Which IDE actually helps a senior ship faster? The answer isn't in the features—it's in the mental model.
| Feature | Cursor | JetBrains |
|---|---|---|
| Primary AI Model | Claude 3.5 Sonnet / GPT-4o Native | Proprietary + OpenAI/Anthropic via Cloud |
| UX Integration | Tab-to-apply, Multi-file Composer | Side panel chat, inline refactoring |
| Context Awareness | Full codebase indexing (@codebase) | Smart symbol indexing + AI Assistant |
| Language Support | Any VS Code language | Deep specialized support (Java, PHP, etc.) |
| Performance | Fast, lightweight Electron-based | Feature-heavy, JVM-based power |
Seniors don't get faster because of a "magic tab" feature. They get faster because they know how to **decompose tasks** and **control context**. Whether you use Cursor's Composer or JetBrains' Refactoring tools, the AI only performs as well as the senior directing it.
Our 12 chapters teach you the principles that work in Cursor, IntelliJ, VS Code, and whatever comes out next year.
Stop hopping between tools hoping one will "just work." Learn the system to make ANY tool work for you.
If your daily work involves heavy AI-driven feature shipping, Cursor’s "Composer" and "Tab-to-apply" UX is currently faster. However, if you rely on deep static analysis and refactoring tools of JetBrains, you might find Cursor lacking. Our course teaches you the mental models to be effective in both.
Yes. While we often use Cursor in demonstrations for its speed, the mental models—Task Scoping, Context Control, and AI Code Review—apply to JetBrains AI Assistant, GitHub Copilot, and Claude equally.
Absolutely. Many of our students use JetBrains + Copilot. We show you how to maximize context control in any IDE so the AI gives you senior-level code, not boilerplate.
The Senior Dev Accelerator works with ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and JetBrains. Master the mental models today.
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