Cursor Launches Origin as GitHub Alternatives Rise

AI startup Cursor introduces Origin, a new code-hosting platform amid GitHub's ongoing performance issues

Cursor Launches Origin as GitHub Alternatives Rise

Origin Emerges as a GitHub Competitor

As dissatisfaction with GitHub's performance grows, Cursor has launched Origin, a new code-hosting platform designed to offer developers an alternative. Origin provides functionalities similar to GitHub, allowing for collaborative work on codebases, handling of pull requests, and repository storage. This launch comes as GitHub experiences frequent outages, prompting developers to explore new options.

Cursor, already known for its AI Code Editor, aims to expand its services by integrating "agent native" features into Origin and creating a broader app ecosystem to enhance coding efforts. This strategy seeks to attract developers seeking reliable and efficient tools.

Origin's Unique Features

Origin is designed to work seamlessly alongside GitHub, enabling users to connect their GitHub repositories and sync them with Cursor's platform. This interoperability allows developers to continue using GitHub while leveraging Origin's capabilities.

Origin's Unique Features
Origin's Unique Features

"Your GitHub repos can sit alongside the ones Cursor hosts," Cursor explains. "Connect GitHub to Cursor, pick your org, and you’ll see the repos you can sync."

— Cursor Blog

Cursor's approach allows developers to have the best of both worlds, using Origin's features while maintaining their existing GitHub workflows.

GitHub's Performance Challenges

GitHub's recent performance issues have been a concern for many developers. Most notably, the platform experienced a significant outage, with a nearly 20% error rate worldwide. Such problems have been persistent, with 257 outages reported over the past year, leading to frustration among its user base. As GitHub addresses these issues, alternative platforms like Origin are gaining attention.

257Outages in the past year

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Origin by Cursor?

Origin is a new code-hosting platform launched by Cursor to provide developers with an alternative to GitHub for collaborative coding and repository management.

How does Origin work with GitHub?

Origin is designed to be interoperable with GitHub, allowing developers to sync their GitHub repositories with Cursor's platform and use both seamlessly.

Why are developers seeking GitHub alternatives?

Developers are exploring alternatives due to GitHub's frequent outages and performance issues, which have disrupted workflows and caused frustration.

What are some features of Origin?

Origin offers collaborative code editing, pull request handling, and repository storage, with plans to add "agent native" features and a broader app ecosystem.

How many outages has GitHub experienced recently?

Over the past year, GitHub has experienced 257 outages, leading to concerns among its user base.

Originally reported by TechCrunch. Summarised and curated by European Purpose.

Who worked on this article

This is our summary of reporting published elsewhere. The original source is credited above; the summary and the checks on it are ours.

Ingrid Halvorsen
Summarised by

Ingrid Halvorsen

Managing Editor · Oslo, Norway

Runs the review process and decides when a page is ready to publish or needs another pass.

Marta Kowalczyk
Fact-checked by

Marta Kowalczyk

Senior Analyst, Infrastructure & Developer Tools · Warsaw, Poland

Covers hosting, developer tooling and the practical side of moving workloads to European providers.

Read our editorial process for how we source, verify and update these pages.