Cursor Rules vs Claude Code MCP: How to Give AI Coding Context

Both Cursor and Claude Code let you teach your AI assistant about your project. Cursor uses .cursorrules files, Claude Code uses CLAUDE.md plus MCP servers. Here is how they compare and when to use each approach.

Cursor Rules: Simple and Direct

Cursor reads a .cursorrules file from your project root. You write plain-text instructions — coding conventions, preferred libraries, patterns to follow or avoid. Cursor injects these into every prompt automatically.

Strengths: zero setup, works immediately, easy to understand. Limitations: everything is plain text (no structured queries), rules count against your context window, and there is no way to dynamically load different rules based on what you are doing.

Claude Code CLAUDE.md: Project-Specific Context

Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md from your project root — similar concept to .cursorrules. Write your tech stack, conventions, and preferences in markdown. Claude loads it at session start.

The key difference is that CLAUDE.md is just one layer. Claude Code also supports MCP servers for dynamic, structured context delivery.

MCP Servers: Dynamic Rules on Demand

MCP servers like AwesomeContext deliver context only when needed. Instead of loading all 122 engineering rules into every prompt (which would blow your context window), Claude queries specific rules on demand — architecture patterns when designing, security checklists when reviewing, compliance checks before committing.

This means sub-5ms retrieval with 96% token savings. Your context window stays clean for actual code while Claude still has access to comprehensive engineering knowledge.

MCP also supports tool composition. Claude can call architect_consult for design patterns, then compliance_verify to check the result — all within a single response. This is not possible with static rules files.

Best of Both Worlds

The optimal setup combines static and dynamic context. Use CLAUDE.md (or .cursorrules) for project-specific information: your tech stack, file structure, deployment process, team conventions. Use MCP servers for universal engineering knowledge: architecture patterns, security standards, testing workflows.

If you use Cursor, you can still benefit from MCP indirectly — run AwesomeContext locally and reference its rules in your .cursorrules. But the native MCP integration in Claude Code makes this seamless.

Getting Started

For Claude Code: sign up at awesomecontext.awareness.market for a free API key, add it to your MCP settings, and Claude will automatically call get_rules when starting a new session. Create a CLAUDE.md for project-specific notes.

For Cursor: create a .cursorrules file with your project conventions. Browse the AwesomeContext skills catalog for inspiration on what rules to include. Consider using Claude Code alongside Cursor for tasks that benefit from MCP integration.