How to Use Cursor for Full-Stack Web Development

Tutorial: Follow these steps to get the most out of Cursor. Each step builds on the previous one.

1Project Setup

Open your project in Cursor. It automatically indexes your codebase for AI context. For best results, include a README and package.json.

2Use Composer for Multi-File Changes

Press Cmd+K to open Composer. Describe what you want: ‘Add a user authentication system with login, register, and password reset.’ Cursor edits multiple files.

3Tab Autocomplete

Cursor predicts your next code as you type. Accept with Tab. It understands your coding patterns and project conventions.

4AI Chat for Architecture

Use the AI sidebar to discuss architecture: ‘What is the best way to structure the database for a multi-tenant SaaS app?’ Cursor sees your full project.

5Debug with AI

Highlight an error, press Cmd+L, and ask: ‘Why is this failing and how do I fix it?’ Cursor analyzes the error in your project context.

6Generate Tests

Select a function and ask: ‘Write comprehensive unit tests for this function including edge cases.’ Cursor creates tests that follow your testing patterns.

7Refactoring

Select code and ask: ‘Refactor this to use the repository pattern’ or ‘Extract this into a reusable hook.’ Cursor handles multi-file refactoring.