Getting Started with Cursor AI

A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners … by a Non-Coder

What is Cursor AI?

Cursor is an AI-first code editor — essentially a smart development environment powered by artificial intelligence​. It’s built on the familiar VS Code platform, so the interface will feel recognisable if you’ve seen it before​. The big difference is that Cursor integrates an AI assistant directly into your coding workflow. This means you can talk to your code editor and ask it to write, fix, or explain code for you. Cursor’s makers describe it as “the best way to code with AI,” designed to make you extraordinarily productive​. Note: You can use ChatGPT and Claude directly to assist with coding, but then you have to copy and paste code and queries back and forth. The beauty of Cursor is that the code editor and AI assistant are all in one.

The AI Stack by Niall McNulty | Substack

Why is it great for beginners?

For someone with minimal coding experience, Cursor can be a real help. Instead of struggling to remember syntax or search StackOverflow, you can ask the AI in plain English to help you build features or solve errors. You can create entire programs just by describing what you want — without manually writing every line of code. One tech blogger even demonstrated building a web app “from idea to live, without writing any code, purely by talking to AI in natural language.”​

This conversational approach lowers the barrier to entry for coding. You can see working code generated from your instructions, a great way to learn by example. There’s even a story of an 8-year-old who used Cursor to build a small website (a Harry Potter chat game) with zero prior experience​ — a testament to how intuitive it can be for newcomers!

Cursor’s AI can assist you at every step: it can suggest the following few lines as you type (like a super-charged autocomplete), explain what a piece of code does, or even generate an entire function or webpage based on your description. For a beginner, it’s like having a patient tutor and an expert coder rolled into one, right inside your editor. You’ll still learn and make decisions, but Cursor will handle much of the heavy lifting. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to set Cursor up and use it effectively, step by step.

The Cursor interface, with Chat and Composer on the right-hand side

Installation

Getting Cursor up and running is straightforward. Just follow these steps to install it on your computer:

1. Download Cursor: Visit the official Cursor website and download the installer for your operating system. Cursor supports Windows, macOS, and Linux — choose the version for your platform​. (On the Cursor site’s Downloads page, you’ll see options for Windows 10/11, a Mac installer, and possibly a Linux package​.)
2. Run the Installer: Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. The defaults usually work fine. Cursor is built on VS Code, so if you’ve installed VS Code before, this process will feel familiar.
3. Launch Cursor: After installation, open the Cursor application. The first time it runs, it may ask you to sign up or log in. Go ahead and create a free account (just an email and password). Every new user automatically gets a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan with no credit card required.​ This trial gives you full access to all features so you can test everything out.
4. First-Time Setup: On first launch, Cursor might prompt to import settings from VS Code. If you have used VS Code before, you can let Cursor import your extensions, theme, and key bindings in one click​. This is optional but helps make the environment feel like home. You can also choose your editor theme or font size in settings, just as you would in VS Code — feel free to adjust things like theme and fonts to your liking.
5. Check Requirements: Ensure you have a stable internet connection because the AI features run via cloud services. You don’t need to configure any AI keys; Cursor’s AI works out of the box once logged in. Also, if you plan to write code in certain languages (like Python or Node.js), you’ll want those runtimes installed on your system to run the code — but you can still use Cursor’s AI to write the code even if you run it elsewhere.

Tip: If you run into any issues installing, check the official docs or community forum. For instance, on Linux, you might need to give permission to the AppImage to execute. But for most users, it’s click to install. Once installed and logged in, you can start coding with AI!

Core Interface

When you open Cursor, the layout will look similar to VS Code’s interface. Let’s break down the key parts of the interface and essential controls:

Explorer (File Panel)

On the left, you’ll see a panel where you can open a folder or create new files. This is where you manage your project files. To start a new project, you can go to File > Open Folder (or Open on Mac) and select an empty folder to work in. Alternatively, use the command palette (press Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) and type “Open Folder” to quickly open a project directory. Once a folder is open, it becomes your workspace and you’ll see its files listed in the explorer panel.

