AI-Powered Code Generation
Master Cursor's code generation capabilities with Claude 4.5 Sonnet, Composer, and advanced AI features.
Code Generation Overview
Cursor's code generation is powered by Claude 4.5 Sonnet and understands your entire codebase context for intelligent, relevant code creation.
Smart Generation
- • Context-aware code creation
- • Follows project patterns
- • Maintains code consistency
- • Understands dependencies
Multi-file Support
- • Generate complete features
- • Create related files
- • Update existing code
- • Maintain relationships
Intelligent Patterns
- • Learns from your codebase
- • Suggests best practices
- • Adapts to your style
- • Provides explanations
Basic Code Generation
Start with simple code generation using natural language prompts in AI Chat.
Simple Components
Basic React Component
Create a simple button component with:
- Click handler
- Disabled state
- Loading state
- TypeScript typesGenerated Code:
interface ButtonProps {
onClick: () => void;
disabled?: boolean;
loading?: boolean;
children: React.ReactNode;
}
export const Button: React.FC<ButtonProps> = ({
onClick,
disabled = false,
loading = false,
children
}) => {
return (
<button
onClick={onClick}
disabled={disabled || loading}
className={`px-4 py-2 rounded font-medium transition-colors ${
disabled || loading
? 'bg-gray-300 text-gray-500 cursor-not-allowed'
: 'bg-blue-600 text-white hover:bg-blue-700'
}`}
>
{loading ? 'Loading...' : children}
</button>
);
};Custom Hook
Create a custom hook for managing form state with:
- Form data object
- Validation errors
- Submit handler
- Reset function
- TypeScript supportGenerated Code:
interface UseFormProps<T> {
initialValues: T;
validate?: (values: T) => Partial<Record<keyof T, string>>;
onSubmit: (values: T) => void | Promise<void>;
}
export const useForm = <T extends Record<string, any>>({
initialValues,
validate,
onSubmit
}: UseFormProps<T>) => {
const [values, setValues] = useState<T>(initialValues);
const [errors, setErrors] = useState<Partial<Record<keyof T, string>>>({});
const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false);
const handleChange = (name: keyof T, value: any) => {
setValues(prev => ({ ...prev, [name]: value }));
if (errors[name]) {
setErrors(prev => ({ ...prev, [name]: undefined }));
}
};
const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
e.preventDefault();
if (validate) {
const validationErrors = validate(values);
if (Object.keys(validationErrors).length > 0) {
setErrors(validationErrors);
return;
}
}
setIsSubmitting(true);
try {
await onSubmit(values);
} finally {
setIsSubmitting(false);
}
};
const reset = () => {
setValues(initialValues);
setErrors({});
};
return {
values,
errors,
isSubmitting,
handleChange,
handleSubmit,
reset
};
};API Integration
API Client
Create an API client for user management with:
- GET /users endpoint
- POST /users endpoint
- PUT /users/:id endpoint
- DELETE /users/:id endpoint
- Error handling
- TypeScript typesReact Query Hook
Create a React Query hook for fetching users with:
- useQuery for GET
- useMutation for POST/PUT/DELETE
- Optimistic updates
- Error handling
- Loading statesGeneration Best Practices
Be Specific
Include details about props, types, styling, and behavior.
Mention Your Stack
Specify React, TypeScript, styling library, etc.
Include Requirements
Mention accessibility, performance, or specific patterns.
Advanced Code Generation
Use Composer for complex, multi-file code generation that understands your entire project.
Complete Feature Development
User Authentication System
Create a complete authentication system with:
Files to create:
- components/auth/LoginForm.tsx
- components/auth/RegisterForm.tsx
- components/auth/ProtectedRoute.tsx
- context/AuthContext.tsx
- hooks/useAuth.ts
- types/auth.ts
- utils/auth.ts
- services/authService.ts
Features:
- Email/password login
- User registration
- JWT token handling
- Protected routes
- Form validation
- Error handling
- Loading states
- TypeScript types
- Responsive designComposer will create all files with proper imports, types, and consistent code style.
