🧠Cursor AI (9 things I would like to share with beginners)

Intro

I have been using Cursor AI at work for more than 2 months, and I had a chance to introduce it to a beginner.
So I would also like to share it with DEV Community.
Let's begin!

Chat Mode

1️⃣
If you only want to ask questions to AI, Ask Mode will be a good choice.
However, Al will not add or edit code in editor nor use terminal.

If you want Al to add or edit code in editor and use terminal, Agent Mode is a good choice.
However, Agent Mode tends to fix more than you requested, even you ask not to do more than you request.

You can change the modes at the bottom of chat window. ↓

AI Model

2️⃣
You do not have to choose Al Model by choosing Auto Mode.
But I have been manually choosing clause-3.7-sonnet, because its quality and reputation of coding was good, and indeed it worked well as expected.
However, you can use clause-3.7-sonnet only 500 times per month, and if you use it for your daily coding, you will run out of requests easily.
After 500 requests the response speed will become slow.

Therefore, I used cursor small for an easy task and only used clause-3.7-sonnet from regular to difficult task.
Since cursor small cannot do difficult tasks, you can use it unlimited.

On May 23, clause-4-sonnet was released, and you can use it in Cursor, so I think it will replace clause-3.7-sonnet soon.

You can select the model at ⚙️(Cursor Settings) → Models ↓

You can change the model at the bottom of chat window. ↓

Rules

3️⃣
Write basic information of the system such as structure, programming language, framework and others in the Rules.
If you want to apply the rule for all the project, write in User Rules.
If you want to apply the rule to a single project, write in Project Rules.

It is convenient if you write "Output "I read the Roles." after reading the Roles." to Project Rules to see AI really read the Rules or not.
However, unfortunately Rules are not followed completely, even if you set Rule to Applies to: All requests.

You can set the Rules at ⚙️(Cursor Settings) → Rules ↓

Prompt Engineering

4️⃣
The more you write the prompt in detail and specific, the more output quality will become higher.
When the prompt is abstract, output tends to be insufficient, and will not be as you desired.

5️⃣
If you want to edit the existing code, narrow the range as much ad possible.
Otherwise AI tends to edit the place you do not prefer.
You can use @filename or @foldername to add a specific file or folder to the chat window.
Also, you can select the place you want to edit in your Cursor, and copy it to the chat window easily by using the shortcut CTRL + I.

6️⃣
If you have a sample code, you should add it to the chat window, and tell AI to use it as a sample.
Output tends to be better than only when asking by words.

7️⃣
Start a new chat occasionally.
AI tends to forget the conversation before, and error increase when the chat becomes long.

8️⃣
AI tends to tell lies confidently.
So do not believe without doubt, and always confirm the output also by yourself.

Tab

9️⃣
Not only AI Chat/Agent but also Tab Auto Complete is quite useful.
It will suggest code like an Esper, and speed up your coding.
When coding, Cursor will suggest the next code, so all you have to do is to push Tab to accept the suggestion.

Outro

Cursor is improving in a very high speed.
It has a big update every month, and will not make us bored.
Can't take our eyes off Cursor!

I hope you will learn something from this post.
Thank you for reading.
Happy AI coding!🤖