Cursor Training for Java Developers

A comprehensive 5-session training program for experienced Java developers transitioning to AI-assisted development with Cursor

📚 Overview

This training program is designed for approximately 100 experienced Java developers who are:

Primarily IntelliJ IDEA users (transitioning to Cursor)
Familiar with AI concepts but new to AI-enabled IDEs
Working with Spring Boot, Gradle/Maven, and modern Java (17+)
Looking to boost productivity with AI-assisted development

Instructor: Ken Kousen
Format: 5 sessions × 3 hours each
Materials: Slidev presentations + Markdown labs + Code projects

🎯 Session Structure

Session 1: Using Cursor for Java Development ✅

Duration: 3 hours
Focus: Cursor fundamentals, Spring Boot development, AI modes

Materials:

Projects:

Hello Spring Boot - Code-along project (built from scratch)
Spring PetClinic - Exploration project (clone from GitHub)

Key Topics:

Transitioning from IntelliJ to Cursor
Chat Mode vs Agent Mode
AI-assisted code generation
Refactoring with AI
Test generation
Code analysis and understanding

Session 2: Mobile Development with Cursor (Android/Kotlin) ✅

Duration: 3 hours
Focus: Android development with Cursor Composer, Jetpack Compose, ViewModels, Room

Materials:

Projects:

Task Manager App - Complete solution in session2-android/TaskManagerApp/
Now in Android - Exploration project (clone from GitHub)

Key Topics:

Hybrid workflow: Cursor + Android Studio
Cursor Composer for multi-file code generation
Jetpack Compose UI with Material 3
State management with ViewModels and StateFlow
Navigation with Compose Navigation
Room database for persistence
Hilt dependency injection
Testing Android apps with AI assistance

Session 3: Agentic Coding with Cursor ✅

Duration: 3 hours
Focus: Extended Thinking, Plan Mode, modular architecture refactoring

Materials:

Key Topics:

Agentic coding principles
Extended Thinking mode for complex problems
Plan Mode for multi-phase refactoring
Modular architecture extraction
Custom slash commands
Model Context Protocol (MCP) basics

Note: Requires Plan Mode features in Cursor.

Session 4: Reviewing and Testing Code with AI ✅

Duration: 3 hours
Focus: AI-assisted testing, code review, quality assurance

Materials:

Key Topics:

AI test generation strategies
Unit, integration, and E2E testing
Code review with AI assistance
Performance and security testing
CI/CD integration with quality gates

Note: Extends Session 3 project.

Session 5: Exploring Agents and MCP ✅

Duration: 3 hours
Focus: Advanced AI agents, Model Context Protocol, multi-agent systems

Materials:

Key Topics:

Spring AI Fundamentals
Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
Tools & Function Calling
Legacy Modernization

Note: Requires MCP setup.

📁 Project Structure

cursor-java-training/
├── README.md                                    # This file
├── .cursor/
│   └── CURSOR_TRAINING_CONTEXT.md              # AI context document
│
├── session1-spring-boot/                       # Session 1 materials
│   ├── session1-outline.md                     # Session outline
│   ├── slides.md                               # Slidev presentation
│   ├── slides.pdf                              # Slidev presentation (PDF)
│   ├── labs.md                                 # Lab exercises
│   ├── README.md                               # Session guide
│   ├── hello-spring-setup.md                   # Hello Spring Boot setup guide
│   ├── petclinic-guide.md                      # PetClinic exploration guide
│   └── hello-spring/                           # Complete solution project
│
├── session2-android/                           # Session 2 materials
│   ├── session2-outline.md                     # Session outline
│   ├── slides.md                               # Slidev presentation
│   ├── android_slides.pdf                      # Slidev presentation (PDF)
│   ├── labs.md                                 # Lab exercises
│   ├── README.md                               # Session guide
│   └── TaskManager/                            # Complete solution project
│
├── session3-agentic/                           # Session 3 materials
│   ├── session3-outline.md                     # Session outline
│   ├── slides.md                               # Slidev presentation
│   ├── labs.md                                 # Lab exercises
│   ├── ecommerce-monolith/                     # Starter code
│   └── legacy-app/                             # Legacy code for analysis
│
├── session4-testing/                           # Session 4 materials
│   ├── session4-outline.md                     # Session outline
│   ├── slides.md                               # Slidev presentation
│   └── labs.md                                 # Lab exercises
│
├── session5-agents/                            # Session 5 materials
│   ├── session5-outline.md                     # Session outline
│   ├── slides.md                               # Slidev presentation
│   └── labs.md                                 # Lab exercises
│
├── docs/
│   └── SETUP.md                                # General setup instructions
│
└── [General Resources - root level]
    └── cursor-quickstart-for-intellij-users.md