Dashboard with Data Visualization
Create a dashboard with:
Components:
- DashboardLayout.tsx
- StatsCard.tsx
- Chart.tsx
- DataTable.tsx
- FilterBar.tsx
Features:
- Real-time data fetching
- Interactive charts
- Data filtering
- Export functionality
- Responsive design
- Loading states
- Error handlingCode Refactoring
Component Refactoring
Refactor this large component into smaller, reusable components:
Current: UserProfile.tsx (500+ lines)
Break it down into:
- UserProfileHeader.tsx
- UserProfileDetails.tsx
- UserProfileActions.tsx
- UserProfileSettings.tsx
- hooks/useUserProfile.ts
- types/userProfile.ts
Maintain all existing functionality and improve code organization.State Management Migration
Migrate from useState to Redux Toolkit:
Current: Multiple components using useState for user data
Create:
- store/userSlice.ts
- store/index.ts
- hooks/useAppDispatch.ts
- hooks/useAppSelector.ts
Update all components to use Redux while maintaining functionality.Design Pattern Implementation
Observer Pattern
Implement the Observer pattern for a notification system:
Create:
- types/observer.ts
- utils/NotificationSubject.ts
- hooks/useNotification.ts
- components/NotificationCenter.tsx
Features:
- Subscribe/unsubscribe to notifications
- Multiple notification types
- Priority handling
- Auto-dismiss functionalityFactory Pattern
Create a factory for different chart types:
Create:
- types/chart.ts
- factories/ChartFactory.ts
- components/charts/LineChart.tsx
- components/charts/BarChart.tsx
- components/charts/PieChart.tsx
- components/ChartRenderer.tsx
Features:
- Dynamic chart creation
- Consistent interface
- Easy to extend
- TypeScript supportContext-Aware Generation
Leverage Cursor's understanding of your codebase for intelligent, context-aware code generation.
Using @-mentions for Context
File-Specific Generation
@components/Button.tsx Create a loading variant of this button that matches the existing design systemAI will analyze the existing Button component and create a loading variant that matches its style.
Function Extension
@utils/formatDate Add support for relative time formatting (e.g., "2 hours ago") to this functionAI will understand the current function and extend it with new functionality.
Multiple File Context
@components/UserCard.tsx @components/UserList.tsx Create a UserGrid component that combines the layout of UserList with the design of UserCardAI will analyze both components and create a new one that combines their best features.
Project Pattern Recognition
Following Existing Patterns
Create a new API endpoint that follows the same patterns as the existing user endpoints in this projectAI will analyze your existing API patterns and create consistent code.
Style Consistency
Create a new form component that matches the styling and validation patterns used in the existing formsAI will understand your form patterns and create consistent styling and validation.
Architecture Consistency
Add a new feature to the dashboard that follows the same architecture as the existing featuresAI will understand your project architecture and create code that fits seamlessly.
Dependency-Aware Generation
Import Management
Create a new utility function that uses the existing date formatting utilities and follows the same import patternsAI will automatically include the correct imports and follow your project's import conventions.
Type Integration
Create a new API service that uses the existing User type and follows the same error handling patternsAI will use your existing types and maintain consistency with your error handling approach.
Code Quality and Testing
Generate high-quality code with proper testing, documentation, and error handling.
Test Generation
Unit Tests
Create comprehensive unit tests for the UserProfile component including:
- Rendering tests
- User interaction tests
- Error state tests
- Loading state tests
- Accessibility testsIntegration Tests
Create integration tests for the authentication flow including:
- Login success/failure scenarios
- Token handling
- Protected route access
- Logout functionalityDocumentation Generation
JSDoc Comments
Add comprehensive JSDoc comments to the useAuth hook including:
- Description of the hook
- Parameter documentation
- Return value documentation
- Usage examples
- Error handling notesREADME Updates
Update the README.md to include documentation for the new authentication system including:
- Installation instructions
- Usage examples
- API reference
- Configuration optionsError Handling
Robust Error Handling
Add comprehensive error handling to the API client including:
- Network error handling
- HTTP status code handling
- Retry logic for failed requests
- User-friendly error messages
- Logging for debuggingError Boundaries
Create error boundaries for the React application including:
- Global error boundary
- Feature-specific error boundaries
- Error reporting
- Fallback UI components
- Recovery mechanismsNext Steps
Now that you understand code generation, explore advanced Cursor features and settings: