mike-diff Canvas — Structured Output Artifacts
Guidance for using Cursor's Canvas for rich, structured deliverables.
When to use
- Architecture reviews and decision records
- Audit reports with tables and cross-references
- Timelines, roadmaps, and milestone tracking
- Data analysis with charts or structured findings
- Any output that benefits from rich formatting beyond markdown chat
How it works
- Canvas artifacts are rendered as dedicated documents in Cursor
- They support rich formatting, tables, and structured layouts
- Canvas outputs are saved and can be referenced later
Best practices
- Prefer canvas over chat for any deliverable exceeding ~200 words
- Use canvas for outputs stakeholders might review
- Structure canvas content with clear sections and summaries
- Keep chat for iteration; use canvas for the final product