Getting Started with Cursor AI IDE: Features, Modes, and First Impressions

In this article, we’ll take our first steps with Cursor AI by installing it, creating a simple program, and exploring its AI-powered suggestions from the Claude 3.5 Sonnet model. As part of this journey, we’ll build a straightforward Next.js application, document the process, and share our insights.

Initial Impressions

Cursor impresses right away with its intuitive and user-friendly interface. Transitioning from IntelliJ IDEA is seamless, as Cursor allows you to retain your familiar shortcuts, making adaptation quick and effortless.

AI Assistance Modes in Cursor

Cursor provides three ways to interact with its AI assistant:

1. Inline Mode
   The AI assistant interacts directly within the editor, streamlining your workflow.

2. Chat Mode
   The assistant generates suggestions without modifying the code. You can review these suggestions and selectively apply them.

3. Composer Mode
   The AI directly makes changes to your project. You can review, apply, or revert these modifications.

Composer Mode Example

Let’s dive into Composer Mode to see how it enhances development. We’ll create a Next.js application with the following features:

1. Home Page

   • Sticky header: Logo on the left, search input in the center, and a login icon on the right.

2. Hero Banner

   • Carousel with three images.

3. Hero Products Section

   • Four product cards in a row, each displaying:

     • Image

     • Name (clickable, links to a details page)

     • Rating (1-5 stars)

     • Description (truncated to 100 characters, followed by “…”).

4. Footer

   • Logo on the left, copyright text in the center, and links to "About Us," LinkedIn, and Twitter on the right.

The AI assistant not only creates the required project structure and files but also outputs external commands (e.g., dependency installations), making the process seamless.

I really like the interface Cursor AI provides with every suggested command. You can run it quickly or ask some clarifying questions.

Chat Mode

Chat Mode enables you to interact with the assistant conversationally. For instance, I asked it to create a logo and update the code:

please generate some icon with 4 overlapped triangles and put it to /src/img/icon.svg file.

please rename all references to /logo.png with appropriate link

The AI assistant offered a solution, allowing me to review each step before applying changes. This flexibility is ideal for collaborative development.

Inline Mode

The inline function works well for small suggestions where both the requirements and the solution can be viewed within a single screen. Once a suggestion is provided, you can quickly apply the change.

However, for larger or more complex requirements, using chat mode is more practical. In my opinion, reviewing a detailed list of requirements is much more convenient in chat mode.

Bug Fixing

The AI assistant excels not only at generating new changes but also at troubleshooting errors. While running the app, I encountered an error. You can refer to the error in the log and ask the AI assistant for help in resolving it.

The AI assistant provides excellent suggestions, and you can either seek clarification directly or proceed to apply the changes.

Conclusion

After just half an hour of working with Cursor AI and its AI suggestions, I was able to create a simple site featuring a modal dialog—a truly fascinating experience.

Cursor IDE feels like having a highly capable junior engineer on your team: it writes code based on your clear requirements and addresses issues as they arise. While your input and a solid understanding of the project are still essential, Cursor significantly speeds up the development process.

Many students and recent graduates are actively exploring Frontend internship remote jobs as a way to gain practical experience, build a portfolio, and transition into full-time positions in web development.

The interface is incredibly intuitive, making it easy to get comfortable with the IDE right from the start. I especially appreciated how the AI assistant provides clear references to files and specific lines of code, eliminating hesitation or confusion.

I believe Cursor IDE is an excellent tool for learning new programming languages. Instead of searching for tutorials online, you can dive straight into projects that interest you and ask questions along the way.

Although I haven’t yet explored its potential for enterprise-level projects with multiple modules and dependencies, I can confidently say that for personal projects or module development, Cursor IDE is a game-changer. It accelerates workflows significantly—provided you have a clear understanding of your requirements.