Cursor launches rival code-hosting platform Origin amid GitHub outages
AI startup Cursor, now part of SpaceX, has launched a new code-hosting platform called Origin that works alongside GitHub. The launch coincides with widely reported GitHub outages and performance issues.
Cursor, the AI startup now officially part of SpaceX, this week launched Origin, a new platform designed to handle code hosting and collaborative development. The tool lets developers work together on codebases, browse and edit them, manage pull requests, and store projects in repositories — functions traditionally associated with GitHub.
Until now, Cursor's main business has centered on selling automated web development services through its AI code editor, making the move into hosting a natural next step. The company says "agent native" features will be added to Origin soon, though it has not yet shared details. Cursor is also reportedly building a broader app ecosystem to support development work within the platform.
Notably, using Origin does not require developers to abandon GitHub. The platform is built to let users work with both services simultaneously and move code between them. According to Cursor, developers can connect their GitHub account, select an organization, choose which repositories to sync, and Cursor will import them.
Timed with GitHub's troubles
Origin's debut came on the same day GitHub suffered a lengthy worldwide outage, with service degraded for more than six hours and a global error rate approaching 20%. This was not an isolated incident — earlier this year GitHub announced measures to address user frustration following a string of outages. A recent analysis by LeadDev found GitHub experienced 257 outages over the past year, contributing to what the report described as a visible exodus of high-profile users.
Still, competing with GitHub will not be easy. By GitHub's own count, roughly 180 million developers used the platform as of last October. Founded in 2007 and acquired by Microsoft in 2012, GitHub remains the world's largest source-code hosting service.
