Cursor Setup

This guide covers setting up CodeLoop specifically for Cursor. Make sure you have your API key ready (see API Keys).

Automatic Setup (Recommended)

The fastest way to configure CodeLoop for Cursor:

cd your-project
npx codeloop init

This command auto-detects Cursor and creates the necessary config files.

Manual MCP Configuration

If you prefer manual setup, create .cursor/mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codeloop": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@codeloop/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "CODELOOP_API_KEY": "cl_live_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Rule Files

CodeLoop creates rule files in .cursor/rules/ that guide the AI agent to use CodeLoop tools at the right moments:

`core.mdc`

Defines the core verification workflow: after any implementation step, always call codeloop_verify. If verification fails, callcodeloop_diagnose and fix the issues before moving on.

`loop.mdc`

Manages the verify-diagnose-fix loop. Tells the agent to continue iterating until the gate check passes with sufficient confidence.

`recommendations.mdc`

Guides the agent to use codeloop_release_readiness before marking work as complete, ensuring quality gates are met.

Expected Result

After setup, you should see these tools in Cursor's tool list:

Tool	Purpose
`codeloop_verify`	Run build, lint, tests, screenshots
`codeloop_diagnose`	Categorize and prioritize failures
`codeloop_gate_check`	Confidence-scored quality gate
`codeloop_section_status`	Multi-section progress tracking
`codeloop_visual_review`	Screenshot-based UI review
`codeloop_design_compare`	Compare coded UI vs design specs
`codeloop_release_readiness`	Final release quality check

Troubleshooting

Tools don't appear in Cursor

Verify .cursor/mcp.json exists and is valid JSON
Check that CODELOOP_API_KEY is set in your environment
Restart Cursor after creating the config file
Check Cursor's MCP panel for connection errors

MCP server won't start

Ensure Node.js 18+ is installed: node --version
Try running manually: npx -y @codeloop/mcp-server
Check if another MCP server is using the same port

API key validation fails

Verify your key is correct: echo $CODELOOP_API_KEY
Check if your trial has expired at the dashboard
Ensure you have internet connectivity (first validation requires network)

Next Steps

Tool Reference — learn what each tool does
Configuration — customize CodeLoop settings