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cursor-best-practices

Provides best practices for planning, context management, and workflows in Cursor.

Updated Dec 26, 2025

Search Tags:#code review #context management #parallel agents #test-driven development #cursor #plan mode #ai coding agent

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/jwvdvuurst/CalculatorCollection --skill cursor-best-practices-jwvdvuurst

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: cursor-best-practices
Source: https://github.com/jwvdvuurst/CalculatorCollection/tree/main/skills/cursor-best-practices
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jwvdvuurst/CalculatorCollection --skill cursor-best-practices-jwvdvuurst

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Developers using AI coding agents like Cursor often struggle with unfocused conversations, poor context management, and unreviewed AI-generated code, leading to wasted effort and subtle bugs. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Planning Guidance: Learn when and how to use Plan Mode for complex features, architectural changes, and large refactorings. - Context Management: Understand when to start new conversations, reference past chats, and let the agent find context on its own. - Workflow Automation: Apply test-driven development loops, codebase exploration techniques, and reusable git commands. - Use Case: When starting a multi-file feature, consult the planning reference to create a reviewable implementation plan before letting the agent write any code. ## Quick Start Ask the agent to explain how to use Plan Mode and test-driven development effectively in Cursor for your next feature.

Frequently Asked Questions about cursor-best-practices

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema

How do I use Plan Mode in Cursor effectively?▼

Activate Plan Mode with Shift+Tab so the agent researches your codebase, asks clarifying questions, and creates a detailed implementation plan before writing code. Use it for complex features, architectural changes, and large refactorings, but skip it for quick fixes.

What is the difference between Cursor rules and skills?▼

Rules are static, always-on context loaded at the start of every conversation, such as code style and build commands. Skills are dynamic capabilities loaded only when the agent decides they are relevant, keeping the context window clean.

When should I start a new conversation in Cursor?▼

Start a new conversation when moving to a different task, when the agent seems confused or repeats mistakes, or after finishing a logical unit of work. Long conversations accumulate noise that reduces agent effectiveness.

How do I run multiple Cursor agents in parallel?▼

Use your agent harness's parallel execution features, which often create isolated git worktrees per agent. Running the same prompt across multiple models lets you compare solutions side by side and pick the best result for hard problems.

How do I do test-driven development with an AI coding agent?▼

Ask the agent to write tests first and confirm they fail, commit the tests, then instruct it to write implementation code without modifying the tests until all pass. Clear test targets let the agent iterate and self-correct effectively.