How I Built a Simple Application Using Cursor in 3 Hours

Building applications can feel like a daunting task, especially for indie hackers and solo founders who often juggle multiple responsibilities. I've been there—spending countless hours on setup and configuration, only to end up with something that doesn't quite meet my needs. But in 2026, I discovered Cursor, an AI coding tool that allowed me to build a simple application in just three hours. Here’s how I did it, what I learned, and the tools I used along the way.

What is Cursor?

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that helps developers write, debug, and understand code faster. It leverages machine learning to offer context-aware suggestions, making it particularly useful for those who may not be full-time developers.

• Pricing: $0 for basic use, $15/month for the Pro version with added features.
• Best for: Indie developers and side project builders looking to speed up coding tasks.
• Limitations: It may not support all programming languages and can struggle with very complex codebases.
• Our take: We find Cursor invaluable for rapid prototyping, but we avoid it for production-level code due to occasional suggestion inaccuracies.

Prerequisites

Before you dive in, here are the tools and accounts I set up:

1. Cursor: Sign up for a free account.
2. GitHub: Create a repository to host your code.
3. Node.js: Install Node.js if you're building a web application.
4. Basic understanding of JavaScript and HTML: This is essential for creating the app.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building the App

Step 1: Define Your App Idea (30 minutes)

Before jumping into coding, take some time to outline what you want to build. I decided to create a simple "To-Do List" application that allows users to add, remove, and check off tasks.

Step 2: Set Up Your Environment (15 minutes)

1. Install Cursor and open it.
2. Create a new project in GitHub and clone it to your local machine.
3. Open a terminal and run npm init to set up your Node.js environment.

Step 3: Write the Code (1 hour)

Using Cursor, I started writing the HTML and JavaScript for my app. Cursor suggested code snippets and helped me debug errors in real-time, which saved a lot of time.

• HTML: Created a basic structure with input fields and buttons.
• JavaScript: Implemented functions to handle adding and removing tasks.

Step 4: Test Your Application (30 minutes)

After writing the code, I tested the application locally. Cursor helped identify a few bugs, such as event listeners not firing, which I quickly fixed with its debugging suggestions.

Step 5: Deploy Your App (30 minutes)

I used GitHub Pages to deploy my To-Do List app:

1. Push your code to GitHub.
2. Go to your repository settings and enable GitHub Pages.
3. Access your live app through the provided URL.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some common pitfalls and how to avoid them:

• Issue: Cursor may suggest incorrect code snippets.

  • Solution: Always double-check the suggestions against official documentation.

• Issue: Deployment errors on GitHub Pages.

  • Solution: Ensure your repository is public and that you’ve selected the correct branch for deployment.

What’s Next?

Now that I have a working To-Do List application, I plan to:

1. Add user authentication using Firebase.
2. Enhance the UI with a CSS framework like Tailwind CSS.
3. Gather user feedback to improve functionality.

Conclusion

If you're a solo founder or indie developer looking for a fast way to build applications, I highly recommend giving Cursor a try. You can accomplish a lot in just a few hours, even if you're not a seasoned developer. Start with a simple project, and leverage Cursor's AI capabilities to streamline your coding process.