Quickly Simple CLI to download, install, update and create desktop entry icons for Cursor AI IDE for Ubuntu (24.04)

cursor.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Cursor IDE Manager
# A CLI tool to manage Cursor IDE installation, updates and customization on Linux
# Usage: ./cursor.sh
# Author: Hallex Costa

# Check if running on Linux
if [ "$(uname)" != "Linux" ]; then
    echo "╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗"
    echo "║                         WARNING                            ║"
    echo "║ This script is currently only compatible with Linux.       ║"
    echo "║ Support for other operating systems coming soon.          ║"
    echo "╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝"
    exit 1
fi

# Constants for URLs and version history
VERSION_HISTORY_URL="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/oslook/cursor-ai-downloads/refs/heads/main/version-history.json"
ICON_URL="https://gist.github.com/user-attachments/assets/60c27c41-cc6d-4f66-b039-091ce8448454"

# Local installation paths following XDG Base Directory Specification
LOCAL_BIN="$HOME/.local/bin"
LOCAL_SHARE="$HOME/.local/share"
APPIMAGE_PATH="$LOCAL_BIN/cursor"
ICON_PATH="$LOCAL_SHARE/icons/cursor.png"
DESKTOP_ENTRY_PATH="$LOCAL_SHARE/applications/cursor.desktop"

# Function to create required local directories
createDirectories() {
    mkdir -p "$LOCAL_BIN"
    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$ICON_PATH")"
    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$DESKTOP_ENTRY_PATH")"
}

# Function to fetch and display available versions
getVersions() {
    echo "Fetching available versions..."
    if ! curl -s "$VERSION_HISTORY_URL" > "/tmp/cursor_versions.json"; then
        echo "Failed to fetch version history."
        exit 1
    fi
    
    # Parse versions using jq if available, otherwise use grep
    if command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
        # Display versions in a formatted table with dates
        echo "╔═══════════════════════════════════════════╗"
        echo "║           Available Versions              ║"
        echo "╠═══════════════════════════════════════════╣"
        echo "║  #  │ Version │ Release Date             ║"
        echo "╟─────┼─────────┼────────────────────────╢"
        versions=$(jq -r '.versions[] | "\(.version)|\(.date)"' "/tmp/cursor_versions.json")
        number=1
        while IFS='|' read -r version date; do
            printf "║ %2d  │ %-7s │ %-22s ║\n" "$number" "$version" "$date"
            number=$((number + 1))
        done <<< "$versions"
        echo "╚═══════════════════════════════════════════╝"
    else
        # Fallback to simple version list if jq is not available
        versions=$(grep -o '"version": "[^"]*"' "/tmp/cursor_versions.json" | cut -d'"' -f4)
        echo "Available Versions:"
        echo "$versions" | nl
    fi
    
    echo
    echo "Enter the number of the version you want to install (1-$((number-1))):"
    read -r version_number
    
    # Extract version information based on user selection
    if command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
        selected_version=$(jq -r ".versions[$((version_number-1))].version" "/tmp/cursor_versions.json")
        selected_date=$(jq -r ".versions[$((version_number-1))].date" "/tmp/cursor_versions.json")
    else
        selected_version=$(echo "$versions" | sed -n "${version_number}p" | cut -d'|' -f1)
    fi
    
    if [ -z "$selected_version" ]; then
        echo "Invalid version number"
        exit 1
    fi
    
    # Get download URL for selected version
    if command -v jq >/dev/null 2>&1; then
        download_url=$(jq -r ".versions[] | select(.version == \"$selected_version\") | .platforms.\"linux-x64\"" "/tmp/cursor_versions.json")
    else
        download_url=$(grep -A10 "\"version\": \"$selected_version\"" "/tmp/cursor_versions.json" | grep "linux-x64" | cut -d'"' -f4)
    fi
    
    echo
    echo "Selected version: $selected_version"
    if [ ! -z "$selected_date" ]; then
        echo "Release date: $selected_date"
    fi
    echo "Download URL: $download_url"
    echo
    
