feat(cursor-cli): add project MCP and rules support; non-interactive only

- mcp_json -> <folder>/.cursor/mcp.json (optional)
- rules_files map -> <folder>/.cursor/rules/* (optional); link rules docs
- always -p; default output_format=json; README updates

Author: matifali

registry/coder-labs/modules/cursor-cli/README.md

@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ tags: [agent, cursor, ai, cli]
 
 Run the Cursor Coding Agent in your workspace using the Cursor CLI directly. This module does not use AgentAPI and executes the Cursor agent process itself.
 
-- Defaults to interactive mode, with an option for non-interactive mode
+- Runs non-interactive (autonomous) by default, using `-p` (print)
 - Supports `--force` runs
-- Allows configuring MCP servers (settings merge)
+- Allows configuring MCP servers and project MCP (`~/.cursor/settings.json` and `<folder>/.cursor/mcp.json`)
 - Lets you choose a model and pass extra CLI arguments
 
 ```tf
@@ -25,10 +25,15 @@ module "cursor_cli" {
   folder              = "/home/coder/project"
   install_cursor_cli  = true
   cursor_cli_version  = "latest"
-  interactive         = true
-  non_interactive_cmd = "run --once"
+  base_command        = "status"          # optional subcommand (default is chat mode)
+  output_format       = "json"            # text | json | stream-json
   force               = false
-  model               = "gpt-4o"
+  model               = "gpt-5"
+  mcp_json            = jsonencode({
+    mcpServers = {
+      # example project-specific servers (see docs)
+    }
+  })
   additional_settings = jsonencode({
     mcpServers = {
       coder = {
@@ -48,8 +53,9 @@ module "cursor_cli" {
 ## Notes
 
 - See Cursor CLI docs: `https://docs.cursor.com/en/cli/overview`
-- The module writes merged settings to `~/.cursor/settings.json`
-- Interactive by default; set `interactive = false` to run non-interactively via `non_interactive_cmd`
+- For MCP project config, see `https://docs.cursor.com/en/context/mcp#using-mcp-json`. This module writes your `mcp_json` into `<folder>/.cursor/mcp.json` and merges `additional_settings` into `~/.cursor/settings.json`.
+- For Rules, see `https://docs.cursor.com/en/context/rules#project-rules`. Provide `rules_files` (map of file name to content) to populate `<folder>/.cursor/rules/`.
+- The agent runs non-interactively with `-p` by default. Use `output_format` to choose `text | json | stream-json` (default `json`).
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 

registry/coder-labs/modules/cursor-cli/cursor-cli.tftest.hcl

@@ -1,18 +1,13 @@
 // Terraform tests for the cursor-cli module
 // Validates that we render expected script content given inputs
 
-run "defaults_interactive" {
+run "defaults_noninteractive" {
   command = plan
 
   variables {
     agent_id = "test-agent"
   }
 
-  assert {
-    condition     = can(regex("INTERACTIVE='true'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
-    error_message = "Expected INTERACTIVE default to be true"
-  }
-
   assert {
     condition     = can(regex("BINARY_NAME='cursor-agent'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
     error_message = "Expected default binary_name to be cursor-agent"
@@ -23,19 +18,16 @@ run "non_interactive_mode" {
   command = plan
 
   variables {
-    agent_id            = "test-agent"
-    interactive         = false
-    non_interactive_cmd = "run --once"
+    agent_id         = "test-agent"
+    base_command     = "status"
+    extra_args       = ["--dry-run"]
+    output_format    = "json"
   }
 
   assert {
-    condition     = can(regex("INTERACTIVE='false'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
-    error_message = "Expected INTERACTIVE to be false when interactive=false"
-  }
-
-  assert {
-    condition     = can(regex("NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD='run --once'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
-    error_message = "Expected NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD to be propagated"
+    // base command and -p --output-format json are included in env
+    condition     = can(regex("BASE_COMMAND='status'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected BASE_COMMAND to be propagated"
