Using the AI Pane

When you're coding, the AI panel in Cursor is one of your most important tools. Of all the code generation features, the AI Pane is the one I use the most. Unlike the CMD+K prompt bar, which is best used for fast, local code generation, the AI Pane is best used for multi-step problem solving and provides a chat interface. You can open the AI window by pressing CTRL + L or CMD + L. This will bring up a chat window where you can have detailed conversations with the AI about your project. Here you can have multi-round discussions—you can ask follow-up questions, refine requirements, generate code, and work through complex challenges. Context awareness makes the AI Pane even more powerful. The AI can view your current file and cursor position, offering accurate suggestions based on context. You can also add specific blocks of code to the chat or use '@' to reference files and functions directly. Let’s say you’re working on a function to calculate the total cost of a shopping cart, but it’s returning incorrect values. Press CMD+L, select the function, and ask why the function is returning the wrong total. The AI will analyze the function and respond with an explanation, such as suggesting you ensure all items in the cart have both a price and quantity, or checking for any items with null or undefined values. The AI Pane also lets you interact with the entire codebase. By typing @Codebase or pressing Ctrl+Enter, you can ask questions about the entire project. Cursor will search through all files and provide suggestions based on the codebase, not just the open file. Another useful feature is adding visual context by dragging images or using the image button. This is helpful for assistance with design or layout issues in your code. The AI Pane also integrates with web search. By typing @Web, you can pull up the latest information from the internet, helping you with up-to-date resources or new coding practices. Once you’ve found a solution in the chat, you can apply code suggestions directly to your project by clicking the play button on any code block in the conversation, making it easy to integrate changes. To summarize, the CMD+L AI Pane is a powerful tool for in-depth discussions and multi-step problem-solving. It’s ideal for broader queries, letting you dive into specific functions, troubleshoot code issues, and get guidance across your entire codebase. If you’re looking for help with complex coding tasks and detailed explanations, the AI Pane is the feature to use regularly.