Cursor IDE Setup

Cursor IDE Setup

How to use planning-with-files with Cursor IDE.

Installation

Option 1: Copy rules directory

git clone https://github.com/OthmanAdi/planning-with-files.git
cp -r planning-with-files/.cursor .cursor

Option 2: Manual setup

Create .cursor/rules/planning-with-files.mdc in your project with the content from this repo.

Important Limitations

Note: Hooks (PreToolUse, PostToolUse, Stop, SessionStart) are Claude Code specific and will NOT work in Cursor.

What works in Cursor:

• Core 3-file planning pattern
• Templates (task_plan.md, findings.md, progress.md)
• All planning rules and guidelines
• The 2-Action Rule
• The 3-Strike Error Protocol
• Read vs Write Decision Matrix

What doesn't work in Cursor:

• SessionStart hook (no startup notification)
• PreToolUse hook (no automatic plan re-reading)
• PostToolUse hook (no automatic reminders)
• Stop hook (no automatic completion verification)

Manual Workflow for Cursor

Since hooks don't work in Cursor, you'll need to follow the pattern manually:

1. Create planning files first

Before any complex task:

Create task_plan.md, findings.md, and progress.md using the planning-with-files templates.

2. Re-read plan before decisions

Periodically ask:

Please read task_plan.md to refresh the goals before continuing.

3. Update files after phases

After completing work:

Update task_plan.md to mark this phase complete.
Update progress.md with what was done.

4. Verify completion manually

Before finishing:

Check task_plan.md - are all phases marked complete?

Cursor Rules File

The .cursor/rules/planning-with-files.mdc file contains all the planning guidelines formatted for Cursor's rules system.

File location

your-project/
├── .cursor/
│   └── rules/
│       └── planning-with-files.mdc
├── task_plan.md
├── findings.md
├── progress.md
└── ...

Activating rules

Cursor automatically loads rules from .cursor/rules/ when you open a project.

Templates

The templates in skills/planning-with-files/templates/ work in Cursor:

• task_plan.md - Phase tracking template
• findings.md - Research storage template
• progress.md - Session logging template

Copy them to your project root when starting a new task.

Tips for Cursor Users

1. Pin the planning files: Keep task_plan.md open in a split view for easy reference.

2. Add to .cursorrules: You can also add planning guidelines to your project's .cursorrules file.

3. Use explicit prompts: Since there's no auto-detection, be explicit:

   This is a complex task. Let's use the planning-with-files pattern.
   Start by creating task_plan.md with the goal and phases.
   

4. Check status regularly: Without the Stop hook, manually verify completion before finishing.

Migrating from Cursor to Claude Code

If you want full hook support, consider using Claude Code CLI:

1. Install Claude Code
2. Run /plugin install planning-with-files@planning-with-files
3. All hooks will work automatically

Your existing planning files (task_plan.md, etc.) are compatible with both.

Need Help?

Open an issue at github.com/OthmanAdi/planning-with-files/issues.