    CURSOR_URL="$download_url"
}

# Function to update icon only
updateIcon() {
    echo "Downloading Cursor icon..."
    curl -L "$ICON_URL" -o "/tmp/cursor.png" || { echo "Failed to download icon."; exit 1; }
    
    echo "Moving icon to $ICON_PATH..."
    mv "/tmp/cursor.png" "$ICON_PATH"
    echo "Icon updated successfully!"
}

# Function to create desktop entry following freedesktop.org specifications
createDesktopEntry() {
    echo "Creating cursor.desktop entry..."
    cat > "$DESKTOP_ENTRY_PATH" <<EOL
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Cursor AI
Comment=A modern IDE powered by AI
Exec=$APPIMAGE_PATH --no-sandbox
Icon=cursor
Type=Application
Categories=Development;
StartupWMClass=cursor
EOL
    # Update desktop database to register the new entry
    update-desktop-database "$LOCAL_SHARE/applications" 2>/dev/null || true
    echo "Desktop entry created at $DESKTOP_ENTRY_PATH"
}

# Function to perform fresh Cursor installation
installCursor() {
    echo "Installing Cursor..."
    
    # Get version list and selection
    getVersions
    
    # Create required directories
    createDirectories
    
    # Download and install AppImage
    echo "Downloading Cursor AppImage..."
    curl -L "$CURSOR_URL" -o "/tmp/cursor.appimage" || { echo "Failed to download AppImage."; exit 1; }
    
    # Set up installation files
    echo "Installing Cursor files..."
    mv "/tmp/cursor.appimage" "$APPIMAGE_PATH"
    chmod +x "$APPIMAGE_PATH"
    
    # Configure desktop integration
    updateIcon
    createDesktopEntry
    
    echo "Cursor AI IDE installation complete!"
    echo "Please log out and log back in for the desktop entry to take effect."
    echo "You can now run Cursor by typing 'cursor' in terminal or from your application menu."
}

# Function to update existing Cursor installation
updateCursor() {
    if [ ! -f "$APPIMAGE_PATH" ]; then
        echo "Cursor is not installed. Please use the install option instead."
        return 1
    fi
    
    echo "Updating existing Cursor installation..."
    
    # Get version list and selection
    getVersions
    
    # Create backup of current installation
    mv "$APPIMAGE_PATH" "${APPIMAGE_PATH}.backup"
    
    # Download and install new version
    echo "Downloading new version..."
    curl -L "$CURSOR_URL" -o "/tmp/cursor.appimage" || {
        echo "Failed to download AppImage. Restoring backup...";
        mv "${APPIMAGE_PATH}.backup" "$APPIMAGE_PATH";
        exit 1;
    }
    
    # Replace with new version
    mv "/tmp/cursor.appimage" "$APPIMAGE_PATH"
    chmod +x "$APPIMAGE_PATH"
    rm "${APPIMAGE_PATH}.backup"
    
    # Update icon and desktop entry
    updateIcon
    createDesktopEntry
    
    echo "Cursor AI IDE updated successfully!"
}

# Main menu display function
showMenu() {
    echo "╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗"
    echo "║              Cursor IDE Manager                        ║"
    echo "╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣"
    echo "║ 1. Update Icon                                        ║"
    echo "║ 2. Install Cursor (Choose version to install)         ║"
    echo "║ 3. Switch Cursor Version                             ║"
    echo "║ 4. Exit                                              ║"
    echo "╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝"
    echo
    echo "To install a specific version of Cursor:"
    echo "  - For first installation, choose option 2"
    echo "  - If Cursor is already installed, choose option 3"
    echo
    echo "Choose an option (1-4): "
}

# Main program loop
while true; do
    showMenu
    read -r choice
    
    case $choice in
        1)
            updateIcon
            ;;
        2)
            installCursor
            ;;
        3)
            updateCursor
            ;;
        4)
            echo "Goodbye!"
            exit 0
            ;;
        *)
            echo "Invalid option. Please choose 1-4."
            ;;
    esac
    
    echo
    echo "Press Enter to continue..."
    read -r
    clear
done

cursor icon:

chmod +x ./cursor.sh && ./cursor.sh

Nice, seems to work well

versions history based on: https://github.com/oslook/cursor-ai-downloads/blob/main/version-history.json