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Ask a scoped codebase question1 / 2

2 min lesson

Practice Ask, context and search

Practice Ask, context and search on one real case. Check the result before moving on.

Step 1 of 2

Ask one bounded question about a real code path, attach only the file or folder that defines it, request each file and symbol in order, then open one cited symbol and keep the citation with the result.

Ask mode: attach the file, get the cited lines

0:34 · narrated
Read this demo as text
  1. Ask mode still gets the full @ menu. Type @, filter to EmptyState.tsx, and pick it — the file rides with the question.
  2. Send it in Ask mode. The agent reads the file — it doesn't touch it. No diff comes back, only an answer.
  3. Line 10's icon never moves; only line 15's hint text changes with the query. Ask mode named the exact lines instead of guessing.
Ask mode includes the full @ menu. Attach the file, then check that the answer names exact lines.

Practice next: Now ask your own scoped question. Use @ to attach the file that defines the behavior, then check that the answer cites exact lines.

Simulated Cursor 3.12 (macOS, light) — beta educational reconstruction, not the real product.