Over a year has passed since my last post about using Large Language Models (LLMs) for development. I’ve gone from forcing myself to like the new tools emerging from the GPT Revolution to, now, loving my set up. The two tools I always have up while building are Perplexity and Cursor.
Perplexity.ai
Perplexity AI leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to provide up-to-date and accurate information. This is especially useful when development relies upon recently released documentation or versions. My “rubber duck” is AI, and it surpasses my human counter parts, and my own ability to google for best practices and implementation guidance. It helps me crash course on new topics, or help me understand errors or issues that may span across multiple platforms in my stack.
Cursor.com
Cursor.com’s IDE offers multi-file editing capabilities. I have yet to find any product come close to it, and waited longingly for it to arrive. It significantly streamlines coding workflows, especially for tasks like refactoring where breaking up files and re-inserting blocks of code can be arduous without it. The Composer feature allows developers to make changes across multiple files simultaneously, presenting diffs in a familiar format in each file with explanations in the chat window. This SIGNIFICANTLY beats out Microsoft Co-Pilot which still feels like a hyped up autocomplete, and I find it more expansive in its capabilities than competitors like Codeium. I see Cursor as “State of the Art”, and Best-in-Class, hands down.
One of Cursor’s strengths is its use of Visual Studio Code (VSCode) as the underlying interface. Although wrapped as the “Cursor App”, it retains all the functionality of VSCode; and doesn’t leave me wanting. Initially, I was wary of adopting a new IDE instead of installing an integration into my existing VSCode app, but this skepticism wore off quickly as I experienced the seamless blend of familiar VSCode features with Cursor’s innovative AI-powered capabilities.
Key features of Composer include:
- Editing multiple files at once by referencing them with the # symbol
- Viewing suggested code changes across files before applying them
- Side-by-side comparison of proposed changes
- Creating new files as part of larger code modifications
- Leveraging AI that understands the entire codebase context for relevant edits
Cursor maintains an indexed representation of the full codebase, enabling contextually appropriate suggestions even for complex refactoring tasks. This allows developers to describe high-level changes and have Cursor generate code that fits seamlessly into the existing project structure and coding patterns.
In practice, Cursor shows all necessary changes as diffs in multiple locations with one action, allowing review and acceptance. It even understands developer preferences demonstrated throughout the existing code base (even if not in the immediate file being worked on), such as using twMerge for className merging, without explicit instructions (as shown in the screenshot above).
Another exceptional feature is Cursor’s ability to recognize intent throughout a file when a single change is made. It proactively suggests updates to the rest of the code in a non-distracting way, and only when multiple tab taps are made. For instance, changing a typedef in one location prompts reviews and suggestions for implementing the change elsewhere with impressive accuracy.
The trust I’ve developed in Cursor’s updates and suggestions has been a game-changer. I often find myself hinting to Cursor’s prompts as a primary development method instead of coding myself. It isn’t 100% there yet, but multiple factors beyond my interest in doing so with competitor products. When I’m unable to use Cursor, I genuinely miss it.
This shift in my setup with AI-assisted development tools represents a significant change to what I was using months ago. I am not trying to leverage the tools, or impressed in the concept, but truly experiencing an evolution in my development experience that yeilds continued moment-by-moment results. We have finally broken through the hype!
Sean Shadmand 