From an Idea to Full App Using Just Prompts

Browse AI Tools | Browse AI Courses | Advertise

You’re ready to build your next product idea, but browser-based AI coding tools keep hitting limits as your project grows. Juggling files, running code, and getting AI help shouldn’t mean endless tab-switching or sending your IP to the cloud. As an entrepreneur, you need speed, privacy, and flexibility—right on your own machine.

What if your code editor brought powerful AI right to your desktop, letting you plan, write, and debug locally? That’s the promise of Cursor. Here’s how entrepreneurs like you are using Cursor to prototype software faster, with AI chat and code generation built in.

What a Founder Could Build in One Afternoon—So We Tried It

We imagined what it might look like for a solo SaaS founder building a habit tracker from scratch. So we stepped into their shoes. Using Cursor, we kicked off a new project by writing out the app idea in plain English. Cursor spun up the entire project structure, handled the code, and even fixed bugs as they came up. A few hours later, we had a working React/TypeScript prototype—no tab overload, no copy-pasting, just smooth building.

Why Cursor Works for Entrepreneurs

• Runs locally: All code stays on your machine, so there are no browser or cloud limitations

• AI chat covers the full workflow: Plan, generate code, and debug using natural language

• Integrated terminal: Run scripts or full apps instantly, all from the same workspace

• Flexible AI model selection: Pick the right model for planning, coding, or troubleshooting

• Familiar file explorer: Work with real files and folders—no locked-in, proprietary formats

How We Did It: Building a Habit Tracker with Cursor

Here’s exactly how we used Cursor to go from idea to prototype, and how you can do the same for your next software project.

1. Download & Install Cursor

Visit cursor.com and grab the installer for your OS (Windows, Mac, or Linux). The setup is simple, with a free tier to get started.

2. Open Your Project Folder

Launch Cursor and open a folder where your project will live. You can start with a blank folder or use an existing codebase. All files and subfolders are visible in the left sidebar.

3. Get to Know the Workspace

The center panel displays any file you click. The built-in terminal lets you run commands, install dependencies, and launch apps—no switching windows.

💫 Level Up

FACT: Around 40 % of new business software is expected to be built using AI-assisted “vibe coding” within the next three years.

🔹 Launch your next idea faster with AI Coding for Entrepreneurs. Learn how to build and ship AI-powered apps—landing pages, internal tools, full-stack prototypes—without writing code from scratch or hiring a dev team.

You’ll leave this course ready to:

• Use AI coding tools like ChatGPT, Lovable, and Cursor to turn ideas into working products

• Build a landing page with email collection and custom domain in under an hour

• Prototype full-stack apps with user authentication, APIs, and real AI features

• Troubleshoot and prompt AI more effectively as your app evolves

• Deploy live products with GitHub and Cloudflare, even as a solo builder

From napkin sketch to live app—this is how you get there.

4. Engage with AI Chat

Open the AI Chat panel. In Ask Mode, describe your idea or get help understanding code. In Agent Mode, let the AI autonomously create files, update code, or suggest terminal commands. For example, we typed:

 ‘Create a React habit tracker app using TypeScript and Vite.’ 

The AI suggested init commands, created boilerplate code, and set up folders.

5. Write & Refine Code with the Agent

Accept or reject AI-generated changes (green = additions, red = deletions). As you iterate, the Agent helps with everything from adding features to fixing errors—just paste error messages into chat or describe what you want changed.

6. Test & Run Your App

Use the integrated terminal to start your app. Try out features—if something’s off, ask the AI for fixes or improvements. For each new feature, start a new chat session for focused help.

7. Version Control & Share

Once your prototype works, use built-in Git integration to save your code and push to GitHub. This makes sharing or collaborating with others easy and secure.

This workflow can take you from blank folder to working prototype in a single afternoon—no external devs or cloud tools needed.

Other Use Cases

Cursor’s local-first, AI-powered workflow isn’t just for solo founders. Here’s how others use it:

• Freelancers: Prototype client projects quickly and hand off clean code

• Startup teams: Collaborate on new features without browser bottlenecks

• Product managers: Test app ideas and generate specs before dev handoff

• Educators: Demo software builds with live AI explanations for students

• Consultants: Troubleshoot and refactor client codebases, all locally

💡Bonus Pro Tips

• Be specific in Agent prompts: The more detail you give (“add dark mode toggle to UI”), the better your results.

• Switch AI models as needed: Use planning models (like Gemini 2.5 Pro) for brainstorming, and coding models (like Claude 3.5 Sonnet) for implementation.

• Start fresh chats for new features: This keeps the AI’s context focused and avoids confusion in bigger projects.

• Use checkpoints: Roll back to earlier versions if you want to experiment or undo changes.

• Review code changes visually: Green and red highlights let you quickly see what the AI added or removed.

⏭️ What’s Next

Next Tuesday, we’ll cover a brand new way to help you work smart with the help of AI. But, before that we’ll see you on Thursday to give you the latest scoop on what’s new in the world of AI.

Want to go deeper? Our Skill Leap courses show entrepreneurs how to get the most out of every AI-powered coding session.