New Composer Interface (v0.43)

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New Composer Interface (v0.43)

Welcome back to a new lesson. One of the first noticeable changes is the interface, particularly in the Composer. Let’s take a closer look. You can now open the Composer with CMD + I and the chat with CMD + L. However, the CMD + Shift + I shortcut has been removed, which I find a bit disappointing since I used the large Composer frequently and found it clearer. Still, the new sidebar variant is quite convenient and easy to get used to. There are also new settings to explore. Under the “Features” tab in Settings, you’ll find some new checkboxes. Let’s test these by creating a simple program, like a counter in Vue 3. Once the code is generated, Cursor creates all the necessary files, including pages and records. A notable improvement is the ability to collapse entire code blocks, which gives a cleaner overview. This feature, similar to tools like Windsurf, allows you to compress and expand code as needed. You can also click on individual files to see what Cursor adds to the codebase. Alternatively, you can expand everything again if needed. At the bottom in the input section you can see a summary of file changes which you can also collapse. You can choose to accept, reject, or save files. Accept writes the changes permanently to the codebase, while Save All creates a temporary state, allowing you to test in the browser before making final changes. When you click “Reject All,” it removes all the changes suggested across your project in one click. It’s a quick way to discard everything if the edits aren’t what you want. One thing to note: there’s no Save option for single-file changes. Once you apply or reject, the action is immediate. Now, for single files, you’ll see three icons: the little circle re-applies the change if you’ve rejected it before, the “X” rejects the change for this specific file, and the checkmark applies the change to the file. To create a new Composer, use CMD + N or click on the “Add Composer” button. You can also manage existing Composers through the History tab, allowing you to revisit or rename them. For instance, you can name one “Counter Feature” and continue designing its frontend. You can also delete chats or Composer entries with the trash icon. Cursor has removed the diff viewer, so now all changes happen directly in the editor. This streamlines the workflow and declutters the interface. Although it’s a change, it makes the UI more intuitive, especially for new users. In overall, the interface updates in version 0.43 improve usability. The new features, simplified code management, and refined UI make Cursor more efficient. That’s all for now! In the next lesson, we’ll dive into agents and their functionality. See you then, bye!

Kevin Kernegger

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