1. Introduction - ckelsoe/Working-with-Cursor-AI GitHub Wiki

This guide outlines how I have refined using Cursor's AI assistant to streamline and enhance development processes for a .NET Aspire project—a demanding endeavor tailored to my evolving skill set. By breaking the workflow into clear, actionable steps and incorporating practical examples, this document offers insights into maintaining focus and achieving productive collaboration with the AI assistant. Whether you are new to Cursor or seeking ways to optimize its potential in your development journey, this guide provides strategies that may help you maximize efficiency and results.

While I am not a professional developer, coding has been critical in addressing my personal and occasional shared needs. One of my long-standing projects began as a VB.NET Windows Form application over 15 years ago, evolving into a C# version several years ago. My current challenge is ambitiously reimagining it as a Blazor application, leveraging .NET Aspire for orchestration. This shift represents a significant leap in my capabilities. Still, I've begun making steady and meaningful progress with thoughtful planning, diligent research, and the structured practices I’ve implemented to partner with Cursor AI effectively.

Target Audience

  • New to AI-assisted development
  • Learning to work with Cursor AI for the first time
  • Experiencing challenges in their AI collaboration
  • Seeking to understand the structured approach to AI-assisted development

Key Benefits

  • Clear understanding of AI collaboration
  • Systematic development approach
  • Consistent quality standards
  • Efficient workflow processes
  • Effective communication patterns
  • Continuous improvement focus

Document Organization

This guide is organized into the following major sections:

  1. Introduction - Purpose and overview
  2. Core Resources and Management - Essential documentation
  3. Development Process and Workflow - Systematic workflow
  4. Timestamp Management - Getting Timestamps in Cursor
  5. AI Interaction - How to communicate effectively with Cursor AI
  6. Documentation Standards - How documentation is managed
  7. AI Self-Evaluation Process - Helping the AI to improve
  8. Benefits and Outcomes - Benefits, outcomes and advantages of this process