Using Cursor - the AI powered VS Code alt for the first time…

Huw Prosser
9 Aug 202307:20

TLDRIn this video, the user explores Cursor, an AI-powered IDE based on Visual Studio Code and enhanced with GPT-4 and GPT 3.5. They discuss its features, such as code embedding for understanding and refactoring, and the integration with GitHub Copilot. The user demonstrates using the chat panel and hotkeys to interact with the AI, which can perform tasks like code cleanup and finding specific code elements. They express excitement about the potential of Cursor to transform coding, hinting at a future where developers may focus more on product management.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 The video introduces Cursor, an AI-powered IDE that is a fork of Visual Studio Code, enhanced with AI capabilities.
  • 🔧 Cursor integrates with GPT 4 and GPT 3.5 to provide intelligent code editing and understanding features.
  • 📝 The user can import settings and extensions from VS Code to Cursor, maintaining a familiar development environment.
  • 🗂️ Cursor uses openAI embeddings to process the entire codebase, enabling it to understand and relate different parts of the code.
  • 📊 The embedding process involves turning the code into numerical representations to facilitate better understanding and AI interaction.
  • 🔐 Users are required to log in to use the AI features, ensuring secure access to the backend services.
  • 🔄 The video demonstrates how to set up and integrate GitHub Copilot with Cursor, streamlining the development workflow.
  • 💬 Cursor features a chat panel that allows users to interact with the AI for code modifications, using hotkeys for convenience.
  • 🛠️ The AI can refactor code and provide suggestions, with the ability to accept or reject changes, giving control to the developer.
  • 🔍 Users can ask the AI about specific elements in the code, such as the location of the Google Analytics ID, and receive inline code snippets.
  • 🚀 The video concludes with the presenter expressing excitement about the potential of Cursor and the future of code development with AI assistance.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the new IDE mentioned in the script?

    -The new IDE mentioned in the script is called Cursor.

  • What is unique about Cursor compared to traditional code editors?

    -Cursor is unique because it is powered by AI, specifically gpt4 and GPT 3.5, and integrates AI into all aspects of the coding process.

  • Is Cursor a standalone product or a modification of an existing product?

    -Cursor is a fork of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) that has been modified to include AI capabilities.

  • What is the process for embedding the entire code base in Cursor?

    -The process involves turning the entire code base into chunks, embedding them into numerical representations of the tokens within the code, which helps Cursor understand the code and its relationships.

  • Why might some people be hesitant about the code embedding feature in Cursor?

    -Some people might be hesitant because the code embedding process requires processing the entire code base, which could raise privacy or security concerns.

  • What is the command to launch Cursor from the command line?

    -You can launch Cursor from the command line using the command 'Code' or 'cursor'.

  • What is the purpose of the 'command K' feature in Cursor?

    -The 'command K' feature in Cursor allows users to prompt the AI to make changes to the code within the editor.

  • How does Cursor handle the authentication with GitHub Copilot?

    -Cursor requires re-authentication with GitHub Copilot when opening a repo, ensuring secure access to the user's code.

  • What is the significance of the sidebar in Cursor and how is it different from VS Code?

    -In Cursor, the sidebar is not the traditional side panel but is instead added at the top of the interface, providing a different yet familiar layout for users.

  • What does the AI in Cursor do when prompted to 'clean up' a file?

    -When prompted to 'clean up' a file, the AI in Cursor goes through the code, rewriting it by removing unnecessary parts, adding new elements, and organizing the code in a more efficient manner.

  • How does Cursor assist in finding specific information within the code base?

    -Cursor can answer questions about the entire repo by using the embedded code representations to locate and provide inline code snippets for specific queries, such as finding the Google Analytics ID.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to the AI-Powered Cursor IDE

The speaker introduces a next-generation code editor called Cursor, which is a modified version of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with AI integration. They discuss the initial setup, including launching the editor, syncing themes, and setting up extensions like GitLens and Spotify. The focus is on the AI features, such as using OpenAI embeddings to process the entire codebase into a numerical representation, allowing for enhanced code understanding and query capabilities. The speaker also mentions the need for a login to use AI features and the integration of GitHub Copilot within the editor.