Editor Window

The large area in the center is the code editor. You can open files (double-click them from the explorer) and start writing or editing code here. Cursor’s editor is straightforward — you can type as usual, copy/paste, etc. You’ll notice that as you write code, Cursor might grey out suggestions to complete what you’re typing — that’s the AI autocompletion at work. You can press Tab to accept an AI suggestion when you see one appear. The editor also supports multiple tabs, so you can have several files open at once (each file appears as a tab at the top of the editor panel).

AI Chat Sidebar

On the right side, there’s an AI chat panel (it might say something like “Chat” or have a Cursor logo icon). This is where you can converse with Cursor’s AI assistant. If you don’t see it initially, you can open it by pressing Ctrl+L (Windows) or Cmd+L (Mac)​ — this toggles the chat sidebar. The chat interface is like having a chat with a colleague: there’s a text box to type your question or prompt at the bottom, and above it the conversation thread will appear. We’ll learn how to use the chat effectively in the next section.

Inline Prompt (Edit with AI)

Cursor also allows inline editing of code using AI. If you select some code in the editor and press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac), a small prompt box will pop up in the editor for you to type an instruction​. For example, you could highlight a function and press Ctrl+K, then type “Optimize this function to use less memory.” The AI will then modify the selected code according to your instruction. This is super handy for making quick changes or generating code in place. (There’s also an “Edit” button that might appear as a hover action when you select code — which does the same thing.)

Composer (Advanced, Optional)

Cursor has a feature called the Composer, which is a tool to help you work on larger tasks or multi-file changes. You can open it with Ctrl+I (Cmd+I on Mac)​. This opens a new pane where you can break a big goal into steps or have a separate space to generate code (somewhat like a scratchpad guided by AI). As a beginner, you may not need the Composer immediately, but it’s good to know it exists. It helps you “explore code, write new features, and modify existing code without leaving your workflow”​. Essentially, it’s another way to interact with the AI for more complex tasks, with multiple steps or files at once.

Terminal

Like VS Code, Cursor includes an integrated terminal. You can open it via View > Terminal or with a keyboard shortcut (often **Ctrl+** in VS Code; on Mac, Cmd+ — check Cursor’s keybindings). The terminal lets you run commands (like running your code, installing packages, etc.) without leaving the editor. This is useful once the AI has generated code and you want to test it out (for example, running a Python script or launching a development server).

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts: Here are 3–4 shortcuts you’ll use often in Cursor:

• Accept AI Suggestion: Press Tab to accept an autocomplete suggestion from Cursor’s AI​. For example, if Cursor greyed out a suggested code completion, hitting Tab will insert it.
• Inline AI Edit: Press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) to open the inline prompt for selected code​. This lets you tell the AI to modify or generate code right in place. Think of it as “Hey AI, change this for me…” on highlighted text.
• Open/Hide Chat: Press Ctrl+L (Cmd+L on Mac) to toggle the AI chat sidebar on or off​. This is faster than clicking on the sidebar icon. If you have a piece of code highlighted, Ctrl+L will also add that code into the chat prompt so you can ask about it.
• Open Command Palette: Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) to open the command palette (this is inherited from VS Code). It’s not AI-specific, but very useful. From here you can access any command (e.g., open files, change settings, etc.) by typing its name.

Those are the basics of the interface. Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the layout. Create a new file, type a bit of text, try opening the chat, etc. Don’t worry — you can’t break anything. The interface is meant to be beginner-friendly and you’ll get the hang of it with a bit of exploration. Now, let’s see how to actually chat with the AI to build something!

Chatting

The real magic of Cursor happens when you start chatting with the AI assistant. This is where you can ask for help, generate code, get explanations, and more — all in natural language. Here’s how to make the most of it:

Starting a Conversation

Open the chat panel (using the shortcut or by clicking the AI icon). You’ll see a prompt area where you can type. Simply type a request or question as if you were messaging a person. For example, you might start with something simple like: “Hello! I’m new to coding. How do I print text in Python?” and hit Enter. The AI will respond in the chat with an answer — in this case it might explain the print() function and show an example. You can ask anything programming-related: “What does HTML stand for?”, “Create a simple HTML page with a header and a paragraph”, or “How do I sort a list in JavaScript?”.

