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Course Outline
The AI-Native IDE Architecture
- Description of how Cursor is constructed using a modified version of VS Code, featuring deep integration with advanced models.
- Comparison between traditional VS Code with additional extensions and the specialized features offered by Cursor.
- Overview of Cursor's model hosting capabilities, including support for Claude, GPT, and custom endpoints.
- Summary of the development roadmap, from initial autocomplete functionalities to comprehensive agent workflows.
The Composer and Multi-File Editing
- Utilizing the Composer tool to plan and execute changes across multiple files simultaneously.
- Reviewing and approving or rejecting generated edits before finalizing them.
- Managing undo actions and checkpoint states during extended Composer sessions.
- Conducting build tests after implementing changes assisted by the Composer.
Context-Aware Chat and Smart References
- Leveraging @file and @codebase tags to focus chat context on specific files or parts of the codebase.
- Referencing particular functions, classes, and documentation files within conversations.
- Summarizing the intent behind the code before requesting modifications.
- Preventing context overflow by narrowing down references to essential elements.
Agent Mode and Autonomous Refactoring
- Activating agent mode with high-level instructions for complex tasks.
- Observing the agent as it plans, edits, tests, and iterates on changes.
- Intervening when the agent deviates from the intended path.
- Addressing merge conflicts that arise after multi-file rewrites by the agent.
Installation and Model Configuration
- Setting up Cursor on macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
- Selecting and switching between different models based on task requirements.
- Using your own API key for custom model hosting instead of relying on Cursor's shared infrastructure.
- Configuring high-context models to enhance navigation within large codebases.
Team Workspaces and Shared Context
- Creating team workspaces and inviting colleagues to collaborate.
- Sharing custom rules, style guides, and context files among team members.
- Establishing default prompts for common team workflows.
- Monitoring usage and cost metrics across the workspace.
Custom Rules and Prompts for Consistency
- Writing .cursorrules files to enforce project-wide conventions.
- Automating code review comments through strategic prompt engineering.
- Maintaining architecture decision records with the assistance of agent tools.
- Versioning rule files as part of the repository for consistent management.
Integration with Version Control and CI
- Generating commit messages based on summary diffs.
- Pre-commit prompts to run linters and type checkers before committing changes.
- Creating pull requests with AI-generated descriptions for clarity.
- Responding to review comments by making targeted changes within Cursor.
Debugging Agent-Assisted Code
- Tracing runtime errors back to assumptions made by the agent during code generation.
- Utilizing the chat panel to inquire about specific error occurrences.
- Conducting regression testing after extensive automated refactoring.
- Managing issues related to hallucinated imports and missing dependencies.
Performance and Security
- Assessing indexing speed and storage impact on large repositories for government use.
- Automatically excluding sensitive files from the agent's context to ensure security.
- Understanding Cursor's data retention policies and options for opting out of training data usage.
- Addressing compliance requirements when utilizing hosted models in government settings.
Summary and Transitioning to Advanced Topics
- Recap of Cursor's unique features compared to other IDE-first AI tools for government use.
- Building a library of reusable prompts and rules to enhance productivity.
- Staying informed with Cursor's monthly release updates to leverage new functionalities.
Requirements
- Experience with a modern integrated development environment (IDE) such as VS Code or JetBrains
- Programming experience in any language
- Basic understanding of large language model (LLM) concepts and prompting techniques
Audience
- Development teams evaluating or adopting Cursor as their primary IDE for government projects
- Engineering managers responsible for procuring AI tooling solutions
- Freelance developers seeking to enhance client work efficiency with Cursor
14 Hours
