If you’re a C# developer, or even just dabbling, you probably know the grind of writing boilerplate code, hunting for syntax bugs, or Googling “how to write a LINQ query” for the 127th time.
Well, Cursor AI is here to save you a few headaches (and hours). It’s like your coding sidekick that never sleeps and somehow always knows where you messed up.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use Cursor AI to generate C# code, step by step, whether you’re building a quick app or just trying to speed up your day-to-day coding.
What Exactly Is Cursor AI?
Good question. Cursor AI is an AI-powered code editor built specifically for developers. It’s kind of like if VS Code had a genius AI roommate that understood your code and helped you write more of it.
Cursor uses GPT-4 under the hood (with some extra dev-friendly upgrades), and it can:
Generate code from scratch
Help refactor messy functions
Write comments and docs
Even explain what a weird regex pattern is doing (bless it)
And yes, it plays really nicely with C#.
Step-by-Step: Generating C# Code with Cursor AI
Step 1: Install Cursor
If you haven’t already, head over to Cursor’s website and download the editor (available for macOS and Windows). It’s basically VS Code with superpowers, so you’ll feel right at home.
Bonus: It lets you import your existing VS Code settings, so setup is a breeze.
Step 2: Open or Create a C# Project
Once you’re in Cursor, open an existing .csproj
file or create a new one. You can also just start from scratch with a simple Program.cs
file.
Cursor understands your project structure, so it can generate code that actually fits into your project, not just random snippets.
Step 3: Ask the AI to Help
Now the fun part. You can trigger Cursor’s AI in a few ways:
Highlight a block of code and press Cmd+K (Mac) or Ctrl+K (Windows)
Use the command palette (
Cmd+Shift+P
orCtrl+Shift+P
) and type “AI Edit”Or just type a comment describing what you want, and let Cursor fill in the blanks
Example prompt:
// Create a class that handles user login with basic validation
using System;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
namespace CSharpExample
{
public class UserLogin
{
private string _username;
private string _password;
private bool _isLoggedIn;
public UserLogin()
{
_isLoggedIn = false;
}
public bool Register(string username, string password)
{
if (!ValidateUsername(username))
{
throw new ArgumentException("Username must be between 3-20 characters and contain only letters and numbers");
}
if (!ValidatePassword(password))
{
throw new ArgumentException("Password must be at least 8 characters long and contain at least one number and one special character");
}
_username = username;
_password = password;
return true;
}
public bool Login(string username, string password)
{
if (_username == null || _password == null)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException("User must be registered before logging in");
}
if (username == _username && password == _password)
{
_isLoggedIn = true;
return true;
}
return false;
}
public void Logout()
{
_isLoggedIn = false;
}
public bool IsLoggedIn => _isLoggedIn;
private bool ValidateUsername(string username)
{
// Username must be 3-20 characters long and contain only letters and numbers
return Regex.IsMatch(username, @"^[a-zA-Z0-9]{3,20}$");
}
private bool ValidatePassword(string password)
{
// Password must be at least 8 characters long and contain at least one number and one special character
return password.Length >= 8 &&
Regex.IsMatch(password, @"[0-9]") &&
Regex.IsMatch(password, @"[!@#$%^&*(),.?""':{}|<>]");
}
}
}
Now, let's modify the Program.cs to demonstrate the usage of the UserLogin class:
using System;
namespace CSharpExample
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Console.WriteLine("Welcome to C# Example!");
// Demonstrate basic C# features
var calculator = new Calculator();
Console.WriteLine("\nBasic Calculator Operations:");
Console.WriteLine($"5 + 3 = {calculator.Add(5, 3)}");
Console.WriteLine($"10 - 4 = {calculator.Subtract(10, 4)}");
Console.WriteLine($"6 * 7 = {calculator.Multiply(6, 7)}");
Console.WriteLine($"15 / 3 = {calculator.Divide(15, 3)}");
// Demonstrate string interpolation and DateTime
Console.WriteLine($"\nCurrent date and time: {DateTime.Now}");
// Demonstrate exception handling
try
{
Console.WriteLine($"\nDivision by zero test: {calculator.Divide(5, 0)}");
}
catch (DivideByZeroException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}
// Demonstrate UserLogin functionality
Console.WriteLine("\nUser Login Demonstration:");
var userLogin = new UserLogin();
try
{
// Try to register with invalid credentials
Console.WriteLine("\nAttempting to register with invalid credentials...");
userLogin.Register("ab", "password"); // Too short username
}
catch (ArgumentException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Registration failed: {ex.Message}");
}
try
{
// Register with valid credentials
Console.WriteLine("\nAttempting to register with valid credentials...");
userLogin.Register("john123", "Password123!");
Console.WriteLine("Registration successful!");
// Try to login with wrong password
Console.WriteLine("\nAttempting to login with wrong password...");
if (!userLogin.Login("john123", "wrongpass"))
{
Console.WriteLine("Login failed: Invalid credentials");
}
// Login with correct credentials
Console.WriteLine("\nAttempting to login with correct credentials...");
if (userLogin.Login("john123", "Password123!"))