🚀 Getting Started

For Instructors

Review Materials:

# Clone or navigate to this repository
cd cursor-java-training

# Read the context document
cat .cursor/CURSOR_TRAINING_CONTEXT.md

# Review Session 1 materials
cat cursor-quickstart-for-intellij-users.md
cat session1-spring-boot/session1-outline.md

Prepare Slidev Presentation:

# Install dependencies (if not already installed)
npm install -g @slidev/cli

# Run slides in dev mode
slidev session1-spring-boot/slides.md

# Export to PDF (optional)
slidev export session1-spring-boot/slides.md

Set Up Projects:

# Hello Spring Boot - students will create from Spring Initializr
# See: hello-spring-setup.md for instructions

# Spring PetClinic - clone for exploration
git clone https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-petclinic

Test Everything:
- Run through all labs yourself
- Verify all Cursor prompts work as expected
- Test both code-along and exploration exercises

For Students

Before Session 1

Install Cursor:
- Download from cursor.sh
- Install for your platform (macOS/Windows/Linux)
- Sign up for an account

Install Java:

# Verify Java installation
java -version  # Should show Java 17 or 21

Install Build Tools:

# Gradle (optional, wrapper included in projects)
brew install gradle  # macOS

# Or Maven
brew install maven   # macOS

Install Cursor Extensions:
- Language Support for Java (Red Hat)
- Debugger for Java (Microsoft)
- Spring Boot Extension Pack (VMware)
- Gradle for Java (Microsoft)
Review Prerequisites:
- Read: Cursor Quick Start for IntelliJ Users
- Familiarize yourself with Cursor basics

During Session 1

Follow along with instructor for code-along exercises
Use session1-spring-boot/labs.md as reference during class
Ask questions in Chat mode to understand concepts
Save your work for future reference

After Session 1

Complete homework exercises in session1-spring-boot/labs.md (Part B)
Explore Spring PetClinic using the exploration guide
Practice AI modes (Chat and Agent) with your own projects
Document learnings for Session 2

🛠️ Technology Stack

Core Technologies

Java: 21
Spring Boot: 3.5+
Build Tools: Gradle (Groovy), Maven
Database: H2 (in-memory), MySQL, PostgreSQL
Testing: JUnit 5, AssertJ, MockMvc

Frameworks & Libraries

Spring Data JPA - Data access
Spring Web - REST APIs
Thymeleaf - Server-side templates (PetClinic)
Bean Validation - Data validation
Spring Boot DevTools - Development productivity

Development Tools

Cursor IDE - AI-assisted development
Slidev - Presentation framework
Git - Version control

📖 Key Learning Resources

Session 1 Materials

Cursor Quick Start for IntelliJ Users
- IntelliJ to Cursor transition guide
- Key differences and similarities
- Workspace concept and multi-window support
- Chat vs Agent modes
- Keyboard shortcuts
Session 1 Slides
- Slidev presentation
- Core concepts and demos
- Live coding examples
Lab Exercises
- Part A: Code-along (in-class)
- Part B: Exploration (homework)
- Progressive difficulty
- Comprehensive examples
Hello Spring Boot Setup
- Project setup instructions
- Spring Initializr configuration
- Pre-built starter (backup)
- Troubleshooting guide
PetClinic Exploration Guide
- Architecture overview
- Entity relationships
- Repository patterns
- Controller patterns
- Template integration
- Testing strategies

