How I code 159% Faster using AI (Cursor + Sonnet 3.5)

Volo
16 Aug 202426:27

TLDRThe video explores Cursor, an AI-enhanced code editor based on Visual Studio Code, which significantly boosts coding speed. The host demonstrates Cursor's features, such as the ability to write and refactor code with AI suggestions, by adding a profile picture feature to an app. They also discuss the Pro Plan, which offers advanced AI models like Claude Sonet 3.5, and highlight Cursor's autocomplete and multi-file editing capabilities, showcasing how it can revolutionize coding efficiency.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Cursor is an AI-powered code editor based on Visual Studio Code, designed to significantly increase coding speed.
  • 🚀 The creator found that using Cursor made coding 2.5 times faster compared to traditional methods, even with years of coding experience.
  • 💻 To get started with Cursor, visit cursor.com, download, and install it, which offers a familiar interface for Visual Studio Code users.
  • 🔑 Cursor offers a free version and a Pro Plan for $20/month, which includes advanced features and access to top AI models like Claude Sonnet 3.5.
  • 🛠️ The AI in Cursor can make precise code adjustments when given specific instructions, such as 'add more padding to this button'.
  • 🗂️ Use Control+L to open a chat window for more complex requests, where Cursor can understand and modify the codebase context.
  • 🔄 The chat window allows for iterative development, where you can refine features and request multiple changes in a conversational manner.
  • 📚 Cursor indexes all project files for quick referencing, but you can also specify which files to consider for context in AI-generated code.
  • 🔍 For larger features involving multiple files, Cursor can generate and modify code across various files, requiring manual review and finalization.
  • 🖼️ Cursor can also incorporate image uploads into projects, handling both front-end display and back-end storage management.
  • 📝 The 'Composer' feature in Cursor, though in beta, aims to streamline multi-file interactions and refactoring for better organization.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the new code editor discussed in the video?

    -The new code editor discussed in the video is called Cursor.

  • What is the basis for Cursor's development and what additional features does it have?

    -Cursor is based on Visual Studio Code and has AI features built directly into it, which can help increase coding speed.

  • How much faster did the video creator find coding with Cursor compared to using their own knowledge and Google?

    -The video creator found that coding with Cursor made them 2.5 times faster compared to using their own knowledge and Google.

  • What is the URL for downloading Cursor?

    -To download Cursor, one can visit the website cursor.com.

  • What additional features does the Pro Plan of Cursor offer and what is its cost?

    -The Pro Plan of Cursor, costing $20 a month, offers additional features and almost unlimited usage of some of the best models like Claude Sonnet 3.5.

  • How does the AI in Cursor assist in making precise code changes?

    -The AI in Cursor can make precise code changes by using the command or control + K, where one can highlight code and give instructions for the AI to iterate on that code.

  • What is the most powerful feature of Cursor according to the video?

    -The most powerful feature of Cursor, as mentioned in the video, is control or command + L, which summons a chat window for more interactive AI assistance.

  • How does Cursor's chat window help in understanding the codebase and making changes?

    -Cursor's chat window helps by indexing all the files in a project, allowing quick referencing, and giving control over which files to reference for making targeted changes.

  • What is the process of adding a new feature using Cursor's AI?

    -The process involves describing the desired changes in the chat window, reviewing the code generated by the AI, applying the changes, and iterating on the conversation until the feature is complete.

  • How does Cursor assist in making changes to multiple files or adding big features?

    -Cursor can tag different files in the chat window and request changes across them, using the context of the current file or specified files for reference.

  • What is the role of the 'Composer' feature in Cursor?

    -The 'Composer' feature in Cursor is designed for handling multi-file interactions, allowing the creation of new files and refactoring of code in a more organized manner.

  • What autocomplete features does Cursor offer to assist in writing and refactoring code?

    -Cursor offers autocomplete suggestions for code, predicting the next lines of code and offering auto-tab to easily transition between code sections during manual editing.

