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Elevate your VS Code development experience with Cursor’s AI-driven autocompletion. In this lesson, you’ll discover how Cursor seamlessly integrates into your IDE, offering context-aware suggestions and interactive assistance to help you code more efficiently. Throughout this tutorial, we’ll cover:
FeatureDescription
Intelligent Code SuggestionsContext-aware snippets and completions to speed up your workflow
Composer IntegrationQuick setup and in-depth configuration options for AI completions
Automatic ImportsAutomatically insert missing imports as you code
Prompt EngineeringBest practices to craft precise AI prompts
Ask ModeOn-demand, interactive AI chat for real-time guidance
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
  • Configure Cursor Composer and tailor its settings
  • Leverage automatic imports to maintain clean code
  • Apply prompt engineering techniques for optimal suggestions
  • Use Ask Mode to troubleshoot and refine your code
Make sure you’re running VS Code version 1.60 or higher to ensure full compatibility with Cursor’s latest extensions.

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1. Intelligent Code Suggestions

Cursor analyzes your open files and project context to provide accurate, relevant completions. As you type, Cursor offers:
  • Real-time autocompletion for functions, classes, and variables
  • Inline documentation and type hints
  • Adaptive learning based on your coding patterns
// Example: Efficient React component skeleton
import React from 'react';

const MyComponent = ({ title, items }) => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{title}</h1>
      <ul>
        {items.map((item) => (
          <li key={item.id}>{item.label}</li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
};

export default MyComponent;

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2. Getting Started with Composer

Composer is Cursor’s configuration hub, where you can:
  1. Install the Cursor extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace
  2. Open the Composer panel (View > Command Palette > Cursor: Open Composer)
  3. Adjust settings such as model selection, response length, and suggestion triggers
Certain corporate firewalls may block AI model API requests. Ensure your network allows outbound HTTPS traffic to api.cursor.dev.

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3. Automatic Imports & Customizable Settings

Cursor can detect missing imports and insert them automatically: 
# Before Cursor
def fetch_user(id):
    response = requests.get(f"https://api.example.com/users/{id}")
    return response.json()

# After Cursor suggests and adds:
import requests
You can fine-tune import behavior in Composer:
SettingDescription
Auto Import On CompletionInsert imports when selecting a completion
Import StyleChoose between absolute and relative paths

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4. Essential Prompt Engineering

Fine-tune your prompts to get the best results:
  • Be specific: Include function signatures or expected return types.
  • Use context: Provide surrounding code snippets for better accuracy.
  • Iterate quickly: Refine your prompt based on Cursor’s initial suggestions.
# Prompt example in Ask Mode
# “Generate a TypeScript interface for a REST response with fields: id, name, email.”

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5. Using Ask Mode for Interactive Assistance

Ask Mode transforms your editor into an AI chat interface. Use it to:
  • Debug errors by pasting stack traces
  • Refactor code snippets on the fly
  • Generate documentation or unit tests
Press Ctrl+Shift+P and select Cursor: Open Ask Mode to begin.

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References

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