External Resources

🎓 Teaching Philosophy

AI-First Approach

This course emphasizes:

Learning by doing with AI assistance
Understanding AI capabilities and limitations
Asking the right questions to AI
Verifying AI suggestions with human judgment
Progressive complexity from simple to advanced

Practical Focus

Real projects: Hello Spring Boot + Spring PetClinic
Hands-on exercises: Code-along and exploration
Modern practices: Java 17+, records, Spring Boot 3+
Production patterns: Layered architecture, testing, validation

Key Principles

AI as a Pair Programmer: Not a replacement, but a powerful assistant
Critical Thinking: Always verify AI-generated code
Context Matters: Proper prompts lead to better results
Iterative Learning: Start simple, build complexity gradually
Tool Selection: Know when to use Chat vs Agent mode

📝 Session 1 Learning Outcomes

By the end of Session 1, students will be able to:

Cursor Fundamentals

✅ Navigate Cursor IDE confidently (coming from IntelliJ)
✅ Use Chat Mode for learning and understanding
✅ Use Agent Mode for code generation and refactoring
✅ Manage multiple windows and workspaces
✅ Leverage terminal integration

Java Development with AI

✅ Create Spring Boot projects with AI assistance
✅ Generate REST controllers and services
✅ Implement JPA entities and repositories
✅ Add validation and error handling
✅ Use modern Java features (records, etc.)

Code Quality

✅ Refactor code with AI suggestions
✅ Generate comprehensive tests (unit + integration)
✅ Apply best practices and design patterns
✅ Analyze existing codebases effectively

Complex Project Analysis

✅ Understand Spring PetClinic architecture
✅ Trace request flows through layers
✅ Analyze entity relationships
✅ Identify performance considerations
✅ Compare architectural approaches

🎯 Success Criteria

For Students

After Session 1, you should be comfortable:

Creating Spring Boot projects from scratch with Cursor
Using Chat mode to understand concepts
Using Agent mode to generate and modify code
Reading and analyzing complex Java codebases
Writing tests with AI assistance
Refactoring code effectively

You should have completed:

All code-along exercises (Labs 1-5)
Setup verification (Lab 0)
At least the initial PetClinic exploration (Lab 6)

Optional achievements:

Complete PetClinic deep dive (Lab 7)
Attempt advanced challenges (Lab 8)
Apply learnings to personal projects

For Instructors

Successful session indicators:

All students have working Hello Spring Boot project
Most students complete code-along exercises
Students understand Chat vs Agent decision-making
Questions demonstrate engagement with AI concepts
Students can independently use Cursor for basic tasks

Common challenges to address:

IntelliJ muscle memory → Cursor keyboard shortcuts
Over-reliance on AI without verification
Prompt engineering (asking right questions)
Context window management
Choosing appropriate AI mode

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Cursor Installation

Problem: Cursor won't start
Solution: Check system requirements, reinstall if needed

Java Setup

Problem: Wrong Java version
Solution: Use SDKMAN or update JAVA_HOME

Project Setup

Problem: Spring Initializr fails
Solution: Use pre-built starter from hello-spring-setup.md

Extensions

Problem: Java support not working
Solution: Reinstall Java extensions, restart Cursor

AI Modes

Problem: AI responses seem wrong
Solution: Improve prompts, add context, verify with documentation

Getting Help

During Class:
- Ask instructor
- Use Chat mode to understand errors
- Check troubleshooting sections in guides
After Class:
- Review lab documentation
- Check Cursor documentation
- Experiment with different prompts
- Apply to personal projects

📅 Training Schedule Template

Session 1 - Sample Agenda (3 hours)

Part 1: Setup & Foundations (60 min)

00:00 - 00:15: Welcome & Overview
00:15 - 00:30: Cursor Quick Start (from IntelliJ)
00:30 - 00:45: Setup Verification (Lab 0)
00:45 - 01:00: Creating Hello Spring Boot (Lab 1)

