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Performance & Best Practices
Optimize your AI usage and follow industry best practices for maximum efficiency.
Optimizing AI Performance
Learn how to get the most out of Cursor's AI capabilities while maintaining high performance and following industry best practices.
Key Optimization Areas
- Prompt Efficiency: Write effective prompts that get better results faster
- Context Management: Provide the right amount of context without overwhelming the AI
- Model Selection: Choose the right AI model for your specific needs
- Workflow Optimization: Streamline your development process
Prompt Optimization Techniques
Efficient Prompt Structure
TEXT
Effective prompt structure:
1. CONTEXT: Brief background information
2. TASK: Clear, specific instruction
3. CONSTRAINTS: Any limitations or requirements
4. FORMAT: Desired output format
5. EXAMPLES: Reference examples if helpful
Example:
"Context: I'm building a React component for user authentication.
Task: Create a login form with email and password fields.
Constraints: Use TypeScript, include validation, and follow Material-UI patterns.
Format: Complete functional component with proper types.
Example: Similar to our existing UserProfile component."Context Optimization
✅ Good Context
- • Relevant file references
- • Specific function/component names
- • Current project structure
- • Technology stack details
❌ Avoid
- • Entire codebase dumps
- • Irrelevant file contents
- • Too much historical context
- • Vague references
AI Model Selection
Choosing the Right Model
GPT-4 (Recommended for Complex Tasks)
Best For:
- • Complex code generation
- • Architecture decisions
- • Debugging complex issues
- • Code refactoring
Performance:
- • Higher accuracy
- • Better context understanding
- • More detailed responses
- • Slower but more thorough
GPT-3.5 Turbo (Good for Simple Tasks)
Best For:
- • Quick code completions
- • Simple refactoring
- • Basic explanations
- • Rapid prototyping
Performance:
- • Faster responses
- • Lower cost
- • Good for simple tasks
- • Less context awareness
Model Configuration
settings.json - Model Configuration
JSON
{
"cursor.ai.model": "gpt-4",
"cursor.ai.temperature": 0.1,
"cursor.ai.maxTokens": 4000,
"cursor.ai.systemMessage": "You are an expert software developer. Provide clear, concise, and accurate solutions.",
"cursor.ai.includeCodeContext": true,
"cursor.ai.includeFileContext": true
}Workflow Optimization
Efficient Development Patterns
1
Start with Structure
Ask AI to create the basic structure first, then iterate
2
Iterative Refinement
Use follow-up prompts to improve and add features
3
Batch Similar Tasks
Group related requests to maintain context
Context Management
TEXT
Effective context management strategies:
1. Use file references instead of pasting entire files
"Looking at the UserService.ts file, add error handling to the login method"
2. Provide relevant imports and dependencies
"Using the existing API client from /lib/api, create a new endpoint"
3. Reference existing patterns
"Following the same pattern as the ProductCard component, create a UserCard"
4. Include specific constraints
"Using TypeScript and following our existing naming conventions"Performance Monitoring
Tracking AI Usage
- Monitor response times and quality
- Track which prompts work best
- Identify patterns in successful interactions
- Adjust model settings based on performance
Optimization Metrics
Response Time
Track how quickly AI responds
Accuracy
Measure code quality and correctness
Efficiency
Iterations needed to get desired result
Industry Best Practices
Code Quality Standards
- Always review AI-generated code before committing
- Use AI to generate tests for your code
- Maintain consistent coding standards across the team
- Document complex AI-generated logic
Security Considerations
- Never share sensitive data in AI prompts
- Review AI suggestions for security vulnerabilities
- Use AI to identify potential security issues
- Follow secure coding practices in AI-generated code
Team Collaboration
- Share effective prompts with your team
- Document AI-assisted workflows
- Use consistent AI model settings
- Regularly review and update AI configurations
Common Issues & Solutions
Performance Issues
Slow AI Responses
If AI is responding slowly:
- Check your internet connection
- Try using GPT-3.5 for simpler tasks
- Reduce the amount of context in prompts
- Restart Cursor if issues persist
Poor Code Quality
If AI generates low-quality code:
- Provide more specific requirements
- Include better examples in prompts
- Use GPT-4 for complex tasks
- Break down complex requests into smaller parts
Performance Optimized! 🚀
You've mastered performance optimization and best practices for Cursor. These techniques will help you get the most out of AI-assisted development.