Writing Effective Prompts

You don’t need special syntax or jargon — plain English works best. Be clear about what you want. For instance, instead of saying, “make website”, you could say “Create a basic HTML page for a personal profile with a title, an image, and a short bio.” The more specific you are, the better the AI can help. If you have a particular language or framework in mind, mention it (e.g., “Write a Python function to calculate the factorial of a number”). Cursor’s AI is quite advanced and often understands intent from natural phrases.

Tip: You can specify the role or level of explanation in your prompt. For example: “Explain the above code like I’m a total beginner.” The AI will then give a simpler, more accessible explanation​. This is really useful if you get an answer but don’t fully understand it — just ask the AI to clarify or give an analogy.

Great tutorial from Greg

Asking for Explanations

One powerful use of Cursor for learners is to ask “why” and “how” questions. If the AI generates some code and you’re not sure how it works, you can literally ask: “Can you explain what this code is doing?” The assistant will break it down for you. It might even add comments to the code if you ask for that. For example, “Explain the code you just gave, and add comments in the code for me.” — the AI can annotate the code so you can learn from it. This is a great way to learn programming concepts on the fly. It’s like having a teacher alongside you: feel free to ask “What does [X] mean?” for any X you encounter (be it a function name, a concept like “variable scope”, etc.). The AI will provide an explanation in the chat. It’s even recommended to prompt the AI to explain things in simple terms if you’re new — “Explain it in simple terms” or “give me a real-world analogy”, etc., can yield very beginner-friendly explanations​.

Generating Code with Prompts

You can request the AI to write code for you. For example, “Please write a simple HTML page with a blue background and a heading that says ‘Hello World’.” In chat, the AI will typically respond with the code wrapped in markdown (a formatted text block). You can copy that into a file in the editor. (Alternatively, use the “Apply” button to insert it into an open file). Another way is to use the inline prompt: if you have a file open, you can type a summary comment, like // create a function that adds two numbers in the file, highlight it, and press Ctrl+K. In the prompt that appears, you could just write “implement this function”. The AI will then fill in the code right in your editor. But when starting out, using the chat is often easier — you describe what you want and then transfer the answer into your code.

Requesting Modifications

Often, you’ll have the AI generate something, and then you’ll want to tweak it. You don’t need to fix it by hand if you’re not comfortable — you can ask the AI to modify its output. There are two main ways:

• In Chat: You can say in the chat something like, “Now change the heading text to my name instead of ‘Hello World’, and make the background green.” The AI will usually understand you’re referring to the code it just gave (because the conversation provides context) and it will output the updated code or a diff. The chat is context-aware, so it remembers the code it wrote earlier in the conversation.
• Inline Edit: Alternatively, if you have the code in the editor, highlight the part you want to change and press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K). Then type an instruction like “Make this text bold and centred” or “add error handling to this function”. Cursor will apply that change in place​. According to the official documentation, “Ctrl+K lets you edit and write code with the AI. To edit, try selecting some code, click ‘Edit’, and describe how the code should be changed.”​ It’s remarkably effective — for example, you could select a block of HTML and say “turn this into a list” or select a chunk of code and say “explain this step by step as comments” — the AI will do it.

Keep the Dialogue Going

After the AI responds, you can always continue the conversation. If the code isn’t exactly right, tell the AI what’s wrong or what to improve. For example: “That output was close, but it didn’t include a submit button. Can you add a submit button?” — the AI will follow up with the changes. Treat it like pair programming: iterative and interactive. If the AI misunderstands, try rephrasing your request more clearly, or break it into smaller pieces. For instance, instead of one huge prompt to build a complex app, ask for one part at a time (we’ll cover this strategy more in Best Practices below).

Including Code in Your Questions

If you already have some code and need help with it, you can include it in your prompt. You might copy-paste the code into the chat and ask, “Why is this not working?” or “Improve this code.” Cursor is context-aware up to a certain limit, so it can analyze the code you provide and give suggestions. A neat trick: highlight code in the editor and press Ctrl+L — this will add the selected code into the chat input automatically​. Then you can type your question or command around it. For example, highlight a function, hit Ctrl+L, and then type “// Explain this function”. The function text appears in the chat box followed by your prompt, and when you send it, the AI knows to explain that specific code.