Break (10 min)

Part 2: Building with AI (70 min)

01:10 - 01:25: Adding Service Layer (Lab 2)
01:25 - 01:55: Adding Persistence (Lab 3)
01:55 - 02:20: Code Quality & Refactoring (Lab 4)

Break (10 min)

Part 3: Testing & Exploration (60 min)

02:30 - 02:50: Test Generation (Lab 5)
02:50 - 03:05: Introduction to PetClinic (Lab 6)
03:05 - 03:20: PetClinic Guided Exploration
03:20 - 03:30: Wrap-up & Homework Assignment

🚀 Next Steps

Immediate (After Session 1)

Complete all homework exercises
Explore Spring PetClinic in depth
Practice with personal projects
Document learnings and questions

Short-term (Before Session 2)

Review Session 1 materials
Experiment with advanced Cursor features
Read ahead for Session 2 topics
Prepare questions for next session

Long-term (Course Goal)

Master AI-assisted development workflow
Apply learnings to production projects
Share knowledge with team
Contribute to best practices

📬 Feedback & Contributions

For Students

Share your experiences using Cursor
Report any issues with course materials
Suggest improvements or additional topics

For Instructors

Adapt materials to your teaching style
Share successful exercises or examples
Contribute improvements to materials

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

These materials are provided for educational purposes under the MIT License, which allows:

You may:

Use these materials for teaching
Adapt them to your needs
Share with students and colleagues
Use in commercial projects
Modify as needed

Please:

Include the original copyright notice
Include the license text
Report issues or improvements (appreciated but not required)

👨‍💻 About the Instructor

Ken Kousen

30+ years Java experience
15+ years IntelliJ user
Author of multiple technical books
Speaker at conferences worldwide
Passionate about developer productivity

🎉 Acknowledgments

Spring Team - For Spring Boot and PetClinic
Cursor Team - For the amazing AI-powered IDE
Java Community - For continuous innovation
Students - For feedback and engagement

Ready to boost your Java development with AI?
Let's get started! 🚀

Name		Name	Last commit message	Last commit date
Latest commit History 67 Commits
docs		docs
session1-spring-boot		session1-spring-boot
session2-android		session2-android
session3-agentic		session3-agentic
session4-testing		session4-testing
session5-agents		session5-agents
.cursorrules		.cursorrules
.gitignore		.gitignore
LICENSE		LICENSE
README.md		README.md
cursor-quickstart-for-intellij-users.md		cursor-quickstart-for-intellij-users.md
package-lock.json		package-lock.json
package.json		package.json

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kousen/cursor-java-training

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Cursor Training for Java Developers

📚 Overview

🎯 Session Structure

Session 1: Using Cursor for Java Development ✅

Session 2: Mobile Development with Cursor (Android/Kotlin) ✅

Session 3: Agentic Coding with Cursor ✅

Session 4: Reviewing and Testing Code with AI ✅

Session 5: Exploring Agents and MCP ✅

📁 Project Structure

🚀 Getting Started

For Instructors

For Students

Before Session 1

During Session 1

After Session 1

🛠️ Technology Stack

Core Technologies

Frameworks & Libraries

Development Tools

📖 Key Learning Resources

Session 1 Materials

External Resources

🎓 Teaching Philosophy

AI-First Approach

Practical Focus

Key Principles

📝 Session 1 Learning Outcomes

Cursor Fundamentals

Java Development with AI

Code Quality

Complex Project Analysis

🎯 Success Criteria

For Students

For Instructors

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Cursor Installation

Java Setup

Project Setup

Extensions

AI Modes

Getting Help

📅 Training Schedule Template

Session 1 - Sample Agenda (3 hours)

🚀 Next Steps

Immediate (After Session 1)

Short-term (Before Session 2)

Long-term (Course Goal)

📬 Feedback & Contributions

For Students

For Instructors

📄 License

👨‍💻 About the Instructor

🎉 Acknowledgments

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