IDE Setup
What an IDE is, why you need one, and how to install and configure Cursor — your home base for building with AI.
Before you start
A computer running macOS, Windows, or Linux. An internet connection. That's it.
What is an IDE?
IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment. That's a fancy name for the app where you write, edit, and manage your code. Think of it like how a writer uses Word, or a designer uses Figma. Your IDE is where you do your work.
When you're vibe coding, the IDE is where you talk to AI and where AI writes code for you. It's where you see your project files, make changes, run your app, and track what's happening. It's your home base.
You could write code in a plain text editor. But that's like editing a movie in Notepad. An IDE gives you tools that make everything easier: syntax highlighting (color-coded code so you can read it), file management, a built-in terminal, and — most importantly for vibe coders — built-in AI assistance.
Why Cursor?
We recommend Cursor. It's built specifically for AI-powered coding. It looks and works like VS Code (the most popular code editor in the world), but it has AI baked into everything. You can chat with AI about your code, highlight a section and ask AI to change it, and let AI write entire files for you — all without leaving the app.
Cursor is free to start with. The free tier gives you enough to learn and build. If you stick with it, there are paid tiers with more features, but you won't need those right away.
Install Cursor
Download Cursor
Go to cursor.com and click the download button. It will detect your operating system automatically.
On Mac: you'll get a .dmg file. Open it and drag Cursor to your Applications folder.
On Windows: you'll get an .exe installer. Run it and follow the prompts. The defaults are fine.
On Linux: you'll get an .AppImage file. Make it executable and run it, or follow the instructions on the Cursor website for your distribution.
Launch Cursor and sign in
Open Cursor. It will ask you to create an account or sign in. You can sign up with your email or use Google/GitHub sign-in. The free tier is enough to get started.
Import from VS Code (optional)
If you've used VS Code before, Cursor will offer to import your extensions and settings. Say yes — it saves setup time. If you haven't used VS Code, skip this.
Take the quick tour
Cursor will show you a brief walkthrough of its features. Pay attention to these three things — they're what you'll use most:
The file explorer (left sidebar) — this is where you see all the files in your project. It's like Finder or File Explorer, but inside your IDE.
The editor (center) — this is where you see and edit code. You can have multiple files open in tabs, just like browser tabs.
The AI chat panel — this is where you talk to AI. You can ask it to write code, explain code, fix bugs, or help you think through a problem. This is the big one for vibe coders.
Essential configuration
Cursor works well out of the box, but a few settings will make your life easier.
Turn on auto-save
By default, you have to manually save files. Auto-save means your changes are saved automatically, so you never lose work.
Open Settings (Cmd+Comma on Mac, Ctrl+Comma on Windows). Search for "auto save." Change the setting from "off" to "afterDelay". The default delay of 1000ms (one second) is fine.
Set your AI model
Cursor lets you choose which AI model powers the chat. The default is usually fine, but if you have a preference (like Claude over GPT), you can change it in Cursor's AI settings. Click the gear icon next to the AI chat panel to see your options.
Install the terminal
The terminal is a text-based way to talk to your computer. You'll need it for running your app, using Docker, and working with Git. The good news: Cursor has one built in.
Open it with Ctrl + ` (that's the backtick key, usually above Tab). You should see a command line appear at the bottom of the screen. Type anything and hit Enter to make sure it's working.
Your first project folder
Before you start building anything, you need a place to put your projects. Create a folder somewhere easy to find.
We recommend creating a folder called projects in your home directory:
On Mac/Linux: open your terminal in Cursor and type:
mkdir ~/projects
On Windows: open your terminal in Cursor and type:
mkdir %USERPROFILE%\projects
Now when you start a new project, you'll create a folder inside projects and open it in Cursor using File → Open Folder.
The VS Code alternative
If you'd rather use VS Code instead of Cursor, here's the quick version:
Download VS Code
Go to code.visualstudio.com and download the version for your OS. Install it the same way you'd install any app.
Add an AI extension
VS Code doesn't have built-in AI chat like Cursor does. You'll need to add one. Open the Extensions panel (the square icon in the left sidebar, or Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+X) and search for one of these:
GitHub Copilot — the most popular option. Requires a GitHub account and a subscription (free trial available).
Continue — a free, open-source alternative that works with Claude, GPT, and other models.
Configure the same way
Everything else in this guide (auto-save, terminal, project folder) works exactly the same in VS Code. The interface is nearly identical to Cursor.
Your IDE is ready. 💻
You've got your home base set up. You know where your files live, how to talk to AI, and where to type commands. Next up: Docker — the tool that keeps your development environment consistent. Docker Basics →
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