  • How can Cursor help in searching through a large codebase?

    -Cursor can search the entire codebase intelligently, pointing to specific locations where certain variables or functions are set or used, helping developers navigate complex projects.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Cursor: AI-Powered Code Editor

The video introduces Cursor, a new code editor built on Visual Studio Code with integrated AI features designed to accelerate coding. The presenter shares their experience using Cursor, which significantly increased their coding speed compared to traditional methods. They demonstrate how to download and install Cursor, highlighting its similarities to Visual Studio Code to ease the transition for experienced users. The presenter also recommends the Pro Plan for advanced features and better AI model usage, showcasing Cursor's ability to import themes and plugins from VS Code. The video sets the stage for a detailed exploration of Cursor's capabilities.

05:03

🛠️ Exploring Cursor's AI Features for Enhanced Coding

This paragraph delves into Cursor's AI functionalities, such as the command 'Control K' for making precise code adjustments based on user instructions, and 'Control L' for opening a chat window that acts like an advanced version of chat GPT, familiar with the user's codebase. The presenter uses these features to add a profile picture feature to their application, demonstrating how Cursor can write and apply code changes with minimal user input. They also discuss the ability to undo changes and iterate within the chat window to refine features, emphasizing Cursor's efficiency in coding and feature development.

10:05

🔍 Implementing Complex Features with Cursor's AI Assistance

The presenter tackles the addition of a complex feature—user image uploads for contact cards—using Cursor's AI capabilities. They explain how Cursor can modify multiple files and handle various aspects of the feature, such as configuration changes, file validation, server-side adjustments, and security considerations. The video illustrates the process of requesting and applying code changes across different files, showcasing Cursor's ability to streamline the development of intricate functionalities.

15:05

🔧 Refining and Troubleshooting AI-Generated Code

The video script describes the process of refining and troubleshooting code generated by Cursor's AI. The presenter encounters an error with the image upload feature and uses Cursor's AI to diagnose and suggest fixes. They demonstrate how to iterate on changes, revert to previous states, and request specific modifications to resolve issues, highlighting the iterative nature of developing with AI assistance.

20:08

🎨 Utilizing Cursor's Image Recognition and Autocomplete Features

The presenter explores additional features of Cursor, such as the ability to generate code from images, which can be particularly useful for quickly implementing designs. They also highlight Cursor's autocomplete and auto-tab functionalities, which predict and auto-fill code, enhancing the coding process by reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency. The video emphasizes Cursor's integration with popular frameworks and its capacity to understand and suggest code based on the context.

25:10

🔎 Searching and Refactoring with Cursor's Advanced Capabilities

In the final paragraph, the presenter discusses Cursor's advanced search feature, which allows for intelligent searching within the entire codebase, and its refactoring capabilities, which can be used to organize and clean up code. They also touch upon the 'Composer' feature in beta, designed for handling multiple file interactions, and provide insights into its current limitations and potential for future development. The video concludes with a demonstration of Cursor's ability to refactor code into smaller, more manageable functions, improving code readability and maintainability.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cursor

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on top of Visual Studio Code. It is designed to enhance coding efficiency by integrating artificial intelligence features that assist in writing and refactoring code. In the video, the presenter uses Cursor to demonstrate a significant increase in coding speed, showcasing its ability to iterate on code and make intelligent suggestions based on the project's context.

💡AI Features

AI Features in the context of the video refer to the intelligent capabilities embedded within the Cursor code editor. These features enable the editor to understand and interact with the codebase, providing automated code suggestions, refactoring assistance, and the ability to generate code based on natural language instructions. The video illustrates how these features can streamline the coding process and lead to faster development.

💡Code Editor

A code editor is a type of software used for editing source code in a more efficient way than a standard text editor. In the video, the Cursor code editor is highlighted as a new tool that not only provides the functionalities of a traditional code editor like Visual Studio Code but also includes advanced AI features to assist developers in writing code faster.