05:00

🛠️ Exploring Cursor's AI-Assisted Code Refactoring

In this paragraph, the speaker explores the AI-assisted features of Cursor, demonstrating how to use the editor to refactor code with a simple command. They show how the AI can be prompted to clean up code, resulting in a refactored version with additions, deletions, and unchanged parts highlighted in different colors. The AI's ability to answer questions about the code, such as locating the Google Analytics ID, is also showcased. The speaker expresses excitement about the capabilities of Cursor and speculates on the future role of developers as more tasks become automated by AI, concluding with a note on the potential shift towards a product management role in software development.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cursor

Cursor is a next-generation code editor, which is a fork of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) that has been modified to incorporate AI into its functionalities. It is powered by GPT 4 and GPT 3.5, which enables it to perform tasks such as code understanding and suggestions. In the video, the user installs and explores Cursor for the first time, highlighting its integration with AI and its ability to enhance coding efficiency.

💡IDE

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. In this context, Cursor is referred to as an IDE, indicating that it is a powerful tool designed to make coding more efficient and intuitive. The video demonstrates how Cursor, as an IDE, offers advanced features such as AI-powered code suggestions and refactoring.

💡GPT 4 and GPT 3.5

GPT 4 and GPT 3.5 refer to the iterations of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) model, which is a type of AI language model developed by OpenAI. These models are used in Cursor to provide AI-powered features. The video script mentions that Cursor is powered by these models, emphasizing their role in enabling advanced coding assistance within the editor.

💡AI Features

AI features in Cursor refer to the capabilities that leverage artificial intelligence to assist in coding tasks. The video script describes how Cursor uses AI to understand the entire code repository, answer questions about the code, and even refactor code. These features are central to the theme of the video, which is exploring the integration of AI in a coding environment.

💡Code Embeddings

Code embeddings in the context of Cursor involve converting the entire codebase into a numerical representation that AI can process and understand. This process allows Cursor to better comprehend the code, its structure, and relationships between different parts of the code. The video script explains how embeddings are used to enhance the AI's understanding of the codebase.

💡GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that integrates with various code editors, including Cursor. It uses machine learning models to offer coding suggestions and autocompletions. In the video, the user mentions setting up GitHub Copilot within Cursor, indicating its integration with the editor for enhanced coding assistance.

💡Code Refactoring

Code refactoring is the process of restructuring existing computer code without changing its external behavior to improve nonfunctional attributes of the software. In the video, the user demonstrates how Cursor's AI can refactor code by cleaning up and reorganizing it, which is a significant feature that showcases the editor's AI capabilities.

💡Command Line

The command line, also known as the command prompt or terminal, is a text-based interface for interacting with a computer's operating system. In the video, the user mentions launching Cursor from the command line, which is a common method for starting applications and demonstrates the versatility of the editor.

💡OpenAI Key

An OpenAI key is a unique identifier used to access and utilize the services provided by OpenAI, including their AI models. In the context of the video, the user sets up their OpenAI key to enable the AI features of Cursor, which is necessary for using the advanced AI capabilities of the editor.

💡Hotkeys

Hotkeys are keyboard shortcuts that allow users to perform actions more quickly and efficiently. In the video, the user discovers hotkeys in Cursor for initiating AI prompts and interacting with the chat panel. These hotkeys are highlighted as a user-friendly feature of the editor, contributing to the ease of use.

💡Product Managers

Product managers are professionals who oversee the development and success of a product or product line. Towards the end of the video, the user speculates that with the advancement of AI in coding, developers may transition into roles more akin to product managers, focusing more on the strategic aspects of software development rather than the coding itself.

Highlights

Trying out Cursor, a Next Generation code editor powered by AI.

Cursor is a fork of Visual Studio Code with AI integration.

Installation and initial setup of Cursor.

Launching Cursor from the command line.

Importing extensions and synchronizing settings from VS Code.

Setting up GitHub Copilot and code base understanding with OpenAI embeddings.

OpenAI embeddings process the entire code base into numerical representations.

AI features require user login to avoid abuse.

Using the chat panel for AI-assisted code changes with hotkeys.

Selecting models like GPT-4 for better programming assistance.

Cursor's similarity to VS Code in terms of interface and usability.

Missing sidebar feature but with a top-bar alternative.

Attaching additional tools within the Cursor environment.

Opening and working with a public GitHub repository.

Re-authentication with GitHub Copilot.

Terminal integration in Cursor similar to VS Code.

Using AI to refactor code with a command.

AI-generated code changes with options to accept or reject.

AI assistance in finding specific code elements like Google Analytics ID.

Cursor's potential impact on the future of coding and developers' roles.

Final thoughts on Cursor's capabilities and excitement for further exploration.

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