6 ways to speed up code refactoring with Cursor AI

Cursor AI is an advanced code editor that integrates artificial intelligence with traditional development environment features. This tool is designed to increase programmers’ productivity by offering intelligent code suggestions, real-time error detection, and assistance in code refactoring and optimization. Both beginners and experienced developers alike will learn how to utilize Cursor AI effectively.

How does Cursor AI facilitate programmers’ work?

1. Intelligent code completion

Cursor AI utilizes advanced machine learning models to predict and suggest subsequent lines of code based on the project’s context and the programmer’s coding style. It offers the best ways of leveraging AI development tools to enhance efficiency in various stages of programming.

2. Error detection and correction

The tool actively scans code for potential errors and offers real-time fix suggestions, significantly reducing debugging time.

3. Code refactoring support

Cursor AI analyzes code and suggests optimizations or alternative approaches that can improve performance and readability.

4. Natural language processing

Users can interact with Cursor AI using voice commands or natural language queries, enabling quick execution of tasks like „find all instances of variable X” or „optimize function Y.”

5. Personalized AI models

Cursor AI can adapt to a programmer’s individual coding style, offering increasingly accurate suggestions over time. This is achieved by creating a file with personal preferences, i.e., cursorrulef. Cursor AI covers all vital stages of code creation, including requirements.

6. Code Refactoring automation with Cursor AI

One of the key advantages of Cursor AI in the context of refactoring automation is its ability to analyze the entire project and propose comprehensive changes. The tool can:

• Identify inefficient code patterns and suggest more optimal solutions.
• Automatically refactor repetitive code fragments, improving modularity.
• Suggest structural changes that can enhance code performance or readability.
• Assist in updating outdated libraries or APIs by suggesting modern alternatives.

💡PRO TIP  One of the most important aspects of faster code refactoring with Cursor AI is avoiding the temptation to uncritically accept all proposed changes. Using this tool can resemble an endless code review, and while it may seem that clicking „Accept all changes” will speed up the work, in reality, this can lead to numerous problems due to unexpected modifications. The best approach is to carefully review each line of code and request gradual, incremental changes. This way, you maintain full control over the project and avoid potential errors.

Comparison of Cursor AI with GitHub Copilot for code completion

In the programming world, there are many AI-assisted tools like GitHub Copilot that help programmers generate code. However, Cursor AI stands out with its comprehensive approach to managing existing code, refactoring, and optimization.

GitHub Copilot – Focus on Code Generation for object oriented programming classes

GitHub Copilot, operating based on artificial intelligence models (including GPT), is a tool known for facilitating everyday code writing. Its main goal is to predict and suggest code snippets that can be used in a given project. It works like a „code writing assistant,” predicting the next steps based on context. This makes GitHub Copilot an excellent tool for beginner programmers or those who want to speed up the code-writing process, but its optimization or refactoring functions are limited.

Cursor AI – Focus on Optimization and Refactoring with code suggestions

In contrast, Cursor AI goes a step further, especially for more experienced programmers and software engineering teams. Besides intelligent code completion, Cursor AI offers advanced analysis functions, refactoring automation, and optimization of existing code. These key differences make Cursor AI better support the long-term quality of projects because it allows for:

• Project-level Refactoring – Cursor AI analyzes the entire project, proposing comprehensive changes that improve not only individual fragments but also the entire application structure.
• Optimization Suggestions – The tool can identify inefficient code patterns and then suggest better, more efficient solutions, which is particularly important in the context of application performance and scalability.
• Automatic Adaptation of Code to New Technologies – Cursor AI can propose changes that help adapt the code to modern libraries or APIs, whereas GitHub Copilot focuses more on code creation than on its long-term updating and maintenance.

The future of code refactoring automation and code specific systems

With the development of AI and LLM technologies, we can expect even more advanced tools for refactoring automation. Future iterations of such tools may offer:

• Even more precise refactoring strategies taking into account a broader project context and business objectives.
• Automatic testing of proposed refactoring changes.
• Advanced analysis of the impact of refactoring on application performance and scalability.

Automation of refactoring using AI and LLM, represented by tools like Cursor AI, constitutes a significant step forward in the field of software engineering. It allows programmers to focus on the creative aspects of software development while ensuring a higher standard of code quality and work efficiency.

Summary

Using Cursor AI in the process of refactoring IT systems brings tangible benefits in terms of improving code quality, readability, and ease of maintenance. Studies show that maintaining a healthy, refactored codebase can double the speed of software development and reduce the number of errors by up to fifteen times. These improvements allow teams to deploy new features faster and with fewer problems, which is crucial for companies that need to react flexibly to market changes (Thoughtworks). At fireup.pro, we utilize AI tools to make our projects flexible and scalable, especially in long-term ventures where refactoring plays a key role. Our developers regularly use Cursor’s automatic suggestions, which allows us to maintain high code quality and minimize technical debt that often accumulates in rapidly developing projects.