Tone and Clarity

You can be conversational (“Hi, can you help me with…”) or you can be straight to the point (“Generate a Python loop that…”) — the AI doesn’t mind either way (although I still occasionally say Please lol). When starting out, it might feel odd talking to your editor, but you’ll quickly see how natural it becomes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with phrasing. The AI is quite good at understanding different ways of asking. If you ever get an answer that’s confusing, you can ask “Can you simplify that?” or if you suspect it didn’t get your request, just rephrase and try again.

One step at a time: Especially for beginners, it helps to go step-by-step. You might first ask the AI to generate a small part of your project (like just the HTML structure), then later ask it to add styles, then add JavaScript, etc. This way you can test and understand each piece. The chat is your sandbox — use it to brainstorm, to debug, and to learn. With that in mind, let’s walk through a few practical examples of projects you can build with Cursor AI guiding you.

Practical Examples

The best way to get comfortable with Cursor is to build something! Here are three beginner-friendly project ideas and how you can tackle them with Cursor. These examples will show you how to break a task into prompts and use the AI’s output to create a working result. Feel free to actually try these out in Cursor as you read along.

Example 1: Personal Profile Webpage

Project: A simple personal profile webpage that displays your name, a photo, and a short bio, with some styling.

How to build it with Cursor:

1. Set up a project folder: Create a new folder (perhaps “MyProfilePage”) and open it in Cursor (File > Open Folder). This will be where your webpage files live.
2. Create an HTML file: In Cursor, create a new file called index.html. You can do this by right-clicking in the Explorer panel and choosing New File, or via the command palette. Open index.html in the editor (it should be blank for now).
3. Ask Cursor to generate the HTML: Open the chat and prompt the AI with something like: “Create a basic HTML profile page. It should have my name as a heading, an image placeholder for my photo, and a paragraph with a short bio about me.” Hit Enter and wait for the AI to respond. It should output an HTML snippet with a <!DOCTYPE html>, <head> and <body> containing those elements you described.
4. Insert the code: Copy the AI’s HTML output from the chat and paste it into your index.html file. Alternatively, you might see an “Apply” button you can click to insert it automatically.
5. Review and tweak: Look at the code. Maybe the AI gave you a very bare-bones page. You might want a nicer background or some styling. You can ask the AI for that too. For example, prompt: “Add some CSS to style the page: perhaps a light background colour and centre the content.” The AI might then provide a <style> block or suggest using a separate CSS file. Copy any new code it provides into the appropriate place (if it gave a <style> block, put it in the <head> of your HTML). You can also have it create a separate CSS file if you prefer (e.g., “Put the styles in a separate CSS file and link it.” — then create that file and paste styles).
6. Open it in a browser: Save the file and open index.html in your web browser (you can right-click the file in Cursor and there might be an “Open in Default Browser” option, or just navigate to the file via your OS). You should see your newly created profile page! It likely has placeholder text or a blank image. Go ahead and edit the HTML in Cursor to put your real name, a link to an actual photo (or use an <img> with a local file if you have one), and real bio text. You can do this manually or, yes, ask the AI: “Use this bio text for the paragraph: [paste your bio].” The AI can adjust the code for you.
7. Experiment: Try asking Cursor to add something extra, just for practice. Maybe: “Add a navigation bar at the top with links to Home, About, Contact (they can just be dummy links).” Or “Make the heading text coloured blue.” Each time, the AI will give you the code snippet to achieve it. Building a webpage with Cursor is very iterative — prompt, receive code, and refine. There are even YouTube tutorials where people build landing pages using nothing but AI prompts in Cursor​, so you’re in good company!

This simple page is a great start. It might not be fancy, but you’ve just created a web page by instructing an AI 😃. More importantly, you can inspect the code and see how each change corresponds to your prompt.

Example 2: Simple Calculator

Project: Creating a calculator is a classic first project for learning coding. In this example, we create a basic calculator that can add, subtract, multiply, or divide two numbers. We’ll do this as a simple console application (text-based) in Python for illustration, but you could do it in JavaScript or any language you prefer.

