Your AI Dev Toolkit: Setup & Stack
A craftsman blames their tools; an engineer chooses them. Most developers install an extension and wonder why they aren't 10x faster. This is the foundational setup guide for building a deep-context environment.
The biggest mistake is treating these tools as alternatives. They are complements. Professionals use an AI-Native IDE for building, a terminal agent for refactors, and a chat interface for architecture—often in the same hour.
The Four Categories of AI Coding
Understanding what category of problem each tool solves is the first step to choosing the right stack.
The AI Tool Landscape
- Context: Full codebase awareness.
- Best For: Greenfield work & daily features.
- Examples: Cursor, Windsurf.
- Context: Full repo + terminal execution.
- Best For: Complex multi-file refactors.
- Examples: Claude Code, Aider.
- Context: Mostly open files.
- Best For: Quick inline autocompletion.
- Examples: GitHub Copilot, Supermaven.
- Context: What you paste.
- Best For: System design & architecture.
- Examples: Claude.ai, ChatGPT.
The Recommended Starter Stack
Stop deciding. Here is the stack that covers every workflow and is used by the highest-output developers today.
The Power User Pipeline
Your primary editor. Enable Agent Mode and use @codebase to give it full project context. This replaces VS Code.
Your terminal agent. Activate it for large-scale refactors, test generation, and complex operations spanning 5+ files.
Your thinking partner. Use Projects for high-level architecture decisions and system design conversations.
Configuration: The Context Hierarchy
The difference between a tool that "gets it" and one that hallucinates generic code is how you manage context.
Shallow vs. Deep Context
- Pasting code snippets into chat.
- No
.cursorrulesorCLAUDE.md. - AI sees only a snapshot, zero conventions.
- Result: Generic code that doesn't fit.
- Cursor +
.cursorrules+@codebase. CLAUDE.mdmaintained for terminal agents.- AI sees the full repo structure and rules.
- Result: Native-feeling code on the first try.
The Daily Workflow — Which Tool, When?
- New feature (1–3 files): Cursor Agent mode +
@codebase - Large refactor (5+ files): Claude Code in terminal
- Architecture decision: Claude.ai with a Project
- Quick inline fix: Cursor inline chat (Cmd+K)
- Debugging hard bugs: Claude Code or Claude.ai
Your Setup Checklist
- Install Cursor & sign in.
- Install Claude Code:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code. - Create
.cursorrules&CLAUDE.mdin your project root. - Set Cursor model to
claude-sonnet-4-5.
Use .cursorrules to define your tech stack, code standards (no any, error handling), and architecture rules. Update this as your project evolves.
Document build commands, key directories, and current focus. This is the single highest-leverage file for AI terminal agents.
Your tools are configured. Now we rewire how you think about the work—from writing code to directing systems.