How to Use Oracle SQL Developer in Cursor IDE

If you work with Oracle Database and Oracle APEX, you have probably heard that Oracle SQL Developer is now available as an extension for Visual Studio Code. That is great news — until you realize that Cursor, the AI-powered editor many of us use daily, does not list that extension in its marketplace.

The good news: Cursor is built on the same extension API as VS Code, so you can install Oracle SQL Developer with a simple workaround. You just need to download the extension as a .vsix file from VS Code and import it into Cursor.

This post walks you through that process step by step.

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Why This Matters for Oracle Developers

Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code is the modern successor to the classic desktop SQL Developer. It gives you:

• Database connections and schema browsing

• SQL and PL/SQL worksheets with IntelliSense

• Data grids, exports, and object management

• Integrated SQLcl terminal

• Support for wallets, TNS, and Autonomous Database connections

For APEX developers, DBAs, and PL/SQL engineers, having these tools inside your primary editor — alongside AI assistance in Cursor — is a practical win. You stay in one environment for database work, APEX object scripts, and application code.

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Why Cursor Does Not Show the Extension

Cursor uses the Open VSX Registry for its extension marketplace, not the official Visual Studio Marketplace. Oracle publishes SQL Developer on the VS Code Marketplace only, so a search for "Oracle SQL Developer" in Cursor returns outdated or unrelated results — not the current extension.

This is a marketplace limitation, not a technical blocker. Any editor that implements the VS Code Extension API (Cursor, VSCodium, Windsurf, and others) can install extensions from a .vsix file.

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Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

1. Visual Studio Code installed — https://code.visualstudio.com/download

2. Cursor installed — https://cursor.com

3. A stable internet connection to download the extension

You only need VS Code once to export the .vsix file. After that, you can use Cursor exclusively.

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Step 1: Download the Extension as a VSIX File

Open Visual Studio Code and follow these steps:

1. Open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+X on macOS).

2. Search for Oracle SQL Developer.

3. Select Oracle SQL Developer Extension for VSCode by Oracle Corporation.

4. Right-click the extension and choose Download VSIX (or use the extension's overflow menu ⋯ → Download VSIX).

5. When prompted, select your platform architecture (for example, macOS ARM64 or Windows x64).

6. Save the file — it will look something like:

   oracle.sql-developer-25.4.0-darwin-arm64.vsix
   

Tip: Keep the .vsix file in a known folder. You will need it again if you reinstall Cursor or set up a new machine.

Marketplace link (reference):
Oracle SQL Developer Extension for VS Code

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Step 2: Install the VSIX File in Cursor

Now switch to Cursor:

1. Open Cursor.

2. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P).

3. Type and select:

   Extensions: Install from VSIX...
   

4. Browse to the .vsix file you downloaded in Step 1.

5. Click Install and wait for the installation to complete.

6. When prompted, reload or restart Cursor.

After restart, you should see the SQL Developer icon in the Activity Bar on the left side.

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Step 3: Verify the Installation

Confirm everything is working:

1. Click the SQL Developer icon in the sidebar.

2. You should see Connections and SQL Snippets panels.

3. Create a test connection:

   • Click + to add a new connection

   • Enter your host, port, service name, and credentials

   • Click Test, then Connect

4. Open a Worksheet and run a simple query:

   select sysdate from dual;
   

If the query runs and returns a result, the extension is installed correctly.

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Troubleshooting

Issue	What to try
Extension not visible after install	Restart Cursor completely (quit and reopen).
Platform error on install	Re-download the VSIX and select the correct architecture for your OS.
Connection fails	Verify network access, credentials, and whether a wallet or TNS entry is required.
SQLcl terminal not starting	Confirm the extension activated fully; check Cursor's Output panel for errors.

If problems persist, refer to the official Oracle documentation:
Installing Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code

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References

• Oracle SQL Developer Extension — Visual Studio Marketplace

• Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code — Official Documentation

• Installing Oracle SQL Developer for VS Code