Cursor for Frontend Engineers

Cursor IDE: The AI-Native Code Editor That's Actually Worth Your Time

After spending years bouncing between various IDEs and AI coding assistants, I've finally found something that doesn't feel like a gimmick: Cursor IDE. As someone who's been 10 years in their software engineering career, I've seen my fair share of "revolutionary" developer tools. Most fall short. Cursor doesn't.

What Makes Cursor Different

Cursor isn't just VS Code with ChatGPT bolted on. It's a fork of VS Code that was built from the ground up with AI as a first-class citizen. The difference is immediately apparent once you start using it - instead of fighting with an AI assistant that doesn't understand your codebase, you're collaborating with one that actually gets it.

The magic happens through three core features that work seamlessly together:

Cursor Tab - Think of this as autocomplete that actually understands your entire project. Unlike GitHub Copilot, which mostly operates on the current file, Cursor Tab uses full-repo embeddings to suggest completions that are consistent with your project's patterns and architecture.

Chat (formerly Composer) - Your AI pair programmer for complex changes. This isn't just a chatbot - it's an intelligent agent that can explore your codebase, make multi-file edits, and even run terminal commands.

Cmd+K - Quick inline edits that keep you in flow. Perfect for those moments when you need surgical changes without breaking your concentration.

The Three Chat Modes That Actually Matter

Cursor's Chat feature offers three modes, each designed for different scenarios:

Ask Mode: Exploration Without Fear

Use this when you're trying to understand unfamiliar code or planning your approach. The AI reads files and provides context but doesn't modify anything. I've found this invaluable when jumping into new codebases or planning complex refactors.

Agent Mode: Your Autonomous Junior Developer

This is where Cursor shines. Agent mode can implement features from requirements, handle codebase-wide refactoring, and maintain consistency across your entire project. The key is providing clear, well-scoped tasks. If you're not getting good results, zoom out and create a more detailed plan - treat it like writing a PRD for a colleague.

Manual Mode: Precision When You Need It

When you know exactly what you want and need complete control, Manual mode gives you surgical precision. It's the perfect balance between AI assistance and human oversight.

Context Is Everything

The real power of Cursor lies in its context system. The @ symbol isn't just syntactic sugar - it's how you teach the AI to understand your specific needs:

• @Files and @Folders - Add relevant code to the conversation
• @Docs - Pull in external documentation
• @Git - Include commit history for context
• @Web - Add real-time web search results
• @Recent Changes - Show diffs from recent edits

But here's where it gets interesting: advanced context types like @Notepads for shared notes, @Past Chats for previous conversations, and @Lint Errors for surfacing issues directly in your chat. This comprehensive context system helps the AI understand not just what your code does, but how it behaves in practice.

Rules: Teaching AI Your Team's Way

One of Cursor's most powerful features is its rules system. These are reusable instructions that maintain consistent behavior across prompts. You can structure them hierarchically:

project/
  .cursor/rules/        # Project-wide rules
  packages/
    web/
      .cursor/rules/    # Rules for web team
    mobile/
      .cursor/rules/    # Rules for mobile team

Here's a real example of what an effective rule looks like:

---
description: React Component Standards
globs: ["**/*.tsx", "**/*.ts"]
alwaysApply: true
---

- Use functional components with TypeScript interfaces
- Name components using PascalCase
- Utilize Tailwind CSS for styling
- Implement custom hooks for reusable logic
- Avoid using `any` type; prefer explicit typings

Rules come in four types: Always (included in every interaction), Auto-Attached (when patterns match), Agent-Requested (when AI thinks it's relevant), and Manual (only when explicitly referenced). Understanding these types is crucial for effective AI collaboration.

Codebase Indexing: The Secret Sauce

What sets Cursor apart is its full codebase indexing. It creates embeddings for every file, allowing the AI to understand and retrieve relevant parts of your codebase when responding to queries. This isn't just about finding files - it's about understanding relationships, patterns, and context across your entire project.

This is why Cursor Tab can suggest completions that are consistent with your project's architecture, and why Chat can make intelligent decisions about where to place new code.

Real-World Productivity Tips

After using Cursor extensively, here are the patterns that have made me most productive:

Use Git frequently - The AI works better when it can see your commit history and understand how the codebase evolves.

Keep .cursorignore focused - Don't index everything. If you're on the mobile team, ignore web packages. This leads to faster and more relevant responses.

Leverage tight feedback loops - Use Cursor alongside tools like Figma, Linear, and your browser. The goal is to stay in flow while moving quickly between systems.

Don't automate everything - Cursor is most powerful as a co-pilot, not an autopilot. Use it to improve your decision-making, not replace it.

The Future: Background Agents and MCP

Cursor is pushing into exciting territory with background agents - asynchronous "junior developers" that can handle tasks like writing tests or refactoring in a remote environment, then push results to a branch. Think of it as delegating work to a capable intern who never sleeps.

They're also implementing Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that's like "USB-C for AI applications." This allows Cursor to connect to various data sources securely while keeping your data within your infrastructure. Imagine connecting directly to Linear, Figma, or your database without leaving your IDE.

Should You Switch?

If you're using VS Code and struggling with inconsistent AI assistance, Cursor is worth the switch. The migration is painless - it imports all your extensions and settings in one click. The AI features are opt-in, so you can gradually adopt them as you get comfortable.

The real question isn't whether Cursor is better than your current setup (it probably is), but whether you're ready to change how you think about coding. Cursor isn't just a tool - it's a new workflow that requires learning new patterns and habits.

For me, working remotely from Kaş with spotty internet and complex codebases, Cursor has become indispensable. It's not perfect, but it's the first AI coding tool that feels like a genuine productivity multiplier rather than an expensive distraction.

Visit cursor.directory for community-created rules and plugins to get started, and remember: the hard part is often figuring out what change should be made - that's still our job. Cursor just makes the implementation part significantly faster.

Follow me on Twitter for more thoughts on developer tools and remote work from the Turkish coast.

Oguzhan Murat Cakmak, starting his software career in Istanbul and advancing through roles in San Francisco at Uber and Hims&Hers, now does remote work from Kaş, Antalya, balancing his passion for technology with interests in kitesurfing, diving, hiking, and exploring diverse content on podcasts. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram

Loading Webmentions...