{
Console.WriteLine("Login successful!");
Console.WriteLine($"User is logged in: {userLogin.IsLoggedIn}");
// Logout
userLogin.Logout();
Console.WriteLine($"After logout, user is logged in: {userLogin.IsLoggedIn}");
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}
Console.WriteLine("\nPress any key to exit...");
Console.ReadKey();
}
}
public class Calculator
{
public int Add(int a, int b) => a + b;
public int Subtract(int a, int b) => a - b;
public int Multiply(int a, int b) => a * b;
public int Divide(int a, int b)
{
if (b == 0)
throw new DivideByZeroException("Cannot divide by zero!");
return a / b;
}
}
}
- Registration System:
- Username validation (3-20 characters, letters and numbers only)
- Password validation (minimum 8 characters, must contain numbers and special characters)
- Login System:
- Username and password verification
- Login state tracking
- Logout functionality
- Security Features:
- Input validation using regular expressions
- Exception handling for invalid inputs
- Private fields for sensitive data
- Usage Example in Program.cs demonstrates:
- Registration with invalid credentials (shows validation)
- Registration with valid credentials
- Failed login attempt
- Successful login
- Logout functionality
- Create a new instance: var userLogin = new UserLogin();
- Register a user: userLogin.Register(username, password);
- Login: userLogin.Login(username, password);
- Check login status: userLogin.IsLoggedIn
- Logout: userLogin.Logout();
Refactor or Improve Existing Code
Cursor doesn’t just write new code. It also helps clean up or improve what you’ve already written.
Let’s say you’ve got this:
public void SaveData(string data) {
FileStream fs = new FileStream("file.txt", FileMode.Create);
StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(fs);
sw.Write(data);
sw.Close();
fs.Close();
}
Ask Cursor: “Make this more concise and modern.”
Cursor might suggest:
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
namespace CSharpExample
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
// ... existing code ...
}
// Modern file handling method
public static void SaveData(string data) => File.WriteAllText("file.txt", data);
}
// ... rest of the existing code ...
}
- Single Line: Uses expression-bodied member syntax (=>) to make it a one-liner
- Automatic Resource Management: File.WriteAllText handles all the file operations internally, including:
- Opening the file
- Writing the data
- Closing the file
- Proper disposal of resources
- Exception Safety: The original code could leak resources if an exception occurred between opening and closing the file. The new version is exception-safe.
- No Manual Cleanup: No need to manually close streams or handle IDisposable objects
- Built-in Error Handling: The framework handles all the error cases properly
public static void SaveData(string data) => File.WriteAllText("file.txt", data);
Step 5: Chat with the Codebase
Another superpower? Cursor lets you chat with your whole codebase. It indexes your files so you can ask stuff like:
“Where is
GetUserById()
defined?”“How does authentication work?”
“Why is my API controller throwing a 500?”
Tips for C# Devs Using Cursor
Here are a few extra nuggets to level up your Cursor game:
Use it to write unit tests – Just ask, “Write a test for this method using NUnit.”
Auto-generate docs – Have Cursor turn your class into clean XML comments
Stay in the zone – Since it’s all in your editor, you won’t have to jump between tabs or tools
Whether you’re a beginner or a full-stack pro, Cursor can speed things up, clean up your code, and honestly make coding a little more fun.
It’s not perfect (yet), but it’s smart enough to write decent C# and explain tricky stuff on the fly.
Think of it like pair programming with a tireless AI buddy who doesn’t judge your messy code.
Quick Recap: What You Can Do with Cursor AI in C#

Gordon is a distinguished technical author with a wealth of experience in software development, specializing in .NET C#. With a career spanning two decades, he has made significant contributions as a programmer and scrum master at prestigious organizations like Accenture and Boston Consulting Group, where he has played a pivotal role in delivering successful projects.
Since the release of .NET C# in 2001, Gordon’s passion for this powerful programming language has been unwavering. Over the past 20 years, he has honed his expertise in .NET C# development, exploring its vast capabilities and leveraging its robust features to create cutting-edge software solutions. Gordon’s proficiency extends to various domains, including web applications, desktop software, and enterprise systems.
As a technical author, Gordon remains committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, continuously expanding his skills, and inspiring fellow technologists. His deep understanding of .NET C# development, coupled with his experience as a programmer and scrum master, positions him as a trusted resource for those seeking guidance and expertise. With each publication, Gordon strives to empower readers, fuel innovation, and propel the field of scientific computer science forward.