Getting Started with Cursor, Git, and Python

This guide will help you set up your development environment and learn the basics of using Cursor IDE with Git and Python.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following tools installed:

1. Cursor IDE: Download and install from cursor.sh
2. Git: For version control
3. Python: For development
4. GitHub Account: For hosting your code

Setting Up Your Environment

1. Git Setup

First, you need to configure Git with your information:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

2. Python Environment Setup

Python projects often use virtual environments to manage dependencies. We'll use pyproject.toml for modern Python project management. Here's what you need to know:

• pyproject.toml is a configuration file that defines your project's metadata and dependencies
• It's the modern standard for Python packaging and project configuration
• It replaces older tools like setup.py and requirements.txt

3. GitHub Setup

1. Create a GitHub account at github.com
2. Set up SSH keys for secure authentication:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"

3. Add the SSH key to your GitHub account

Basic Workflow in Cursor

Creating a New Project

1. Open Cursor
2. Create a new directory for your project
3. Initialize a Git repository:

   git init

4. Create a basic Python project structure:

   mkdir my_project
   cd my_project

Setting Up Python Project

1. Create a pyproject.toml file:

   [project]
   name = "my-project"
   version = "0.1.0"
   description = "My first Python project"
   requires-python = ">=3.9"
   dependencies = [
       "requests>=2.28.0",
   ]

2. Create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv .venv
   source .venv/bin/activate  # On macOS/Linux
   # or
   .venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows

Basic Git Commands

# Check status of your files
git status

# Add files to staging
git add .

# Commit changes
git commit -m "Your commit message"

# Push to GitHub
git push origin main

Using Cursor Features

1. Command Palette: Press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P to access all commands
2. Git Integration: Use the Source Control panel (Git icon) to manage your changes
3. AI Assistance: Use Cmd/Ctrl + K to get AI help with your code
4. Terminal: Access the integrated terminal with Cmd/Ctrl + J

Best Practices

1. Always commit your changes with meaningful messages
2. Keep your virtual environment in .gitignore
3. Regularly pull changes from remote repositories
4. Use branches for new features or bug fixes

Getting Help

• Cursor Documentation: cursor.sh/docs
• Git Documentation: git-scm.com/doc
• Python Documentation: python.org/doc

Next Steps

1. Create your first repository on GitHub
2. Clone it to your local machine
3. Start coding with Cursor's AI assistance
4. Commit and push your changes

Remember: Practice makes perfect! Don't hesitate to experiment with these tools and features.