Tools-Tech August 1, 2023

Cursor

AI-powered code editor built on VSCode with advanced AI capabilities for coding assistance

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VSCode that provides advanced AI capabilities for coding assistance. It combines the familiar VSCode interface with powerful AI features to enhance developer productivity.

Key Features

  • AI Chat - Chat with AI about your code and get instant help
  • Code Completion - Intelligent code suggestions and autocomplete
  • Code Generation - Generate code from natural language descriptions
  • VSCode Compatible - Works with existing VSCode extensions
  • Context Awareness - Understands your entire codebase

Common Use Cases

  • Code Writing - Generate boilerplate and complex code
  • Debugging - Get help understanding and fixing bugs
  • Code Review - AI-assisted code review and suggestions
  • Learning - Understand unfamiliar codebases and technologies
  • Refactoring - Improve code structure and performance

My Experience

I use Cursor as part of a three-tool AI development workflow, where each tool serves specific niche use cases depending on what I’m working on:

My AI Development Toolkit

  • Cursor - Primary IDE for hands-on coding and real-time assistance
  • Cline - Specialized for complex planning and architectural decisions
  • Claude CLI - Quick consultations and rapid prototyping

How I Choose Which Tool

  • Planning Phase - Cline excels at breaking down complex projects and creating detailed implementation plans
  • Active Development - Cursor provides the best experience for writing code with AI assistance in context
  • Quick Questions - Claude CLI for rapid consultations and exploring different approaches
  • Architecture Decisions - Cline for comprehensive analysis of trade-offs and design patterns
  • Code Review - Cursor for understanding existing code and suggesting improvements

The Workflow

  1. Initial Planning - Use Cline to analyze requirements and create implementation roadmaps
  2. Development - Switch to Cursor for hands-on coding with AI assistance
  3. Consultation - Quick questions to Claude CLI when I need alternative perspectives
  4. Refinement - Back to Cline for complex refactoring decisions

Each tool has its strengths, and choosing the right one for the task significantly improves my development velocity and code quality.

Getting Started

# Download from https://cursor.sh/
# Install and launch Cursor

# Use AI chat (Cmd+L on Mac, Ctrl+L on Windows/Linux)
# Ask questions like:
# "How do I implement authentication in this React app?"
# "Explain this function and suggest improvements"
# "Generate a test for this component"

Why Choose Cursor?

Cursor excels when you need:

  • AI Assistance - Leverage AI for faster development
  • Familiar Interface - VSCode compatibility with AI superpowers
  • Code Understanding - Quickly grasp complex codebases
  • Productivity - Reduce time spent on repetitive coding tasks
  • Learning - Get explanations and suggestions as you code

Cursor is ideal for developers who want to leverage AI to write better code faster while maintaining the VSCode experience they know and love.

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