   }
 }
 
@@ -73,6 +65,10 @@ run "additional_settings_propagated" {
         }
       }
     })
+    mcp_json   = jsonencode({ mcpServers = { foo = { command = "foo", type = "stdio" } } })
+    rules_files = {
+      "global.yml" = "version: 1\nrules:\n  - name: global\n    include: ['**/*']\n    description: global rule"
+    }
   }
 
   // Ensure the encoded settings are passed into the install invocation
@@ -88,4 +84,54 @@ run "additional_settings_propagated" {
     })), resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
     error_message = "Expected ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS (base64) to be in the install step"
   }
+
+  // Ensure project mcp_json is passed
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex(base64encode(jsonencode({ mcpServers = { foo = { command = "foo", type = "stdio" } } })), resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected PROJECT_MCP_JSON (base64) to be in the install step"
+  }
+
+  // Ensure rules map is passed
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex(base64encode(jsonencode({"global.yml":"version: 1\nrules:\n  - name: global\n    include: ['**/*']\n    description: global rule"})), resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected PROJECT_RULES_JSON (base64) to be in the install step"
+  }
+}
+
+run "output_api_key_binary_basecmd_extra" {
+  command = plan
+
+  variables {
+    agent_id        = "test-agent"
+    output_format   = "json"
+    api_key         = "sk-test-123"
+    binary_name     = "cursor-agent"
+    base_command    = "status"
+    extra_args      = ["--foo", "bar"]
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex("OUTPUT_FORMAT='json'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected output format to be passed"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex("API_KEY_SECRET='sk-test-123'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected API key to be plumbed (to CURSOR_API_KEY at runtime)"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex("BINARY_NAME='cursor-agent'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected binary name to be forwarded"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex("BASE_COMMAND='status'", resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected base command to be forwarded"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = can(regex(base64encode("--foo\nbar"), resource.coder_script.cursor_cli.script))
+    error_message = "Expected extra args to be base64 encoded and passed"
+  }
 }

registry/coder-labs/modules/cursor-cli/main.tf

@@ -54,23 +54,8 @@ variable "cursor_cli_version" {
   default     = "latest"
 }
 
-variable "interactive" {
-  type        = bool
-  description = "Run in interactive chat mode (default)."
-  default     = true
-}
+# Running mode is non-interactive by design for automation.
 
-variable "initial_prompt" {
-  type        = string
-  description = "Initial prompt to start the chat with (passed as trailing arg)."
-  default     = ""
-}
-
-variable "non_interactive_cmd" {
-  type        = string
-  description = "Additional arguments appended when interactive=false (advanced usage)."
-  default     = ""
-}
 
 variable "force" {
   type        = bool
@@ -121,6 +106,18 @@ variable "additional_settings" {
   default     = ""
 }
 
+variable "mcp_json" {
+  type        = string
+  description = "Project-specific MCP JSON to write to <folder>/.cursor/mcp.json. See https://docs.cursor.com/en/context/mcp#using-mcp-json"
+  default     = null
+}
+
+variable "rules_files" {
+  type        = map(string)
+  description = "Optional map of rule file name to content. Files will be written to <folder>/.cursor/rules/<name>. See https://docs.cursor.com/en/context/rules#project-rules"
+  default     = null
+}
+
 locals {
   app_slug        = "cursor-cli"
   install_script  = file("${path.module}/scripts/install.sh")
@@ -142,15 +139,15 @@ resource "coder_script" "cursor_cli" {
     ARG_INSTALL='${var.install_cursor_cli}' \
     ARG_VERSION='${var.cursor_cli_version}' \
     ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS='${base64encode(replace(var.additional_settings, "'", "'\\''"))}' \
