Getting Started with Cursor
Cursor is the most popular AI coding IDE in 2025 — and for good reason. It's a fork of VS Code with native AI integration, meaning all your VS Code extensions, settings, and keybindings work out of the box.
Installation: Download from cursor.com. Import your VS Code settings (Cursor offers a one-click migration). Sign up for a free account to get started.
First thing to configure: Open Settings > Cursor > Models and select your preferred AI model. Claude Sonnet is recommended for the best balance of speed and quality.
Tab Completion: Your AI Autocomplete
Tab completion is Cursor's real-time code suggestion feature. As you type, AI predicts what you'll write next — not just the current line, but entire blocks of code.
How to use it: - Just start typing. AI suggestions appear in gray. - Press Tab to accept. Press Esc to dismiss. - Tab completion learns from your codebase, so suggestions get more accurate over time.
Pro tips: - Write a comment describing what you want, then press Enter. Tab completion will generate the code. - Type a function name and opening parenthesis — Cursor often completes the entire function. - It works in every language and file type.
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Composer Mode: Multi-File Editing
Composer is Cursor's killer feature. Open it with Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows). Describe what you want in natural language, and Cursor edits multiple files simultaneously.
Examples: - "Add user authentication with Google OAuth. Create the route, middleware, and update the navigation." - "Refactor the payment module to use Stripe instead of PayPal. Update all imports and tests." - "Create a new API endpoint for /api/products with CRUD operations, validation, and error handling."
Key workflow: Start broad ("add authentication"), review changes, then refine ("also add rate limiting to the login endpoint"). Iteration is faster than trying to get everything perfect in one prompt.
Agent Mode: Autonomous Coding
Agent mode (Cmd+Shift+I) lets Cursor work autonomously. It reads your codebase, writes code, runs terminal commands, installs packages, and runs tests — all on its own.
When to use Agent mode: - Building new features from scratch - Setting up project scaffolding - Running and fixing tests - Complex refactoring across many files
Important: Always review Agent mode's changes before committing. Use git diff to see exactly what changed.
Advanced Tips from Power Users
1. Use .cursorrules: Create a `.cursorrules` file in your project root with instructions like "Use TypeScript strict mode. Follow the existing naming conventions. Use Tailwind CSS classes." Cursor reads this file and follows the rules.
2. Reference files with @: In Composer, type `@filename` to explicitly include a file in the context. This ensures Cursor understands related code.
3. Use Cmd+K for inline edits: Select code, press Cmd+K, and describe the change. Perfect for targeted modifications.
4. Chain prompts: Don't try to build everything in one prompt. Start with structure, then add features, then tests, then error handling.
Master these techniques in CodeLeap's AI Bootcamp — with hands-on projects and expert feedback.