Cross-Agent Workflows

How to use pro-workflow patterns across Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and other AI coding agents.

The Layered Approach

The most productive teams in 2026 don't choose one tool — they layer them:

Layer	Tool	Strength
Editor	Cursor / VS Code + Copilot	Tab completions, inline edits, visual diffs
Terminal	Claude Code / Codex CLI	Deep reasoning, multi-file changes, CI/CD
Background	Cursor Background Agents	Long-running tasks, PR creation
Review	Claude Code reviewer agent	Security audit, code quality

Common Setup

Cursor for daily coding (tab completions, inline edits)
  └── Claude Code in Cursor's terminal (hard problems, refactors)
      └── Subagents for parallel exploration

The overlap in capabilities is worth the combined cost.

Configuration Mapping

Claude Code → Cursor

Claude Code	Cursor Equivalent
CLAUDE.md	.cursorrules or .cursor/rules/*.mdc
.claude/settings.json	.cursor/settings.json
.claude/agents/*.md	.cursor/agents/*.md (v2.4+)
.claude/skills/*/SKILL.md	.cursor/skills/*/SKILL.md (v2.4+)
.claude/commands/*.md	Built-in / commands
hooks.json	Not supported (use rules instead)
.mcp.json	.cursor/mcp.json

Claude Code → Codex CLI

Claude Code	Codex Equivalent
CLAUDE.md	AGENTS.md
Settings	codex.json
Agents	Not supported
Skills	Not supported
Hooks	Not supported
MCP	Supported via config

Claude Code → Gemini CLI

Claude Code	Gemini Equivalent
CLAUDE.md	GEMINI.md
Settings	gemini.json
Agents	Not supported
Skills	Not supported

Pro-Workflow on Each Agent

Claude Code (Full Support)

Everything works: commands, agents, skills, hooks, rules, contexts, MCP config.

/plugin marketplace add rohitg00/pro-workflow
/plugin install pro-workflow@pro-workflow

Cursor (Skills + Rules)

Uses skills (.mdc rules) instead of hooks. Same patterns, different enforcement.

/add-plugin pro-workflow

What loads:

• 41 skills (pro-workflow, smart-commit, wrap-up, learn-rule, etc.)
• 6 rules (quality-gates, atomic-commits, context-discipline, etc.)
• 8 agents (planner, reviewer, scout, etc.)

Other Agents (via skills add)

npx skills add rohitg00/pro-workflow

skills add installs the SKILL.md format into each agent's native skill directory.

Shared Patterns That Work Everywhere

These patterns are agent-agnostic:

1. Self-Correction Loop

Works in any agent that reads a memory file. Add to CLAUDE.md / .cursorrules / AGENTS.md:

When corrected, propose a rule. After approval, append to LEARNED section.

2. Plan Before Multi-File Changes

Universal pattern. Every agent benefits from planning mode:

• Claude Code: Shift+Tab to plan mode
• Cursor: Agent mode with planning prompt
• Codex: Start with "plan this before implementing"

3. Quality Gates Before Commit

Add to any agent's rules:

Before committing: run lint, typecheck, and tests. Fix failures before proceeding.

4. Context Management

Every agent has finite context. The discipline is the same:

• Read before edit
• Compact/clear at task boundaries
• Delegate heavy exploration to subagents
• Keep <10 MCP servers, <80 tools

5. Session Handoffs

End sessions intentionally. Capture state for the next session:

When ending a session:
1. List what's done, in progress, and pending
2. Note any decisions made and why
3. Write a one-line resume prompt for next session

Background Agent Patterns

Claude Code

Ctrl+B          # Send to background
claude -w       # Worktree for parallel session

Cursor

Background agents run on isolated VMs. They can:

• Work on separate branches
• Open PRs for review
• Record video of their work
• Run indefinitely

When to Use Each

Task	Claude Code	Cursor
Quick exploration	Subagent (in-process)	Tab in sidebar
Long refactor	Worktree session	Background agent
PR creation	gh pr create in session	Background agent auto-PR
Code review	Reviewer agent	Inline review comments

MCP Server Sharing

MCP servers work across both Claude Code and Cursor. Share a single .mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp@latest"]
    },
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@anthropic/mcp-playwright"]
    }
  }
}

Place at project root. Both tools discover it.