The TRUTH About AI IDE Memory – Cursor vs Windsurf!

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AI Summary

Video Summary: Training AI IDEs to Follow Coding Guidelines

• Problem: AI IDEs often ignore user coding styles, naming conventions, and architecture rules, leading to time wasted on correcting mistakes.
• Solution: Train AI IDEs to remember project structures, rules, and preferences for better assistance.

Memory in AI IDEs

• Wind Surf and Cursor: Both IDEs use user-generated and auto-generated memory differently.
• User-Generated Memory:
  • Wind Surf: Workspace and global rules.
  • Cursor: Cursor rules, folder rules, and global rules.
  • These are rules created by the user for the AI to follow.
• Auto-Generated Memory:
  • Generated by the IDE based on interactions, context awareness, and code indexing to improve future actions.

Managing Memory and Rules

• Character Limit:
  • Wind Surf has a 12,000 character limit for global and local rules combined.
  • Rules beyond this limit will be truncated, potentially losing important details.
• Avoiding Truncation:
  • Keep the total of global and local rules within the 12,000 character limit.
• Removing/Bending Memory:
  • Wind Surf: Specific methods not mentioned.
  • Cursor: “do cursor inure” command and potential future “do cursor bend” feature to prevent files from being indexed.

Privacy and Security

• Cursor:
  • Does not save actual code, only the embeddings.
  • Privacy mode available on their security page for transparency on code handling during requests.

Limitations and Best Practices

• Character Limit Considerations:
  • Both IDEs likely have a character limit for the context window.
  • Long rules may be summarized or truncated, leading to ignored rules.
• Rule Management:
  • Keep rule files small to ensure important rules are not truncated.
  • Prioritize strict rules in global or project rules.

Conclusion

• The video provides insights on how to effectively use AI IDEs by managing memory and rules to ensure coding guidelines are followed.

(Note: The summary does not include any detailed instructions such as CLI commands, website URLs, or tips, as none were provided in the given text.)