Top 10 tips to help you build applications with Cursor

Whether you’re building a side project, client site, or product feature, there’s one universal truth: things get messy fast. Timelines blow out. Bugs appear. Ideas get lost in translation.

When building applications with Cursor the same issues persist. Without some clear guardrails the AI will quickly start working against you, rather than working with you.

So here are 10 dead-simple tips to help you move faster, stay focused, and build with fewer headaches.

1. Design in Figma (first)

Before diving into code, design the flow and structure in Figma. It saves time and gives you something concrete to test before you start iterating in code.

2. Choose a framework, then stick to it

Don’t waste days deciding between Astro, Next.js, or something else mid-build. Pick a stack that fits the project and commit. Momentum > perfection.

3. Leverage different A.I. tools

Cursor can be your pair programmer, writing buddy, and bug detective – but sometimes it should be just that.

Use other A.I. tools to manage other parts of your workflow – like brainstorming ideas, reviewing designs and creating PRDs. Which leads on to my next tip...

4. Use a PRD (even a scrappy one)

Simply put, a Product Requirement Document (PRD) is a way of summarising what you want to build.

You don’t need a 10-page doc. Just outline what you’re building, why, and how it should work. It helps avoid Cursor from going off in the wrong direction, and creating something that you didn't expect.

5. Create Cursor rules

Curso has a 'Rules' file where you can document things like the recommended file structure, naming conventions, and component patterns upfront. Future-you will thank you when your repo doesn’t turn into spaghetti.

Read more about Cursor Rules here.

6. Explain the work before doing it

Getting Cursor to writing out what it's about to build forces clarity. Don't just get Cursor to automate everything before you've truly understood what it's about to do.

Otherwise you may end up with a way-ward A.I. agent that could quickly ruin your project.

7. Break apart features

Split big tasks into smaller ones. “Build auth flow” becomes: design form → set up API → handle errors. Shipping feels easier when the pieces are small. If you try to do everything at once, you'll start to become overwhelmed.

8. Use new chats

Start a fresh chat for each feature or bug in tools like ChatGPT. It helps keep AI responses focused and reduces back-and-forth confusion.

Especially when building a new feature, or asking a seperate un-related code question.

9. Test (then test again)

Don’t just test in your browser. Try it on mobile, in incognito, on slow connections. The weirdest bugs always show up at the worst time.

10. Branch and commit often

Treat Git like a diary. Small commits with clear messages make it easy to roll back, debug, or hand work off to someone else.

⸻

TL;DR

Clarity beats speed. Structure beats chaos. And working with your tools (not around them) makes all the difference.

Adopt just a few of these tips and you’ll build cleaner, faster, and saner.