How to build it with Cursor:

1. Create a new file: Open a folder (or use the same folder) and create a file named calculator.py (if using Python). Open calculator.py in the editor. (If you prefer JavaScript, you could do calculator.js — the approach is similar.)
2. Prompt for basic structure: In the chat, ask Cursor: *“Write a simple Python calculator program that asks the user for two numbers and an operation (+, -, , or /), then performs the calculation and prints the result.” Press Enter. The AI should generate a Python code snippet that: takes input for two numbers and an operator, uses if/elif or a match-case to decide what to do, performs the calculation, and prints the output.
3. Insert and run: Copy that code into calculator.py. Save the file. Open the terminal in Cursor (Ctrl+or via menu) and run the program to test it: e.g., typepython calculator.py` and hit Enter. The program should start, and you can follow the prompts (enter two numbers and an operator) to see if it works.
4. Debug if needed: Did it run? If nothing happened or you got an error, you can go back to Cursor’s chat and say “The code gave an error: [paste the error message]. How do I fix it?” The AI will help diagnose the issue. Often, small tweaks like converting input strings to integers (int()) might be needed. The AI might respond with a corrected code example or explanation​. Update the code as suggested and try again.
5. Improve the program: Suppose it works for one calculation and then ends. Let’s make it a little better by allowing the user to perform multiple calculations until they choose to quit. You can ask Cursor: “Modify the code so that after showing the result, it asks if the user wants to calculate again or exit.” The AI will likely add a loop around the logic to repeat. It might introduce a while loop and a prompt like “Do another? (yes/no)”. Copy over those changes from the chat to your file.
6. Test again: Run the program after these modifications. Try doing a couple of calculations. If the AI’s code had any bugs (maybe the loop logic wasn’t exactly right), use the same process to debug: describe the issue to the AI, and let it suggest a fix.
7. Learn from the code: Take a moment to read through the final code. Use the chat to ask about anything you don’t understand (e.g., “Why did you use a while loop with True?” or “Can you explain how the if statements work in this program?”). Cursor will gladly explain it to you. This way, you’re not only getting a working calculator, but you’re also learning why it works.

This project demonstrates how you can build and iteratively refine a small program. Keep in mind the AI might sometimes structure things a bit differently than how a human would, but it should be correct and you can always refine the style if desired (for instance, ask it to use functions to organise the code, etc., as an extra challenge).

Example 3: “Guess the Number” Game

Project: A simple number guessing game. The program will pick a random number, and the player has to guess it. After each guess, the program tells the player if the guess is too high, too low, or correct.

How to build it with Cursor:

1. Create the file: Let’s do this in Python as well (though you can do it in any language). Make a new file guess_game.py. Open it in the editor.
2. Prompt for the game logic: Ask Cursor in the chat: “Generate a Python game where the computer picks a random number between 1 and 100, and the user has to guess it. After each guess, tell the user if it’s too high, too low, or correct. If they guess correctly, congratulate them and end the game.”
3. Review the code: The AI should output a Python script that likely uses the random module to choose a number, then uses a loop to prompt the user for guesses, and provides feedback on each guess. It will break out of the loop when the guess is correct.
4. Test it: Copy the code into guess_game.py and run it in the Cursor terminal (python guess_game.py). Try playing the game in the terminal to see if it works as expected.
5. Refine (if needed): Maybe the game ends immediately when you guess right, which is fine. But perhaps you want to add a feature like telling the player how many attempts they took. You can ask the AI: “Modify the game to count the number of guesses and display it when the player guesses correctly.” The AI will update the code (likely introducing a counter variable). Replace the old code with the new code or just edit the relevant parts as guided.
6. Replay option: Another improvement — allow the player to play again without restarting the program. Ask: “After the game ends, ask the player if they want to play again, and if yes, start a new round with a new random number.” The AI will adjust the code to wrap the whole thing in another loop or function so it can restart. Implement those changes.
7. Commentary and learning: Finally, ask Cursor to “Add comments to explain how this game works.” or “Explain the logic of this guessing game.” It will either annotate the code or provide a breakdown in chat. This helps you verify you understand each part.

This little game is a fun way to practice interactive programs. By building it with Cursor, you saw how to incorporate user input and use conditional logic, all with the AI’s help. You can continue to enhance it (maybe add a feature to limit the number of guesses, or to record high scores, etc.) — just describe what you want to the AI. Each new feature, you’ll apply the same cycle of prompting and integrating the code.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. With Cursor, you could also create a small to-do list web app, a basic contact form, or even try a simple text-based adventure game. The key is to start with something manageable like the above, and gradually ask the AI to add complexity. In fact, entire lists of project ideas exist to try with AI coding assistants — one article outlines 17 exciting beginner projects you can build using Cursor AI, from web apps to simple games​. So don’t hesitate to explore beyond these examples!