+    PROJECT_MCP_JSON='${var.mcp_json != null ? base64encode(replace(var.mcp_json, "'", "'\\''")) : ""}' \
+    PROJECT_RULES_JSON='${var.rules_files != null ? base64encode(jsonencode(var.rules_files)) : ""}' \
     MODULE_DIR_NAME='${local.module_dir_name}' \
     FOLDER='${var.folder}' \
     /tmp/install.sh | tee "$HOME/${local.module_dir_name}/install.log"
 
     echo -n '${base64encode(local.start_script)}' | base64 -d > /tmp/start.sh
     chmod +x /tmp/start.sh
-    INTERACTIVE='${var.interactive}' \
-    INITIAL_PROMPT='${replace(var.initial_prompt, "'", "'\\''")}' \
-    NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD='${replace(var.non_interactive_cmd, "'", "'\\''")}' \
+    # Non-interactive mode by design
     BASE_COMMAND='${var.base_command}' \
     FORCE='${var.force}' \
     MODEL='${var.model}' \

registry/coder-labs/modules/cursor-cli/scripts/install.sh

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ FOLDER=${FOLDER:-$HOME}
 mkdir -p "$HOME/$MODULE_DIR_NAME"
 
 ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS=$(echo -n "$ADDITIONAL_SETTINGS" | base64 -d)
+PROJECT_MCP_JSON=$(echo -n "$PROJECT_MCP_JSON" | base64 -d)
+PROJECT_RULES_JSON=$(echo -n "$PROJECT_RULES_JSON" | base64 -d)
 
 {
   echo "--------------------------------"
@@ -76,6 +78,27 @@ fi
 SETTINGS_PATH="$HOME/.cursor/settings.json"
 mkdir -p "$(dirname "$SETTINGS_PATH")"
 
+# Write project-specific MCP if provided
+if [ -n "$PROJECT_MCP_JSON" ]; then
+  TARGET_DIR="$FOLDER/.cursor"
+  mkdir -p "$TARGET_DIR"
+  echo "$PROJECT_MCP_JSON" > "$TARGET_DIR/mcp.json"
+  echo "Wrote project MCP to $TARGET_DIR/mcp.json" | tee -a "$HOME/$MODULE_DIR_NAME/install.log"
+fi
+
+# Write rules files if provided (map of name->content)
+if [ -n "$PROJECT_RULES_JSON" ]; then
+  RULES_DIR="$FOLDER/.cursor/rules"
+  mkdir -p "$RULES_DIR"
+  echo "$PROJECT_RULES_JSON" | jq -r 'to_entries[] | @base64' | while read -r entry; do
+    _jq() { echo "${entry}" | base64 -d | jq -r ${1}; }
+    NAME=$(_jq '.key')
+    CONTENT=$(_jq '.value')
+    echo "$CONTENT" > "$RULES_DIR/$NAME"
+    echo "Wrote rule: $RULES_DIR/$NAME" | tee -a "$HOME/$MODULE_DIR_NAME/install.log"
+  done
+fi
+
 # If settings file doesn't exist, initialize basic structure
 if [ ! -f "$SETTINGS_PATH" ]; then
   echo '{}' > "$SETTINGS_PATH"

registry/coder-labs/modules/cursor-cli/scripts/start.sh

@@ -7,12 +7,11 @@ command_exists() {
   command -v "$1" >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
-INTERACTIVE=${INTERACTIVE:-true}
-INITIAL_PROMPT=${INITIAL_PROMPT:-}
+# Non-interactive autonomous mode only
 NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD=${NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD:-}
 FORCE=${FORCE:-false}
 MODEL=${MODEL:-}
-OUTPUT_FORMAT=${OUTPUT_FORMAT:-}
+OUTPUT_FORMAT=${OUTPUT_FORMAT:-json}
 API_KEY_SECRET=${API_KEY_SECRET:-}
 EXTRA_ARGS_BASE64=${EXTRA_ARGS:-}
 MODULE_DIR_NAME=${MODULE_DIR_NAME:-.cursor-cli-module}
@@ -57,31 +56,22 @@ if [ "$FORCE" = "true" ]; then
   ARGS+=("-f")
 fi
 
-# Non-interactive printing flags
-PRINT_TO_CONSOLE=false
-if [ "$INTERACTIVE" != "true" ]; then
-  PRINT_TO_CONSOLE=true
-  ARGS+=("-p")
-  if [ -n "$OUTPUT_FORMAT" ]; then
-    ARGS+=("--output-format" "$OUTPUT_FORMAT")
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD" ]; then
-    # shellcheck disable=SC2206
-    CMD_PARTS=($NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD)
-    ARGS+=("${CMD_PARTS[@]}")
-  fi
+# Non-interactive printing flags (always enabled)
+ARGS+=("-p")
+if [ -n "$OUTPUT_FORMAT" ]; then
+  ARGS+=("--output-format" "$OUTPUT_FORMAT")
+fi
+if [ -n "$NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD" ]; then
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2206
+  CMD_PARTS=($NON_INTERACTIVE_CMD)
+  ARGS+=("${CMD_PARTS[@]}")
 fi
 
 # Extra args, if any
 if [ ${#EXTRA_ARR[@]} -gt 0 ]; then
   ARGS+=("${EXTRA_ARR[@]}")
 fi
 
-# If initial prompt specified (chat mode), pass as trailing arg
-if [ -n "$INITIAL_PROMPT" ]; then
-  ARGS+=("$INITIAL_PROMPT")
-fi
-
 # Set API key env if provided
 if [ -n "$API_KEY_SECRET" ]; then
   export CURSOR_API_KEY="$API_KEY_SECRET"