Chat tabs, Custom modes & Faster indexing

Source: Cursor Date: 2025-03-23 URL: https://cursor.com/changelog/0-48-x

Summary

Cursor 0.48.x ships chat tabs (cmd+T for parallel conversations), Custom Modes (beta, with configurable tools, prompts, and keybindings), and Gemini 2.5 Pro support with Max-mode and image handling. Large repo indexing drops dramatically (Cursor’s own codebase: 20 minutes to under 1 minute). Cost visibility lands with per-chat usage breakdowns and token counting in chat messages. Auto-run prompt removed for reliability; @Codebase tool replaced by automatic search.

Implications

Agent-IDE feature race. Custom Modes is a direct answer to Claude Code’s slash commands and Aider’s configurable modes — users can compose tool subsets with custom system prompts and keybindings. Combined with chat tabs for parallel conversations, Cursor is building a power-user layer that the CLI tools handle only through flags and config files.

Model integration cadence. Gemini 2.5 Pro landing (with Max-mode and image support) means Cursor now routes across Claude, GPT, and Gemini in production. Multi-provider routing at this scale creates fragmentation risk for users (model consistency) but diversification for Cursor (no single provider dependency).

Pricing model evolution. Per-chat cost visibility and fast-request-limit notifications are precursors to usage-based pricing pressure. Showing users token costs per conversation is the UX move that precedes tightening subscription caps or introducing consumption tiers.