Supercharge Your TypeScript Workflow with the Cursor Editor

8/11/2025

Here's how to REALLY speed up your TypeScript development using the Cursor editor.

I'm talking a full-blown, deep dive into how I personally use it to get more done, write better code, & honestly, have more fun while doing it. If you're a TypeScript developer, you know the drill. The boilerplate, the type definitions, the constant jumping between files – it can be a real drag on productivity.

For years, I was a die-hard VS Code user. My setup was perfect, my extensions were dialed in, & my muscle memory was on point. The thought of switching to another editor felt like a betrayal. But then I kept hearing about Cursor, an AI-first code editor that's actually a fork of VS Code. The promise was simple: all the familiarity of VS Code, but with AI baked into its very core.

I was skeptical, but I gave it a shot. & let me tell you, it's been a complete game-changer for my TypeScript workflow. This isn't just about a slightly better autocomplete. It's a fundamental shift in how you interact with your code.

So, grab a coffee, settle in, & let me walk you through everything I've learned. This is the guide I wish I had when I first started.

First things first: What's the big deal?

The main thing to understand about Cursor is that it's not just VS Code with an AI extension bolted on. It was built from the ground up with AI as a central part of the experience. This means the AI has a much deeper understanding of your entire codebase, which leads to some pretty incredible results.

Getting started is a breeze. You download it, & it can import all your VS Code settings, themes, & extensions. Within minutes, you're looking at an interface that's almost identical to what you're used to. But don't let that fool you. The real magic is hiding just under the surface.

The core features that will change your life

Let's get into the nitty-gritty. Here are the core features of Cursor & how I use them specifically for TypeScript development.

1. The AI Autocomplete (aka "Tab on steroids")

We've all used GitHub Copilot, & it's pretty good. But Cursor's autocomplete feels like it's from the future. It doesn't just suggest the next line of code; it can suggest entire blocks of code, even spanning multiple lines & files.

Here's a real-world example. I was working on a React component & needed to add a new piece of state. I typed

const [isLoading, setIsLoading] =

& before I could even finish, Cursor suggested

useState(false);

. But it didn't stop there. It also showed me where I could use

setIsLoading(true)

before an API call &

setIsLoading(false)

in the

finally

block. It was like it read my mind.

This is especially powerful in TypeScript because the AI understands your types. It won't just guess at what you're trying to do; it will look at your interfaces & type definitions to provide suggestions that are type-safe & accurate.

2. Inline editing with
`1Cmd+K`

This is my go-to for quick changes & refactoring. You just select a block of code, hit

Cmd+K

, & tell the AI what you want to do in plain English.

A few ways I use this every day with TypeScript:

Adding types: I can select a JavaScript function & say, "add proper TypeScript types to this."
Refactoring: "Refactor this into a reusable hook that takes a generic type."
Error handling: "Add a try/catch block to this API call & make sure to handle the error state."
Generating documentation: "Write a TSDoc comment for this function explaining what it does, its parameters, & what it returns."

It's incredibly fast & surprisingly accurate. It's like having a senior developer you can tap on the shoulder for a quick code review at any time.

3. The Composer for multi-file madness

Okay, this is where things get REALLY interesting. The Composer is for bigger tasks that touch multiple files. You can open it up, tell it what you want to do, & reference different files in your project using the

@

symbol.

I recently used it to build out a new feature. My prompt was something like this:

"Create a new Next.js page component called

UserProfile

in the

/app/profile

directory. It should fetch user data from the API endpoint

/api/user

. Create a new service file in

/services/userService.ts

that contains the fetch logic. The

UserProfile

component should display the user's name, email, & profile picture. Make sure to handle loading & error states. Finally, add a link to the new profile page in the

@app/components/Navbar.tsx

component."

Cursor then went to work, creating the new files, writing the code, adding the necessary imports, & updating the navbar. It was all done in a matter of seconds. I still had to review the code & make a few small tweaks, but it saved me at least an hour of tedious work.

4. The AI Agent: Your new best friend

The Agent is like the Composer on steroids. It can run terminal commands, perform semantic searches across your codebase, & even create & modify files. It's still a newer feature, but it's incredibly powerful.

I've used it for things like:

"Install the
1zod
library & create a new validation schema for the user registration form."
"Find all instances of the old
1fetchApi
function & replace them with the new
1apiService.get
method."
"Create a new branch called
1feature/user-profile
& commit the recent changes with the message 'feat: add user profile page'."

It's not perfect, but it's getting better with every update. It's a glimpse into a future where you can delegate entire tasks to your AI coding partner.

Advanced workflows to 10x your productivity

Once you've got the hang of the basics, you can start to incorporate some more advanced workflows into your daily routine.

The power of
`1.cursorrules`

This is a hidden gem that many new users miss. You can create a

.cursorrules

file in the root of your project to give the AI specific instructions on how to behave. This is AMAZING for ensuring consistency across a project, especially when you're working in a team.

Here's a sample