Why My Cursor IDE AI Rules Were Chaotic and How I Fixed It with Presets and UI Tweaks

I use Cursor IDE every day for coding. But I hit a snag: managing different “rules for AI” across projects felt like juggling. Without saved presets, I wasted time copying rules every time I switched contexts.

After some trial and error, I found ways to streamline this. I also made UI tweaks to smooth my workflow. Let me walk you through what worked.

The Core Problem: Switching Contexts Without Presets

As I used Cursor IDE more, I needed different AI rules for each project. For one repo, I wanted strict coding guidelines. For another, I needed creative brainstorming.

But updating the system prompt manually each time? Tedious and error-prone. I kept wishing for saved presets tied to my VS Code workspace. I also wanted to reference embeddings for smarter AI responses.

Without these, my productivity suffered.

My Solution: Setting Up Custom Presets (The Workaround)

Official presets aren’t built-in yet, but I found a manual workaround. Here’s how I keep my rules organized:

• Create reusable templates: I wrote my most-used rules in a text file. That way, I could quickly copy and paste. For example, I have one for “strict code reviews” and another for “open-ended ideation.”
• Save with workspaces: I stored these templates in my project folders. Then, I linked them to my VS Code workspace settings. Now, when I open a project, I can apply the right rules instantly.
• Future-proof for sharing: I set up local syncing using cloud storage (like Dropbox). This way, my devices stay in sync. I’m ready for when official presets might add syncing or embedding references. For now, it’s personal and efficient.

Optimizing the UI for Better Access

Managing AI rules felt cluttered. So I tweaked the sidebar layout. The key? Changing the activity bar orientation. That unlocked more flexibility. Here’s how I did it:

• Enable vertical orientation: First, I opened Cursor’s settings by clicking the gear icon. Then, I added this to my settings.json: "workbench.activityBar.orientation": "vertical". That switches the sidebar to the classic VS Code layout.
• Move panels freely: With vertical mode, I could drag tabs. For example, I moved the chat panel to the right sidebar. I even pinned it to the top for instant access. Now, I can chat with AI without losing focus.
• Test and refine: After these changes, I restarted Cursor. Having the chat at the top made it easier to reference while coding. Fewer distractions!

What I Gained: A Smoother Workflow

These changes transformed my Cursor IDE experience. Saving rule templates per project and customizing the UI saved me time. It also made AI interactions more intuitive.

If you’re dealing with similar chaos, start with manual presets and UI tweaks. It made a big difference while I wait for built-in features. Happy coding!