💡Pro Plan

The Pro Plan mentioned in the video is a subscription service for the Cursor code editor that offers additional features and capabilities beyond the free version. It includes access to advanced AI models and unlimited usage, which can greatly enhance the coding experience and productivity. The presenter recommends the Pro Plan for its return on investment in terms of coding speed and efficiency.

💡Claude Sonet 3.5

Claude Sonet 3.5 is an AI model that the presenter in the video uses within the Cursor editor for coding tasks. It is described as one of the best models for coding as of the video's recording time. The model is utilized to generate and iterate on code, demonstrating the power of AI in assisting with complex coding challenges.

💡QR Contact

QR Contact is the application that the presenter builds and iterates upon in the video using the Cursor editor. It is an app designed to exchange contact information quickly through QR codes. The development of this app serves as a practical example to showcase the capabilities of the Cursor editor and its AI features in accelerating the coding process.

💡Code Iteration

Code iteration in the video refers to the process of refining and improving the code incrementally. The Cursor editor facilitates this through its AI features, which can make suggestions and automatically apply changes based on the developer's instructions. The presenter demonstrates this by highlighting the code, giving instructions to the AI, and then reviewing and accepting the changes made by the editor.

💡Chat Window

The chat window in Cursor is a feature that allows developers to interact with the AI through natural language. It enables users to describe what changes they want to make or what new features they want to add to their code. In the video, the presenter uses the chat window to request multiple changes and additions to the QR Contact app, illustrating how it simplifies complex coding tasks.

💡Autocomplete

Autocomplete is a feature in Cursor that predicts and suggests the next part of the code a developer is likely to write. This can significantly speed up the coding process by reducing the amount of typing required and minimizing the need to look up syntax or specific function calls. The video shows how the presenter uses autocomplete to quickly refactor code into smaller, more readable functions.

💡Composer

The composer in Cursor is a feature designed to handle multi-file interactions and refactoring tasks. It allows developers to make changes across multiple files simultaneously, which can be faster and more organized than editing files one by one. Although still in beta and not without its challenges as shown in the video, the composer represents the potential for even greater efficiency in coding with AI assistance.

💡Codebase

A codebase refers to the entire collection of source code for a project. In the video, the presenter mentions how Cursor indexes the entire codebase, allowing for more intelligent searches and easier navigation within large projects. This feature is particularly useful for new developers or when working on complex projects with many files.

Highlights

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor based on Visual Studio Code that can significantly speed up coding.

The video demonstrates a 2.5x increase in coding speed using Cursor compared to traditional methods.

Cursor can be downloaded for free from cursor.com with additional features available in the Pro Plan.

Cursor's Pro Plan at $20/month offers unlimited usage of advanced AI models like Claude Sonnet 3.5.

The editor's interface is familiar to Visual Studio Code users, making the transition smooth.

Cursor's AI can iterate on code by using the Command+K shortcut to make precise changes.

AI-generated code changes can be reviewed and accepted or rejected, much like pull requests.

The Command+L shortcut summons a chat window for more complex code generation and iteration.

Cursor indexes the entire codebase for quick AI reference, but allows file-specific context control.

AI can generate code to add new features, such as profile pictures to contact cards, with minimal input.

Cursor's apply button integrates AI-generated code directly into the project, streamlining the development process.

The video shows how to use Cursor to add image upload functionality across multiple files.

Cursor's composer feature, though in beta, allows for multi-file refactoring and organization.

The video demonstrates using Cursor's image recognition to generate code from design screenshots.

Cursor's autocomplete feature predicts and suggests code completions, speeding up manual coding.

The editor's search function helps navigate large codebases by locating specific code implementations.

Cursor's AI can refactor code into smaller, more readable functions with a single command.

The video concludes by showcasing Cursor's ability to improve coding speed and efficiency.