Troubleshooting

As you start coding with Cursor’s AI, you might hit some bumps — that’s normal. Here are some common issues beginners face, and how to solve them:

The AI misunderstood my request

Sometimes, you might get code that doesn’t quite match what you asked for. This could be because the prompt was vague or the AI interpreted it differently. Solution: Don’t be discouraged — try rephrasing your prompt more clearly or break the task into smaller parts. For example, if you asked for a full game and the result isn’t right, try asking for just one part of the game first (like “generate the random number and one guess iteration”). You can also ask follow-up in chat to correct it: “That’s not exactly what I meant. I actually wanted X, could you change the code to do X?” Being specific and incremental usually helps the AI get on track.

The generated code has errors or doesn’t run

It’s possible the AI’s code might have a bug or a scenario it didn’t account for. Solution: Run the code and see what error message you get (if any). Then copy that error and ask the AI: “I got this error: [paste error]. What does it mean and how do I fix it?” Providing the AI with the error output gives it context to debug the issue​. Cursor’s assistant is quite good at debugging its own code when you show it the problem. It might explain that you need to import a module, or perhaps correct a logical mistake. After getting the guidance, apply the fix and try again. This cycle is actually a great learning process — you’re effectively doing AI-assisted debugging. Over time you’ll recognise common mistakes and fix them even before running.

The AI’s answer is too advanced or confusing

If the AI responds with something that uses concepts you don’t understand (maybe it gave a solution with classes or fancy syntax when you expected something simpler), it’s okay to tell it to simplify. Solution: Say something like, “I’m a beginner, can you solve this in a simpler way?” or “Could you explain this code in simpler terms for me?”​. The AI can often provide a more basic approach or at least walk you through the complex solution. Remember, you’re in control of the conversation — if you don’t understand the output, always ask for clarification.

Nothing happens / AI doesn’t respond

If the AI chat ever seems to hang or not respond, it could be a temporary glitch or loss of connection. Solution: First, check your internet connection. If it’s fine, try the prompt again. If Cursor still isn’t responding, you can restart the Cursor application and reopen the chat. Your past conversations might still be there (unless you start a new one). Clearing the chat context can be useful if the AI is getting confused by a long back-and-forth; starting fresh often helps. In general, if things act weird (like the AI giving nonsense or not replying), a quick restart or new chat session can resolve it.

AI keeps giving a wrong answer or is stuck in a loop

Occasionally, you might find the AI repeating an answer or not incorporating your corrections. Solution: This is a sign the conversation may have gone in circles. It might help to start a new conversation (there’s usually a “+” button or File > New Chat option) so you can describe the problem from scratch with no prior context. Think of it as giving the AI a clean slate regarding the problem. Then provide all the necessary details in the new prompt. Also, verify if your question is clear and if the code context is provided if needed. By default, Cursor’s follow-up questions should carry the file context from earlier in the chat​, but if it seems to have lost track, re-include any important code in your new prompt.

Cursor itself is acting up (not the AI)

If the Cursor app has an issue (like a panel not showing, or a keyboard shortcut not working as expected), you might need to troubleshoot the editor itself. Solution: Check the official docs’ troubleshooting section which covers common Cursor application issues​. For example, you can open the developer tools in Cursor (just like in a browser) via Cursor > Help > Toggle Developer Tools to see if any errors are logged​. That’s a bit advanced, but often simply updating Cursor to the latest version or restarting it fixes most glitches. The Cursor community forum is also a great place to search if others had the same issue.

Treat any hiccup as a learning opportunity. With AI in the loop, debugging is often as easy as describing the problem and letting the AI suggest solutions. And remember, you’re not alone — many beginners are using AI tools like Cursor, and communities exist (on forums, Reddit, etc.) where people share tips on how to handle various problems. With a bit of patience, you’ll overcome any initial hurdles.

