Part 6: Building a Full-Stack Application with Cursor AI
Hey there! Welcome to this post where we'll explore how to build a full-stack application using Cursor AI. The exciting part is that we won't write a single line of code ourselves—instead, we'll leverage Cursor's chat feature to handle it all. Let's dive in!
Introduction to the Project
In this section, we’ll build a full-stack application by simply prompting Cursor AI. The application will leverage cloud capabilities to write our code. Our task is straightforward: chat with Cursor AI and let it generate the code for us.
Running the Application
First, let’s get our application running in the local environment. By running the command npm run dev, we can see our application live. The application features a beautiful dashboard where you can manage API keys. It supports CRUD operations, allowing you to create, read, update, and delete data.
For example, if we create a new API key named "Cool Cursor Course," we can see it added to our PostgreSQL database. The application updates in real-time, reflecting changes immediately.
Using Cursor AI to Write Code
This application is built using Next.js, but remember, we are not writing this code manually. Cursor AI will handle the coding for us through its chat interface, which is located on the right side of the screen. Specifically, the cloud component of Cursor AI will generate the code, and it does an excellent job.
Learning Cursor Chat Features
In this section, we’ll learn various features of Cursor chat:
Difference Between User and AI Messages: Understanding the types of messages exchanged.
Chat History: Keeping track of past interactions.
Default Context: The initial context Cursor uses.
Adding New Context: How to provide additional information to improve AI output.
AI Fixing Chat: Fixing linter errors directly from the chat.
Disclaimer
We are only writing prompts and not actual code. This approach is excellent for learning and getting comfortable with Cursor AI. However, for production applications or enterprise software, it’s essential to review and understand the code generated.
Exploring Cursor Chat
Cursor chat is the interface on the right side where you can ask questions and solve coding problems by sending prompts. By default, the chat is on the right, opposite the primary sidebar on the left. You can toggle it on or off with a simple click or use shortcuts like Ctrl + L on Windows or Cmd + L on Mac.
Adding Context
Context is additional information sent to the language model besides your input. By default, the context is the current file you are viewing. However, you can add other files or even images to the context using the add button. This extra information helps the language model produce better output and more accurate code.
AI Fixing Chat
The AI Fixing Chat feature is a convenient way to address linter errors in your codebase. To use this feature, hover over the error in the editor and click the blue AI Fix button. Cursor AI will then generate the fix for you.
Conclusion
Building a full-stack application with Cursor AI is an exciting and innovative approach to coding. By leveraging Cursor's chat features, we can efficiently generate code and address issues without writing a single line ourselves. This method is perfect for learning and getting familiar with Cursor AI, although it’s essential to review the generated code for production use.
Stay tuned for more tutorials and updates on how to make the most out of Cursor AI. Happy coding!
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