I Created .cursorrules Files for 10 Tech Stacks. Here Are the Patterns That Make AI Write Production Code.

After using Cursor daily for 6 months, I realized the difference between "AI-generated demo code" and "AI-generated production code" comes down to one file: .cursorrules . This is the configuration file that tells Cursor HOW to code in your project. Without it, Cursor defaults to generic patterns. With a good one, it codes like a senior developer who's read your entire codebase. Here's what I learned creating rules files for 10 different tech stacks. What .cursorrules Actually Does When you put a .cursorrules file in your project root, Cursor reads it as system-level context for every interaction. It's like giving the AI a coding style guide, architecture overview, and list of conventions — all in one file. Project Root/ ├── .cursorrules ← Cursor reads this automatically ├── src/ ├── tests/ └── package.json The 5 Sections Every .cursorrules File Needs 1. Identity Tell the AI what it is — an expert in YOUR stack. You are an expert in TypeScript, Next.js 14 App Router, Supabase, and Tail