Cursor first run
Cursor first run
Cursor is a code editor built on VS Code with AI added. Today's goal is to get used to a workflow where you have the AI make the changes instead of writing the code yourself.
Open it
- Launch Cursor and log in with the account you signed up for in advance and paid Pro+ on. If you have not done that yet → Sign up.
- Make a folder called
opencircuiton your desktop. - In Cursor, open that folder with File → Open Folder. If an empty explorer appears on the left, it worked.
Three panels
You only use three places in Cursor today.
| Shortcut | Name | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl/⌘+L | Chat (Agent) | "Make something like this", or changes across several files |
| Ctrl/⌘+K | Inline edit | Small changes right where your cursor is |
| Ctrl/⌘+` | Terminal | Running commands (git, node and so on) |
First conversation
- Open the chat with Ctrl/⌘+L.
- Paste the following and send it.
Make an index.html file. Show my name large in the middle of the screen,
and change the background color every 3 seconds. Keep it to a single file.
- When the AI has made the file, click Accept.
index.htmlappears in the explorer on the left. - Right-click
index.html→ Reveal in Finder / Explorer → double-click the file to open it in a browser.
Change just one part
- Open
index.htmland put your cursor on the line with your name. - Ctrl/⌘+K →
make the text twice as big→ Enter. - Check the parts shown in green and red, then click Accept.
Check the terminal
Open the terminal with Ctrl/⌘+` and run the following. If all three print a version number, everything is installed correctly.
git --version
node --version
npm --version