Cursor AI - The AI code editor

Overview

In this blog post, I’ve shared my experience with Cursor AI, a powerful AI-assisted code editor that I’ve been using for a few weeks. Here are the key points:

1. Cursor AI is a fork of VSCode that’s free to download and use. It’s LLM-agnostic, allowing you to use your preferred AI models via API keys.

2. The “Rules for AI” feature lets you customize AI behavior, which is great for maintaining consistency across projects and team collaboration.

3. Cursor AI supports auto-completion which competitor to MS copilot but better in my opinion.

4. The chat features are robust, with useful shortcuts for composing and using inline AI prompts. The ability to switch between different LLM models within the chat is particularly handy.

5. I’ve provided practical examples of using Cursor AI, including creating a FastHTML app, generating a README file, and developing a quiz game using the Composer AI feature.

Overall, Cursor AI has impressed me with its versatility and power. It’s a tool that I believe will continue to evolve and improve, making it an exciting addition to any developer’s toolkit.

What is Cursor AI?

Cursor AI is described as a powerful tool that is LLM-agnostic and a fork of VSCode. It’s free to download and use Cursor AI. You enter your API keys for the LLM providers you want to use and you’re away. Cursor does not offer free credits to use their AI service but using API keys is the best way to start using cursor.

Cursor AI Settings

One of my favorite features in Cursor AI is the “Rules for AI”. This allows you to set custom instructions for the AI, both inline and in the chat. It’s incredibly useful for tailoring the AI’s behavior to your specific needs. I’ve found it particularly handy for maintaining consistency across projects. You can even store project-specific rules in a .cursorrules file, which is great for team collaboration.

Cursor AI Models

Cursor AI is impressively flexible when it comes to LLM models. It supports a variety of options, which gives you the freedom to choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. They’ve also provided a handy tool to compare LLM API pricing, which I’ve found really helpful in managing costs.

Cursor AI Chat Features

The chat features in Cursor AI are both powerful and easy to use. I frequently use the shortcut keys for composing, using inline AI prompts, and accessing the chat. It’s a real time-saver. One thing I particularly appreciate is the ability to use different LLM models within the chat. This flexibility allows me to switch between models depending on the task at hand.

Practical Examples

Three examples of using Cursor AI:

• Creating a FastHTML app from chat windows using the FastHTML documentation.
• Using the Composer feature to create a README file.
• Using the Composer feature to create quiz game in Composer AI feature.