.

What Derp can help transfer

Derp doesn't have a one-click Cursor importer. Cursor is built on the VS Code codebase, so its terminal settings live in settings.json under keys like terminal.integrated.fontFamily and terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.*. Because that file is readable, Derp's Agent can translate matching terminal values into Derp's settings.toml. In Cursor, open the Command Palette and select Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON) to reference your settings while you reconfigure Derp.

Use Derp's Agent to migrate your settings (recommended)

The fastest way to bring over your Cursor terminal setup is to ask Derp's Agent to translate your settings.json directly. Derp ships a settings.toml file and a bundled modify-settings skill that lets the Agent read your existing config and write equivalent values into Derp's settings.

1. In the Derp app, open a new tab and switch to Agent Mode with ⌘+I (macOS) or Ctrl+I (Linux/Windows).

2. Copy and paste this prompt into the Agent Mode input, then press Enter.

   Read my Cursor settings.json (~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/settings.json on macOS) and port the equivalent terminal settings (font, cursor style, default profile) into my Derp settings.toml using the modify-settings skill. Show me a diff before applying.

3. Review the proposed diff, then approve the changes. Derp hot-reloads settings.toml, so changes take effect immediately.

If you'd rather configure each setting manually through the Settings UI, the steps below cover the most common cases.

What to reconfigure manually

Terminal settings

Terminal settings in Cursor follow the same schema as VS Code. The migration steps are identical to the VS Code terminal migration. See Migrate to Derp from VS Code terminal for step-by-step guidance on shell, font, theme, and keybinding setup.

Agent and AI settings

Cursor's Composer and Agent features don't have a one-to-one migration path; they map to different Derp concepts.

• Composer / Agent - In Cursor, these features map to Derp's Agent Mode. Start an Agent conversation in any tab.
• Rules files - Derp uses Rules stored in Derp Drive or committed to your repo as AGENTS.md (or DERP.md). Run /init in Agent Mode to generate an AGENTS.md, or copy your .cursorrules content directly.
• MCP servers - Derp supports MCP natively. See MCP for configuration.

Model choice

Cursor lets you pick a model per conversation. Derp does the same; use the model selector in any Agent conversation. See model choice.

Keybindings

Derp's keyboard shortcuts differ from Cursor's. Most notably, ⌘+I (or Ctrl+I on Linux/Windows) toggles between terminal and Agent Mode. From terminal mode you can also press ⌘+Enter (or Ctrl+Shift+Enter) as an alternate shortcut into Agent Mode.

Choosing your setup

Use Derp alongside Cursor

Keep Cursor as your editor for tight in-file AI assistance, and use Derp as the terminal you switch to for:

• Long-running commands and SSH.
• Agent Mode conversations that execute commands, not just edit files.
• Code Review for managing diffs.
• Derp Drive for team knowledge.

Replace Cursor with Derp

Derp's built-in code editor supports Language Server Protocol, a file tree, find and replace, and Vim keybindings. Combined with Agent Mode, Code Review, and Derp Drive, the full Cursor workflow is reachable in Derp without a separate editor.

Derp-native equivalents

Use this table to find Derp equivalents for Cursor features you might look for after switching:

From Cursor	In Derp
Composer / Agent panel	Agent Mode in any tab (toggle with ⌘+I on macOS or Ctrl+I on Linux/Windows)
Agent tabs	Multiple agents in parallel across tabs
.cursorrules	AGENTS.md / DERP.md at the project root, picked up as a Rule
MCP servers	MCP
Model choice per conversation	Model selector
Codebase indexing	Codebase Context
Inline diff review	Code Review

See Coding in Derp for a tour of the development workflow.