Advanced Techniques: Tips 91-105

These expert-level techniques push Cursor to its limits, enabling automation workflows, custom integrations, and enterprise-grade development practices. Master these to become a true Cursor power user.

Model Optimization

Tip 91: Strategic Model Selection Matrix

Choose models based on task complexity and requirements:

Task-Based Selection

// Simple code completion
Model: cursor-small
Use case: Tab completions, simple edits
Speed: under 100ms
Cost: Lowest

// Standard development
Model: claude-3.5-sonnet
Use case: Most coding tasks, refactoring
Speed: 1-3s
Cost: Moderate

// Complex reasoning
Model: claude-3-opus
Use case: Architecture, complex algorithms
Speed: 3-5s
Cost: 5x Sonnet

// Deep analysis
Model: o3-mini
Use case: Debugging complex issues
Speed: 5-10s
Cost: Premium

Context-Based Selection

{
  "cursor.modelSelection.rules": [
    {
      "filePattern": "**/*.test.{ts,js}",
      "preferredModel": "claude-3.5-sonnet",
      "reason": "Test generation"
    },
    {
      "filePattern": "**/architecture/**",
      "preferredModel": "claude-3-opus",
      "reason": "Complex design"
    },
    {
      "taskPattern": "debug|investigate",
      "preferredModel": "o3-mini",
      "reason": "Deep reasoning"
    }
  ]
}

Tip 92: Optimize Token Usage with Context Strategies

Maximize efficiency while minimizing costs:

// Context compression techniques
// 1. Use summary files
// Instead of: @entire-module
// Create: module-summary.md with key points

// 2. Progressive context loading
'First, analyze the high-level structure of @src/index.ts' /
  // Then: "Now look at the specific implementation of processData"

  // 3. Selective file inclusion
  // Instead of: @folder:src
  // Use: @src/core/**.ts @src/api/routes.ts

  // 4. Clear context regularly
  clear -
  context;
// Or start new chat for unrelated tasks

Cost Tip Monitor token usage: Ctrl+Shift+J → Usage tab

Tip 93: Configure Model Fallbacks

Ensure reliability with fallback chains:

{
  "cursor.models.fallbackChain": [
    {
      "primary": "claude-3-opus",
      "fallbacks": ["claude-3.5-sonnet", "gpt-4"]
    },
    {
      "primary": "o3",
      "fallbacks": ["claude-3-opus", "claude-3.5-sonnet"]
    }
  ],
  "cursor.models.autoSwitch": {
    "enabled": true,
    "onRateLimit": true,
    "onError": true
  }
}

Custom MCP Development

Tip 94: Build Custom MCP Servers

Create specialized tools for your workflow:

1. Set up MCP project

   mkdir my-mcp-server
   cd my-mcp-server
   npm init -y
   npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk

2. Create server implementation

   index.ts

   import { Server } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js';
   import { StdioServerTransport } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js';
   
   const server = new Server({
     name: 'my-custom-mcp',
     version: '1.0.0',
   });
   
   // Add custom tools
   server.setRequestHandler('tools/list', async () => ({
     tools: [
       {
         name: 'custom_analysis',
         description: 'Analyze codebase for patterns',
         inputSchema: {
           type: 'object',
           properties: {
             pattern: { type: 'string' },
           },
         },
       },
     ],
   }));
   
   // Handle tool execution
   server.setRequestHandler('tools/call', async (request) => {
     // Implementation
   });
   
   const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
   await server.connect(transport);

3. Register in Cursor

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "my-custom-mcp": {
         "command": "node",
         "args": ["/path/to/my-mcp-server/index.js"]
       }
     }
   }

Tip 95: Integrate External Services via MCP

Connect Cursor to your infrastructure:

Database MCP

// Query your database directly
"Show user growth over last 30 days from our production database"

Monitoring MCP

// Access metrics and logs
"Analyze error patterns in DataDog logs from last hour"

CI/CD MCP

// Trigger deployments
"Deploy feature branch to staging after tests pass"

Tip 96: Chain MCP Servers

Create powerful workflows by combining MCPs:

// Example: Full stack feature implementation
"Using @figma-mcp get the new dashboard design,
then implement the frontend components,
use @database-mcp to create required tables,
and @linear-mcp to update the task status"

// The AI orchestrates across multiple tools:
// 1. Fetches design from Figma
// 2. Generates React components
// 3. Creates database migrations
// 4. Updates project management

Advanced Rules System

Tip 97: Create Dynamic Rule Generation

Use AI to maintain and evolve rules:

// Self-improving rules
"Analyze the last 50 chat conversations and identify
common patterns that should become project rules"

// Context-aware rules
"Based on @src codebase analysis, generate rules for:
- Naming conventions used
- Error handling patterns
- Testing strategies
- Architecture decisions"

// Team learning
"Review recent pull requests and extract coding
standards that should be added to our rules"

Tip 98: Implement Conditional Rules

Create sophisticated rule logic:

.cursor/rules/conditional-rules.yaml

rules:
  - name: 'API Development'
    condition:
      filePattern: '**/api/**'
      contains: ['express', 'fastify']
    content: |
      Always include:
      - Request validation using Joi or Zod
      - Standardized error responses
      - OpenAPI documentation

  - name: 'React Components'
    condition:
      filePattern: '**/*.tsx'
      hasImport: 'react'
    content: |
      Follow these patterns:
      - Functional components only
      - Custom hooks for logic
      - Props interfaces with JSDoc

  - name: 'Database Operations'
    condition:
      anyOf:
        - contains: ['prisma', 'sequelize']
        - filePattern: '**/repository/**'
    content: |
      Ensure all queries:
      - Use parameterized queries
      - Include transaction handling
      - Have proper error handling