Best Practices

Using Cursor AI is a bit like collaborating with a very knowledgeable partner. To get the most out of it (and to grow your own skills), consider these best practices:

Break Down Projects into Smaller Tasks

Don’t ask the AI to build a huge application in one go. It’s best to divide your project into bite-sized pieces. For example, if you want to build a website, start by asking for the basic HTML structure, then styling, then maybe add a script, step by step. This makes it easier for the AI to follow your intentions and for you to understand the output. A tip for using Cursor on bigger tasks is: start by describing the core features in plain English and build incrementally​. You can outline what you want first, then tackle each part one at a time. This incremental approach helps avoid confusion and errors.

Be Specific and Clear in Prompts

The more clearly you articulate what you need, the better the results. Instead of “make this better,” say “optimise this function to run faster” or “simplify this code using fewer lines.” If you have a target output or format in mind, mention it. For instance: “output the result as a list of items” or “use bootstrap for styling.” Being specific guides the AI down the right path and reduces back-and-forth.

Review AI-Generated Code Critically

Always remember that AI-generated code is a starting point, not necessarily a perfect final solution. Cursor’s suggestions can have mistakes or may not follow best style practices. Take time to read and test the code the AI provides. Make sure you understand what it does. As one developer advised, “Treat AI-generated code as a starting point. Always review, test, and refine the output to maintain quality.”​ Don’t hesitate to ask the AI why it wrote something a certain way. This will help you learn more and also verify that the solution makes sense.

Learn from the AI’s Explanations

One of the biggest advantages of Cursor for a beginner is that it can teach you as you code. When the AI writes a piece of code, ask it to walk you through it. Take those explanations seriously — perhaps even copy the AI’s comments into your code as documentation. Over time, you’ll pick up programming concepts and patterns. It’s like having a tutor on demand. If the AI uses a term you don’t know (say, “recursion” or “CSS grid”), you can ask “What is recursion?” in the chat. Use Cursor as an interactive textbook — ask lots of questions!

Don’t Accept Everything Blindly

If something the AI suggests doesn’t feel right or you don’t understand it, you don’t have to use it. It’s okay to ignore a suggestion and ask the AI for an alternative approach. In fact, sometimes it’s worth saying, “Can you solve this in a different way?” to see multiple solutions. Also, keep an eye out for suggestions that might be overly complex. A simpler solution is often better for learning (and less prone to bugs). In coding (AI or not), there are usually many ways to solve a problem — if the first solution isn’t clicking for you, explore another. As a good practice, “Always check the AI suggestions carefully. Make sure they match what your project needs. Don’t accept every suggestion without understanding it.”​

Gradually Increase Complexity

Start with very simple projects (like the examples we did). Once you’re comfortable, try something a little more involved. For instance, after the profile webpage, maybe try a multi-page website or one that includes a form. Or after the console game, try something with a graphical interface (maybe a simple web-based game). As you level up, explore Cursor’s advanced features like the Composer or using the @Docs feature to have the AI reference documentation. But don’t rush into these; build up as you gain confidence. Each small project you complete will make you better at phrasing prompts and anticipating the AI’s output.

Use Version Control for Bigger Projects

If you venture into a larger project, consider using Git (which can be integrated into Cursor) to track changes. This way, you can experiment with AI suggestions without fear — you can always revert if something goes wrong. It’s also a good habit for any developer. You can even ask Cursor’s AI to write commit messages or explain diffs to you!

Collaborate with the AI, Don’t Abdicate to It

Think of Cursor as your pair-programmer. You should drive the development process and make decisions. The AI will do a lot of the typing and even thinking, but you’re the director. For example, you decide what features your program should have, and in what order to implement them. The AI can fill in the code for each feature. This mindset ensures you’re learning and in control, rather than just letting the AI churn out code that you might not fully grasp. Over time, you’ll find yourself predicting what the AI will do, and you might start writing more code yourself. That’s great — it means you’re learning! You can always double-check or improve your own code by asking Cursor for a review or optimisation suggestions.

To summarise, start small, learn as you go, and build up. Use the AI as a helpful guide, but always remain engaged with what’s happening. If you follow these practices, you’ll likely find your productivity and understanding growing together. Coding with an AI assistant is a skill — you’ll get better at prompting and utilising its strengths with practice. Keep experimenting and enjoy the process!

