Solving complex coding tasks using the 'Dry Run' technique in Cursor

Dry Run Verification Prompt

Directory Issue Fix Prompt

Executing the Dry Run Technique in Cursor

1. Open the Composer panel in Cursor by pressing the shortcut 'Cmd+I' (Mac) or 'Ctrl+I' (Windows).
2. Select the most powerful AI model (e.g., Claude 3.5 Sonnet) to handle complex logic.
3. Enter your prompt to build a feature or fix a bug into the Composer.
4. Once Cursor generates the code, click the 'Apply' button on each suggested file.
5. Do not close the Composer after clicking 'Apply'; follow up with the instruction: 'Now, please dry run this code to ensure it works'.
6. If the AI requests permission to execute a terminal command, click 'Run Command' or 'Allow'.
7. Observe the terminal as it automatically runs tests or verification scripts.
8. If error logs appear, let the AI read them automatically and suggest fixes until a 'Pass' or 'Success' status is achieved.

Workaround for File Path Issues (Terminal vs. Composer)

1. Identify if the AI is failing to execute files due to 'File Not Found' errors or incorrect paths.
2. Open the integrated terminal at the bottom of Cursor.
3. Type 'pwd' (Print Working Directory) to get the full path of your active folder.
4. Copy that path and paste it into the Composer.
5. Provide a specific instruction: 'Use this absolute path for all terminal commands: [Paste Path Here]'.
6. Instruct the AI to 'Retry' running the script using the newly provided path reference.