Complete Cursor Setup Guide: AI Rules + MCPs + Agents

How to configure Cursor's AI models, set up GitHub integration, customize rules, and get the most out of AI-powered coding — with specific settings I use daily.

Most Cursor users stop at autocomplete and basic chat — never discovering the features that compound into an entirely different way to build. This is the complete Cursor guide: 8 sections covering everything from first install and .cursorrules setup to the four editing modes, slash commands, MCP integrations for browser testing and databases, and Background Agents that implement features while you sleep. Each section includes real examples from 8+ months of daily use.

I thought I had it figured out. ChatGPT for brainstorming, Claude for planning, GitHub Copilot for code completion. Each tool had its place.

As Cursor launched (here’s what changed in 2.0). I gave it a try, and it seemed like just another tool in the stack. Set up .cursorrules on day one. Learned slash commands as they released. Tried MCPs when they launched. Each new feature felt like a nice improvement — useful, but incremental.

I didn’t realize how far I’d come until I paired with a coworker still using VSCode. He was ma…