Next Steps

Congratulations on taking your first steps with Cursor AI! By now, you should have Cursor installed and have tried out interacting with its AI on some basic projects. So, what’s next? Here are some suggestions to continue your learning journey and make the most of Cursor:

• Explore Official Resources: The Cursor documentation site is full of useful info. There are sections on advanced usage, examples, and troubleshooting. If you haven’t already, skim through the official docs and guides on that site — they cover things like project setup, using the Composer, and other features in more depth. The docs also have a FAQ for common issues​, which can be handy as you start doing more with Cursor.
• Join the Community: Consider visiting the Cursor Community Forum (and/or the Cursor subreddit). These are places where users ask questions, share tips, and showcase what they’ve built. It’s a great way to learn tricks or see how others approach problems. For example, someone might post a snippet of how they made Cursor integrate with a certain library, or discuss prompt strategies. Being part of a community can also keep you motivated — you’ll see that everyone, even more experienced devs, are learning how to code with AI together.
• Watch Tutorials & Videos: There are plenty of video tutorials on YouTube and elsewhere that demonstrate building things with Cursor AI. Watching someone else use the tool can reveal features or methods you didn’t know. It can also validate that you’re on the right track. You might pick up prompting techniques or see how they recover when the AI output isn’t perfect. Allocate some time to watch a tutorial and then try to replicate the steps on your own.
• Practice with More Projects: The best way to improve is by doing. Challenge yourself with slightly more complex projects. Design a personal portfolio site with multiple pages, or a simple to-do list application that uses HTML/JS, or a Python script that fetches data from an API. Use Cursor to handle the heavy lifting, but make sure you understand each part. Pick something that excites you, and go for it. Each project will teach you new concepts and also how to communicate those to the AI.
• Learn the Fundamentals: While using Cursor, learning the basics of programming through traditional means is beneficial. Consider taking an online course or following a beginner’s book for the language you’re interested in (Python, JavaScript, etc.). This will reinforce what you see from the AI. Cursor might do a lot automatically, but understanding the core concepts (like variables, loops, functions, etc.) will help you write better prompts and comprehend the AI’s output. Many free resources (Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, etc.) can be used in parallel with your Cursor experiments. You can even use Cursor to do the exercises from those courses — for example, if a book asks you to write a certain program, try doing it in Cursor and compare.
• Experiment with AI Settings: Cursor may allow some customization of the AI behavior (for instance, choosing faster vs. more accurate models, or using “Rules for AI” in settings to guide its style). Once you’re comfortable with default usage, you can explore these. Understand your plan — if you find the AI responses slower or less detailed later, it might be due to the model change after the trial. You can consider subscribing if you feel it’s worth it, but as a beginner, the free tier should suffice for learning.
• Read and Reflect on AI Code: When Cursor writes code for you, save those snippets as learning references. You can create a little “snippet library” of neat examples (with explanations as comments). Later, try to code something similar without the AI, using only your memory and the snippet as reference. This will test how much you’ve learned. Then you can use Cursor to check your work. This kind of practice can boost your confidence in coding independently, while still leveraging AI as a mentor.
• Stay Curious and Have Fun: The field of AI-assisted development is evolving rapidly. Cursor itself might introduce new features as it updates. Keep an eye on their announcements or blog. For example, they might add new AI models or capabilities (maybe an improved debugging tool, or integration with documentation (@Docs) which lets the AI pull info from official docs when helping you). Don’t hesitate to try new features — they exist to make coding easier. Also, don’t be afraid to use Cursor for learning outside of projects: you can have general chats like “Explain the difference between Java and JavaScript” or “What does frontend vs backend mean?” The AI can act like a knowledgeable friend, not just a code generator.

By following these next steps, you’ll continue growing your skills. Over time, you’ll rely a bit less on the AI for the basics, and more for the complex stuff — which is exactly the trajectory you want. Remember, every expert coder was once a beginner. You have the advantage of an AI helper that past generations of coders could only dream of. So make the most of it, keep coding, and most importantly, enjoy the journey of creating software! Good luck, and happy coding with Cursor AI!

Niall McNulty is Product Lead for Education Futures at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, focusing on AI and educational technology solutions for diverse global contexts. Niall is a specialist in using AI for teaching, learning and professional support.

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