Cursor Tips & Tricks: Master AI-First Coding

The Shift to AI-First Development

If you're still typing every line of code by hand, you're playing on hard mode. Cursor isn't just an autocomplete tool; it's an AI-native editor that changes how you write software.

1. Composer (Cmd+I or Cmd+K)

The Composer is your pair programmer. Don't just ask it to "fix this error." Give it context. Explain your intent.

• Cmd+K (Inline): Great for quick edits. "Refactor this function to be async" or "Add error handling."
• Cmd+I (Composer Window): Use this for multi-file edits. "Create a new component for the navbar and update the layout to use it."

2. Context is King (@ Symbols)

The biggest mistake new users make is assuming the AI knows your whole codebase. It doesn't unless you tell it.

• @Files: Reference specific files to give the AI context. "@Header.tsx @layout.tsx make the header sticky."
• @Codebase: Searches your entire repo. Use sparingly for broad questions like "Where is the authentication logic handled?"
• @Docs: Index external documentation. You can add "Stripe" or "Next.js" docs so Cursor knows the latest API changes.

3. The .cursorrules File

This is your "System Prompt" for the editor. Create a .cursorrules file in your root directory to enforce patterns.

# Tech Stack
- Next.js 14 (App Router)
- Tailwind CSS
- Lucide React Icons

# Rules
- Always use 'const' over 'function' for components.
- Use 'lucide-react' for icons.
- Prefer 'interface' over 'type' for props.
      

Now, every time you generate code, Cursor will follow your specific style guide without being told.

4. Tab Completion (Copilot on Steroids)

Cursor's "Tab" prediction is often uncannily accurate because it predicts the next edit, not just the next word. If you change a variable name in one place, just tab through—it often updates the usages automatically.

Summary

Stop writing code. Start conducting it. Use Composer for heavy lifting, @Files for context, and .cursorrules for consistency.