Building a Modern Blog with Cursor: An AI-Powered Development Journey

As a software engineer exploring the intersection of AI and development, I want to share my experience building this blog using Cursor IDE, an AI-powered development environment. This article focuses not on the code itself, but on the process and workflow of working with AI to build a modern web application.

Getting Started with Cursor

Initial Setup

1. Installing Cursor

   • Downloaded Cursor from cursor.sh
   • Set up key bindings and preferences
   • Connected GitHub account for better integration

2. Project Initialization

   • Used Cursor's command palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P)
   • Created new Next.js project with TypeScript template
   • Initialized git repository through Cursor's integrated terminal

AI Assistant Setup

1. Configuring AI Features
   • Enabled AI completions
   • Set up custom AI commands
   • Configured auto-formatting preferences

Development Workflow

Phase 1: Project Structure

1. Using AI for Project Planning
   • Prompted AI with project requirements
   • Asked for folder structure recommendations
   • Generated initial component hierarchy

Example prompt:

"I want to create a modern blog with Next.js. Help me plan the project structure and essential components needed."

2. File Generation
   • Used /create command for new files
   • Leveraged AI suggestions for file templates
   • Generated component boilerplates

Phase 2: Core Features

1. Component Development

   • Used /edit command for component modifications
   • Leveraged AI for responsive design patterns
   • Implemented accessibility features with AI guidance

2. Styling Implementation

   • Used AI to generate Tailwind classes
   • Asked for modern design patterns
   • Implemented dark mode with AI assistance

Example prompt:

"Help me implement a responsive navigation component with dark mode support using Tailwind CSS."

Phase 3: Content Management

1. MDX Integration

   • Used AI to set up MDX configuration
   • Generated content processing utilities
   • Implemented frontmatter handling

2. Content Organization

   • Used AI for file structure optimization
   • Generated content templates
   • Implemented tag system

AI Collaboration Techniques

Effective Prompting

1. Component Creation

   "Create a PostCard component that displays blog post previews with title, excerpt, and tags."
   

2. Feature Implementation

   "Help me implement a tag filtering system for blog posts with smooth animations."
   

3. Bug Fixing

   "The page transition animation breaks after two transitions. Help me debug this issue."
   

Using AI for Problem Solving

1. Error Resolution

   • Shared error messages with AI
   • Asked for debugging strategies
   • Implemented suggested fixes

2. Performance Optimization

   • Used AI to identify bottlenecks
   • Requested optimization suggestions
   • Implemented performance improvements

Iterative Development

1. Code Review

   • Used AI for code review suggestions
   • Implemented recommended improvements
   • Refined code based on AI feedback

2. Feature Enhancement

   • Iteratively improved components
   • Added new features with AI guidance
   • Refined user experience

Key Commands and Shortcuts

Essential Cursor Commands

1. File Operations

   • /create - Create new files
   • /edit - Edit existing files
   • /search - Search codebase

2. AI Assistance

   • Cmd/Ctrl + K - AI command palette
   • Cmd/Ctrl + L - Generate code
   • Cmd/Ctrl + ; - AI chat

3. Navigation

   • Cmd/Ctrl + P - Quick file navigation
   • Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F - Global search
   • Cmd/Ctrl + B - Toggle sidebar

Best Practices Learned

Working with AI

1. Clear Communication

   • Be specific in prompts
   • Provide context
   • Break down complex requests

2. Iterative Development

   • Start with basic implementations
   • Gradually add complexity
   • Review and refine with AI

3. Code Quality

   • Use AI for code reviews
   • Ask for optimization suggestions
   • Implement best practices

Project Organization

1. File Structure

   • Keep related files together
   • Use consistent naming conventions
   • Maintain clear hierarchy

2. Component Architecture

   • Build reusable components
   • Implement proper prop typing
   • Maintain separation of concerns

Challenges and Solutions

Common Issues

1. AI Understanding

   • Challenge: AI misinterpreting requirements
   • Solution: Provide more detailed context
   • Result: More accurate implementations

2. Code Integration

   • Challenge: Merging AI-generated code
   • Solution: Review and adapt suggestions
   • Result: Better code integration

Workflow Optimization

1. Development Speed

   • Used AI for rapid prototyping
   • Implemented features incrementally
   • Refined based on feedback

2. Code Quality

   • Regular AI code reviews
   • Consistent style enforcement
   • Automated testing implementation

Tips for Success

1. Effective AI Collaboration

   • Write clear, specific prompts
   • Break down complex tasks
   • Review and understand AI suggestions

2. Project Management

   • Plan features incrementally
   • Document AI interactions
   • Maintain consistent workflow

3. Code Quality

   • Regular code reviews with AI
   • Implement suggested improvements
   • Maintain coding standards

Conclusion

Building with Cursor and AI assistance has significantly enhanced the development process. The key to success lies in:

1. Understanding AI capabilities
2. Effective communication with AI
3. Consistent workflow practices
4. Regular code review and refinement
5. Incremental feature development

This approach has not only improved development speed but also resulted in better code quality and more maintainable features. The combination of human creativity and AI assistance has proven to be a powerful tool in modern web development.