Project-Based Settings in Cursor AI IDE
Introduction
Cursor AI is already an immensely powerful and intuitive IDE that empowers developers with AI-assisted coding, seamless workflows, and unparalleled efficiency. However, as developers, we thrive on precision, customization, and adaptability. One major limitation in the current Cursor experience is the lack of project-specific settings, forcing us to rely solely on global configurations. This restricts flexibility, leads to unnecessary context switching, and ultimately hinders the IDE’s true potential.
Why This Matters
In modern development environments, every project has unique requirements:
- Language Preferences: Some projects demand strict TypeScript rules, others need loose JavaScript configurations.
- AI Interaction Models: Different projects require different AI guidance styles—some need verbose explanations, while others require succinct responses.
- Extensions & Tools: What works for a Python-based ML project may be redundant for a React front-end.
- Performance & Resource Allocation: Projects with heavy dependencies and large codebases might require different memory configurations.
- Linting & Formatting Rules: A Next.js project follows a different ESLint and Prettier setup than a Golang microservices project.
The Current Pain Points
Without project-based settings, developers must manually switch configurations when moving between different codebases. This results in:
- Context Loss: Cursor AI’s responses may be optimized for the wrong project, leading to incorrect or inefficient suggestions.
- Workflow Disruptions: Constant toggling between settings wastes time and cognitive energy.
- Inconsistent Project Standards: Teams using Cursor must manually enforce and remember settings across multiple projects.
- Reduced Personalization: AI should adapt per project, not force users into a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Proposed Solution: Project-Based Settings
We propose adding a Project Settings layer in Cursor AI that allows developers to define configurations per project. This could include:
Project-Specific AI Preferences
- AI verbosity level (detailed vs. concise responses)
- AI assistant tone (formal, friendly, technical, exploratory)
- Specific coding styles and best practices per project
Custom Development Environments
- Linting, formatting, and syntax highlighting per project
- Preferred extensions and tools automatically loaded
- Memory and performance settings for large-scale projects
Intelligent Context Switching
- Cursor automatically detects and applies the correct settings when switching projects
- AI maintains relevant context per project without confusion
Configurable Through UI & JSON
- A dedicated “Project Settings” UI under Cursor’s settings menu
- Alternatively, settings could be defined in a
.cursor.jsonor.cursor-settings.yamlfile within the project directory. - This JSON file is the source-of-truth for the project settings, but it can also be edited from the UI. This will make it up to the developer to engineer their JSON file and start from a simple basic template.
Example Implementation
A simple .cursor.json configuration could look like this:
{
"aiVerbosity": "concise",
"linting": "eslint",
"formatting": "prettier",
"extensions": ["tailwindcss", "graphql"],
"performance": {
"memory": "high",
"optimizeForLargeFiles": true
}
}
When Cursor detects this file in a project’s root directory, it automatically applies the settings, ensuring a seamless and optimized development experience.
The Bigger Picture
Cursor AI is already revolutionizing how we code. Adding project-based settings would take it to the next level, making it the ultimate adaptive, context-aware, and developer-friendly IDE. With this feature, Cursor will not only be an assistant—it will be a true coding partner that understands each project’s needs and adapts accordingly.
Let’s unlock Cursor’s full potential and take AI-powered development to the next stage. Who’s with me? 
