Why Cursor AI Is Different
Cursor isn't an app builder — it's an AI-powered code editor. Think VS Code with superpowers. For developers who want AI assistance without giving up control.
Setup Guide
- Download Cursor from cursor.com
- Import your VS Code settings (if you use VS Code)
- Install your usual extensions
- Set up your project
- Open the AI panel (Cmd+K or Ctrl+K)
Composer vs Chat
Chat (Cmd+L): Ask questions, get explanations, debug issues. Like ChatGPT inside your editor.
Composer (Cmd+I): Generate or edit code with full context of your project. This is where the magic happens.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Cmd+K: Inline edit (select code, describe changes)
- Cmd+L: Chat panel
- Cmd+I: Composer (full project context)
- Cmd+Shift+I: Composer with agent mode
- Tab: Accept AI suggestion
Setting Up .cursorrules
Create a .cursorrules file in your project root:
You are an expert React developer using Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui.
- Use functional components with TypeScript
- Prefer server components in Next.js
- Use React Server Actions for mutations
- Follow the existing code style in this project
Workflow Tips
- Start with Composer for big changes
- Use inline edit (Cmd+K) for small fixes
- Chat for questions and debugging
- Always review AI output before committing
