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GitHub Codespaces in Cursor: a step-by-step setup

By Nirbhay Hiwse · 21 October 2026 · 6 min read

Short answer: Install the GitHub CLI, run gh auth login -s codespace, install Antigravity Codespaces Pro from Open VSX, let it use Cursor's bundled anysphere.remote-ssh, run Codespaces: Setup Doctor, then press Alt+C and pick a codespace.

This guide takes you from a fresh Cursor install to an open codespace. It takes about ten minutes, most of it waiting for installs.

What do you need before you start?

• Cursor installed and up to date.
• A GitHub account that can create codespaces, with at least one codespace or a repository to create one from.
• An OpenSSH client. On Windows 10 and 11 it is usually present; check with ssh -V.

Step 1: How do I install the GitHub CLI?

# Windows
winget install --id GitHub.cli --source winget
# macOS
brew install gh

On Linux, use GitHub's official package repositories as described in the gh install guide. Restart Cursor afterwards so it sees the new PATH.

Step 2: How do I sign in with the codespace scope?

gh auth login -s codespace
gh auth status   # should list 'codespace' under Token scopes

Step 3: How do I install the extension?

Open the Extensions view, search for Antigravity Codespaces and install the one published by nirbhay-hiwse. Or use the command line:

cursor --install-extension nirbhay-hiwse.antigravity-codespaces

Step 4: Which Remote-SSH should I use?

Cursor bundles its own Remote SSH (anysphere.remote-ssh). The extension detects it and uses it, so there is nothing to install. Cursor's extension catalogue is backed by Open VSX, as Cursor's documentation explains.

Step 5: How do I run Setup Doctor?

Open the Command Palette and run Codespaces: Setup Doctor. Fix anything it marks in red; each item has a button.

Step 6: How do I connect?

Press Alt+C, choose a codespace, and a new window opens inside it. If it is stopped, turn it on from the Cloud Hub first.

What if it does not connect?

• Exit code 255: run gh auth status; usually the scope is missing or the codespace is stopped.
• Exit code 127: the platform is wrong; Setup Doctor sets it to Linux.
• Anything else: see Errors and alerts.

Other editors: Windsurf and the Remote-SSH comparison.

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