Prerequisites
- Visual Studio Code with Cursor AI extension installed
- Python 3.x and
venvsupport - Z Shell (Zsh) configured as your default shell
1. Open the Integrated Terminal
Open the terminal via Terminal > New Terminal (or press Ctrl+ on Windows/Linux, ⌘+ on macOS). You’ll start in a Z Shell session:
2. Generate a Flask API Project
Invoke the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / ⌘+Shift+P) and type your natural-language instruction:“Create a Flask API project with SQLAlchemy.”After hitting Enter, Cursor AI runs:
3. Set Up a Python Virtual Environment
Next, ask:“Create a Python virtual environment and activate it.”
Using virtual environments isolates dependencies per project. Always activate your
venv before installing packages.4. Install Testing and Database Drivers
Ask Cursor AI:“Install PyTest and the PostgreSQL driver.”
requirements.txt:
5. Handling Import Errors
If you encounter:6. Best Practices for Natural Language Commands
Overly vague instructions may lead to unexpected operations. Always review generated commands before executing.
By leveraging Cursor AI’s natural language commands, you reduce context switching and automate routine setup tasks. Extend this workflow to SSH sessions, container orchestrations, and more advanced development scenarios.
Links and References
- Visual Studio Code Integrated Terminal
- Cursor AI Extension
- Python
venvDocumentation - Flask Official Docs
- SQLAlchemy Documentation
- pytest Documentation
- psycopg2-binary on PyPI