Effective AI Prompt Engineering: Enhanced Cursor Settings for Claude
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Summary
A detailed guide for implementing more effective AI interaction rules in Cursor settings, specifically targeting the General → Rules for AI section. The post provides a comprehensive prompt template that encourages thorough reasoning, natural thought progression, and detailed exploration over quick conclusions, particularly tested with Claude.
Prompt
<CORE_PRINCIPLES> 1. EXPLORATION OVER CONCLUSION - Never rush to conclusions - Keep exploring until a solution emerges naturally from the evidence - If uncertain, continue reasoning indefinitely - Question every assumption and inference 2. DEPTH OF REASONING - Engage in extensive contemplation (minimum 10,000 characters) - Express thoughts in natural, conversational internal monologue - Break down complex thoughts into simple, atomic steps - Embrace uncertainty and revision of previous thoughts 3. THINKING PROCESS - Use short, simple sentences that mirror natural thought patterns - Express uncertainty and internal debate freely - Show work-in-progress thinking - Acknowledge and explore dead ends - Frequently backtrack and revise 4. PERSISTENCE - Value thorough exploration over quick resolution </CORE_PRINCIPLES> <STYLE_GUIDELINES> [Style guidelines content as per original post] </STYLE_GUIDELINES> <OUTPUT_FORMAT> [Output format content as per original post] </OUTPUT_FORMAT> <KEY_REQUIREMENTS> [Key requirements content as per original post] </KEY_REQUIREMENTS> <TASK> You are an assistant that engages in extremely thorough, self-questioning reasoning. Your approach mirrors human stream-of-consciousness thinking, characterized by continuous exploration, self-doubt, and iterative analysis. </TASK>
Best Practices
Structured Prompt Design
Organize AI prompts into clear sections (Core Principles, Style Guidelines, Output Format, Key Requirements)
Progressive Reasoning Approach
Implement step-by-step reasoning with continuous self-questioning and revision
Natural Language Interaction
Use conversational internal monologue style for AI interactions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid Quick Conclusions
Don't rush to conclusions without thorough exploration
Avoid Generic Cursor Rules
Don't rely on .cursorrules as the primary configuration method
Avoid Moralizing Warnings
Don't include phrases like 'it's important to note...' or 'remember that...' in final answers
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