How to Add Context Management to Cursor (Step-by-Step)

Cursor worked perfectly when your project was small. Now it's confused, suggesting things that break working features, trying to rebuild things you already built, and making changes that don't match your patterns.

You've searched "how to make Cursor work better" and found vague advice about "better prompts" or "organizing your code." That's not the problem.

The problem is Cursor can't track your whole project anymore. It needs context management.

Here's exactly how to add it, step by step, so Cursor works like it did when your project was simple.

What Context Management Actually Means #

Context management helps Cursor remember:

• What features you built
• How features connect to each other
• What patterns you're using
• What files shouldn't be changed
• What your project is trying to do

Think of it as giving Cursor a map of your project that stays up-to-date automatically.

Before You Start #

You need this if: #

• ✅ Your project has 5+ features
• ✅ Cursor suggests things that break existing code
• ✅ Cursor forgets what you built yesterday
• ✅ You're scared to ask Cursor for changes
• ✅ Changes take longer to get right than they used to

You don't need this yet if: #

• ⏸️ Your project has 1-3 simple features
• ⏸️ Everything still working smoothly
• ⏸️ Cursor suggestions make sense
• ⏸️ You just started building

If you don't need it yet, bookmark this for when you hit 5-7 features. You'll know when it's time.

Two Approaches: Manual vs Automated #

Manual Approach #

• Free
• You control everything
• Requires updating manually
• About 30-60 min initial setup
• 10-15 min maintenance per week

Automated Approach (Giga) #

• Paid subscription
• Automatic setup and updates
• No maintenance
• 5 min initial setup
• Saves hours every week

Choose based on your budget and time. Both work.

Manual Approach: Step-by-Step #

Step 1: Create Context Files (10 minutes) #

Create a .cursor folder in your project root:

mkdir .cursor
cd .cursor
touch project-overview.md
touch features.md
touch patterns.md

Step 2: Document Your Features (20 minutes) #

Edit features.md:

## Project Features
 
## User Authentication
**What it does:** Users can sign up, log in, log out
**Files:** /pages/login.tsx, /pages/signup.tsx, /lib/auth.ts
**Connects to:** User Profiles, Settings, Dashboard
**Database:** users table
**Status:** Working - DO NOT modify without careful testing
 
## User Profiles
**What it does:** Shows user information, lets users edit profiles
**Files:** /pages/profile/[id].tsx, /components/ProfileCard.tsx
**Depends on:** User Authentication (requires logged in user)
**Connects to:** Settings, Posts, Comments
**Database:** users table, profiles table
**Status:** Working
 
## Settings Page
**What it does:** Users can change preferences, update password
**Files:** /pages/settings.tsx, /components/SettingsForm.tsx
**Depends on:** User Authentication, User Profiles
**Database:** users table, settings table
**Status:** Working
 
[Continue for all your features...]

Step 3: Document Patterns (10 minutes) #

Edit patterns.md:

# Project Patterns
 
## Authentication Pattern
Always use `checkUserSession()` from /lib/auth.ts
Never implement auth checks differently
 
## Database Pattern
All database calls use `db.query()` wrapper from /lib/database.ts
Never use direct database calls
 
## Error Handling Pattern
All errors use `showError()` from /lib/errors.ts
Format: { message, type, details }
 
## Component Pattern
All pages in /pages folder
All reusable UI in /components folder
All business logic in /lib folder
 
## Styling Pattern
Using Tailwind CSS
All custom colors defined in tailwind.config.js
No inline styles

Step 4: Write Project Overview (10 minutes) #

Edit project-overview.md:

# Project Overview
 
## What This App Does
[Describe your app in 2-3 sentences]
 
## Tech Stack
- Frontend: Next.js with TypeScript
- Database: Supabase/PostgreSQL
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Auth: Custom auth system
 
## Project Structure
/pages - All application pages
/components - Reusable UI components
/lib - Business logic and utilities
/api - API endpoints
/public - Static assets
 
## Critical Files (Don't Change Without Careful Testing)
- /lib/auth.ts - Authentication system
- /lib/database.ts - Database connection
- /lib/config.ts - App configuration
 
## Known Limitations
[List any current issues or limitations]
 
## Future Plans
[Features you plan to add]

Step 5: Tell Cursor to Use These Files (Ongoing) #

In your Cursor chats, start with:

Read .cursor/project-overview.md, .cursor/features.md,
and .cursor/patterns.md before making any changes.

[Your actual request here]

Or add to your system prompt in Cursor settings:

Always read project context from .cursor/ folder before
making suggestions or changes.

Step 6: Keep Files Updated (Weekly Maintenance) #

After adding new features:

1. Add feature to features.md
2. Update connections
3. Add new patterns to patterns.md
4. Update project overview if project scope changed

Set a weekly reminder to review and update these files.

Automated Approach: Using Giga (5 Minutes) #

Giga does all of this automatically.

Step 1: Install Giga (1 minute) #

npm install -g giga-cli

Step 2: Initialize in Your Project (1 minute) #

cd your-project
giga init

Giga scans your entire project and creates context documentation automatically.

Step 3: Connect to Cursor (1 minute) #

giga connect cursor

This tells Cursor to check Giga's context before making changes.

Step 4: Keep Building (0 minutes) #

That's it. Giga automatically:

• Updates when you add features
• Tracks new connections
• Maintains documentation
• Keeps Cursor informed

No weekly maintenance. No manual updates. Just build.

Testing If It's Working #

After setup (manual or Giga), test it:

Test 1: Ask About Existing Features #

What authentication system do we have in this project?

Good response: Cursor describes your actual auth system accurately

Bad response: Cursor doesn't know or suggests building a new one

Test 2: Ask for a Risky Change #

Update the styling on the user profile page

Good response: Cursor updates only styling, doesn't touch auth or database

Bad response: Cursor changes random things or breaks connections

Test 3: Check Pattern Following #

Add a new error message when users enter invalid email

Good response: Cursor uses your existing error handling pattern

Bad response: Cursor creates a new pattern that doesn't match yours

If tests pass → it's working! If not, check that Cursor is actually reading your context.

Common Setup Issues #

Issue: Cursor ignores context files #

Fix: Make sure you're telling Cursor to read them explicitly:

First read .cursor/ folder for project context, then [request]

Or add to Cursor system prompt.

Issue: Context gets outdated #

Manual: Set weekly calendar reminder to update Giga: Should update automatically - check if it's running

Issue: Too much information #

Don't document every function. Focus on:

• Main features
• Critical connections
• Important patterns
• Files that break things if changed

Issue: Context doesn't help #

Make sure context includes:

• What features exist
• How they connect
• What your patterns are

Generic context doesn't help. Specific project details do.

What Changes After Setup #

Maintaining Context Management #

Manual approach:

• Review weekly
• Update after major features
• Keep it in version control (git)
• Make updates part of your routine

Giga approach:

• Automatic updates
• No maintenance needed
• Just keep building

Next Steps #

If you're using manual approach:

1. ✅ Create .cursor folder and files today
2. ✅ Document your current features
3. ✅ Tell Cursor to use these files
4. ✅ Set weekly reminder to update

If you're using Giga:

1. ✅ Install and initialize now
2. ✅ Test that it's working
3. ✅ Keep building confidently

Why This Matters #

Context management isn't about being organized or professional.

It's about making Cursor useful again.

Remember when Cursor just... worked? When suggestions made sense? When you could ask for changes without fear?

Context management brings that back.

Your project got complex. That's good—it means you built something real. But complexity needs tracking. Add the tracking, get back to building confidently.

Set up context management in 5 minutes → Try Giga