First-Time Configuration Guide

2024-03-20By Cursor Team

Initial Setup

After installing Cursor Editor, follow these steps to set up your environment:

  1. Launch Cursor Editor for the first time
  2. Sign in with your account (recommended for AI features)
  3. Choose your preferred color theme
  4. Select your primary programming language

Editor Preferences

Customize your editor settings for the best experience:

  • Font Settings:
    • Choose a programming font (e.g., JetBrains Mono, Fira Code)
    • Set font size and line height
    • Enable/disable font ligatures
  • Editor Appearance:
    • Enable/disable minimap
    • Configure line numbers
    • Set indent guides preferences
  • Code Style:
    • Tab size and indentation
    • Format on save options
    • Word wrap settings

AI Configuration

Configure Cursor's AI features for optimal performance:

  • AI Completions:
    • Set completion trigger characters
    • Adjust suggestion delay
    • Configure completion style preferences
  • Chat Interface:
    • Choose chat window position
    • Set default AI model
    • Configure context inclusion settings

Keyboard Shortcuts

Essential keyboard shortcuts to customize:

  • AI Features:
    • Chat window toggle
    • Code completion trigger
    • Code explanation command
  • Navigation:
    • File switching
    • Symbol search
    • Command palette

Workspace Setup

Configure your workspace for better productivity:

  • File Explorer:
    • Configure excluded files and folders
    • Set file associations
    • Customize file icons
  • Integrated Terminal:
    • Choose default shell
    • Set terminal font and colors
    • Configure terminal split behavior

Essential Extensions

Recommended extensions to install:

  • Language Support:
    • Language-specific extensions
    • Syntax highlighting packs
    • Code snippets collections
  • Productivity Tools:
    • Git integration
    • Code formatting tools
    • Project management extensions