Tip 99: Rule Composition and Inheritance

Build complex rule hierarchies:

.cursor/rules/base/security.md

// Base rules that others extend
"All API endpoints must validate authentication"

// Specific rules that inherit
// .cursor/rules/api/public-endpoints.md
"@inherit base/security
Exception: Public endpoints listed in config/public-routes.json
Additional: Rate limit all public endpoints to 100 req/min"

// Composite rules
// .cursor/rules/feature/payment.md
"@compose [base/security, api/validation, patterns/repository]
Additional payment-specific rules:
- PCI compliance patterns
- Audit logging for all transactions
- Idempotency keys required"

Automation Workflows

Tip 100: Create Automated Code Reviews

Use Cursor’s Agent mode for comprehensive code reviews:

# Example pre-commit hook that opens Cursor for review
#!/bin/bash

# Get staged changes
git diff --cached > staged_changes.diff

# Open Cursor with the changes file
cursor staged_changes.diff

# In Cursor, use Agent mode (Ctrl+I) with this prompt:
# "Review the changes in this diff file for:
# - Security vulnerabilities
# - Performance issues
# - Code style violations
# - Missing tests
# - Documentation needs
#
# Use @Git to see recent changes and @Lint Errors to check for issues"

Alternative workflow using Cursor’s built-in features:

1. Open Agent mode with Ctrl+I
2. Reference changes with @Git or @Recent Changes
3. Ask for specific review criteria
4. Use Apply to implement suggested fixes

Tip 101: Implement Continuous Refactoring

Set up automated improvement cycles:

Daily Refactoring

// Scheduled task for code improvement
"Every day at 6 PM:
1. Find the most complex function (cyclomatic complexity)
2. Refactor it to reduce complexity
3. Ensure all tests still pass
4. Create a PR with the changes"

Dependency Updates

// Automated dependency management
"Weekly task:
1. Check for outdated dependencies
2. Update non-breaking changes
3. Run full test suite
4. Update affected code for deprecations
5. Create PR with changelog"

Tip 102: Build Custom Development Pipelines

Orchestrate complex development workflows:

graph LR A[Jira Ticket] --> B[AI Planning] B --> C[Implementation] C --> D[Auto Tests] D --> E[Code Review] E --> F[Deployment] F --> G[Monitoring]

Implementation:

// Cursor workflow automation
const workflow = {
  trigger: 'jira:ticket:assigned',
  steps: [
    {
      action: 'cursor:agent',
      prompt: 'Create implementation plan from ticket description',
    },
    {
      action: 'cursor:agent',
      prompt: 'Implement the feature following the plan',
    },
    {
      action: 'cursor:agent',
      prompt: 'Write comprehensive tests',
    },
    {
      action: 'git:create-pr',
      reviewers: ['ai-bot', 'team-lead'],
    },
  ],
};

Enterprise Integration

Tip 103: Implement Security Scanning

Integrate security tools with Cursor:

// Security-focused MCP integration
"Scan the codebase for security issues:
@security-mcp run SAST scan on @src
@dependency-mcp check for vulnerable packages
@secrets-mcp scan for exposed credentials"

// Remediation workflow
"For each security issue found:
1. Assess severity and exploitability
2. Generate fix following OWASP guidelines
3. Add tests to prevent regression
4. Document in security log"

Tip 104: Set Up Compliance Automation

Ensure regulatory compliance:

GDPR Compliance

"Audit data handling for GDPR:
- Find all personal data processing
- Verify consent mechanisms
- Check data retention policies
- Generate compliance report"

Accessibility

"WCAG 2.1 AA compliance check:
- Scan all UI components
- Fix color contrast issues
- Add missing ARIA labels
- Generate accessibility report"

Tip 105: Create Knowledge Graphs

Build AI-enhanced documentation:

// Generate comprehensive knowledge base
"Create a knowledge graph of our system:
1. Map all services and their relationships
2. Document data flows between components
3. Identify integration points
4. Create interactive visualization
5. Generate markdown documentation"

// Auto-update documentation
"Daily task:
- Detect code changes since last run
- Update affected documentation
- Flag outdated examples
- Generate changelog"

Performance Monitoring

Advanced Metrics Tracking

{
  "cursor.telemetry.custom": {
    "trackProductivity": true,
    "metrics": ["linesOfCodeGenerated", "refactoringTime", "bugFixTime", "testCoverage"],
    "reportInterval": "weekly"
  }
}

ROI Measurement

Track the impact of AI assistance:

// Productivity metrics
const metrics = {
  beforeCursor: {
    featuresPerWeek: 2,
    bugsPerFeature: 3,
    hoursPerFeature: 20,
  },
  withCursor: {
    featuresPerWeek: 5,
    bugsPerFeature: 1,
    hoursPerFeature: 8,
  },
  improvement: {
    productivity: '150%',
    quality: '66% fewer bugs',
    timeReduction: '60%',
  },
};

Integration Patterns

Workflow Automation with Cursor

File Save Automation:

1. Use VS Code’s built-in tasks system with Cursor
2. Configure .vscode/tasks.json for automatic test runs:

.vscode/tasks.json

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "Run tests on save",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm test ${file}",
      "runOptions": {
        "runOn": "folderOpen"
      },
      "problemMatcher": ["$tsc"]
    }
  ]
}

PR Review Workflow:

1. Open PR diff in Cursor
2. Use Agent mode (Ctrl+I) with prompts like:
   • “Review @Files for breaking changes”
   • “Check @Recent Changes against our API contract”
   • “Analyze @Git commits for security issues”
3. Use @Docs to reference team guidelines during review

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Next Steps

You’ve mastered advanced Cursor techniques. Complete your journey with Team Collaboration tips to scale these practices across your entire development team.