How to limit AI coding tools access to the file system?

Question

Hello HN, is there a way to prevent AI coding tools like Cursor and Claude Code from having access to the whole file system, and limit them to the project directory?I am asking as someone who works for many clients and on their own projects on the same computer and who is still hesitating to install these tools.

benoau · Accepted Answer

You could use a separate, limited user account for each project.You could also confine them to containers pretty easily, VSCode has some solid extensions for SSH and container-based development.

dtagames · Answer

I have never seen Cursor reach outside the open repo unless you ask it to.