How to Use Cursor To Build a Website For Beginners Part 2 (v0, Cursor, Augment, v0, Vercel)

Show Notes

Pushing forward with aCursor-based site build, this video dives into debugging, deploying, and planning API integration for a beginner-friendly workflow. You’ll see practical hands-on tips for reading stack traces, using Augment, bootstrapping a GitHub repo, and planning API calls (with Strava as the example).

Debugging workflow: stack traces, Augment, and quick fixes

• When pnpm dev throws an error, click the error to copy the stack trace. Stack traces show the sequence of calls that led to the error, which is more helpful than logs alone.
• Use Augment (on the right) to enhance the prompt with the copied stack trace. You can keep it in chat mode or switch to agent mode for quicker results.
• Typical fix pattern:
  • Identify missing pieces (e.g., a TS alias in tsconfig).
  • Update the config or code, then refresh to verify the fix.
• Practical note: Augment highlights suggested changes in your TS config, aiding quick iterations.
• Actionable takeaway: Always grab the stack trace first, then use an AI-assisted prompt to guide the fix. Keep a mental checklist of common fixes (aliases, paths, config tweaks, dependencies).

Get the project live: GitHub repo setup and deployment flow

• Open a new terminal pane and use GitHub CLI to create or push to a remote repo, reducing manual clicking.
• Typical flow:
  • gh repo create (private/public as needed)
  • Push your local repo to the remote
  • Confirm remote is set and watch for actions or deployments
• If you’re starting fresh, you can name the remote repo meaningfully (the video uses a placeholder like px.com) and connect it to your owner account.
• Deployment note: After linking to a hosting/deployment platform (like Vercel), you may need to clean up old deployments if names collide.
• Actionable takeaway: Learn a small set of GH CLI commands for repo creation and pushing; it saves a lot of time compared to clicking UI.

Terminal power tips: aliases, Warp, ZSH, and workflow tweaks

• Leverage a dedicated terminal workflow to speed up common git actions:
  • Example aliases (in your ZSH config):
    • gs = git status
    • ga = git add
    • gc = git commit
    • gp = git push
• Tools referenced:
  • Warp: a terminal with AI-assisted features
  • ZSH: powerful shell customization
• Efficiency concept: Aliases (gs, ga, gc, etc.) turn multi-step commands into single keystrokes, freeing mental bandwidth for coding.
• A note on workflow: You can keep your own preferred setup, but the key is to reduce friction for repetitive tasks.
• Actionable takeaway: Build a small alias set for the most-used git operations and commands you repeat daily. Consider using a terminal that supports AI-assisted prompts if you’re curious about faster navigation.

Planning third-party API integration: checklist and approach

• Before coding against an API, run through a quick checklist:
  • Do they offer an SDK? If yes, it can simplify integration.
  • Do you need an API key or OAuth 2.0 flow (client ID/secret, authorization code, tokens)?
  • Authentication vs authorization: authentication proves who you are; authorization defines what you can do.
  • Open API / Swagger availability: helps you see endpoints, methods (GET, POST, PUT), and response shapes.
• How to approach any API:
  • Identify “methods” (endpoints) you’ll call (e.g., get a repository, get user stats).
  • Define TypeScript types for request/response payloads to keep code safe.
  • Test interactively with an API playground or curl to validate responses before coding.
• Practical takeaway: Start with a lightweight “library” folder for external API calls and types. Don’t over-engineer with heavy frameworks for a beginner course.

Strava API exploration: from docs to concrete endpoints

• Use Strava’s docs and an API playground to identify useful endpoints (e.g., athlete stats, segments, activities).
• Key concepts:
  • CRUD basics: GET (read), POST (create), PUT (update), DELETE (remove)
  • Dynamic path segments: endpoints like /athletes/{id} require a real or test ID
  • Open API / Swagger view helps you see available methods and expected responses
• Example workflow from the video:
  • Find an endpoint such as get athlete stats (e.g., recent runs, weekly totals)
  • Note dynamic parameters (athlete ID) and the need for an access token
  • Inspect the example to understand required data shape and authentication scope
• Authentication flow overview:
  • Obtain client ID/secret from Strava
  • Use OAuth 2.0 to exchange an authorization code for an access token
  • Use the access token in API requests
• Quick curl test concept:
  • Use curl to request an access token, then call a protected endpoint with the token
  • Blur or redact sensitive tokens in shared demos
• Actionable takeaway: Start with a concrete Strava endpoint you’ll use, mock or test with an access token, and map its response to a TypeScript type before wiring it into your app.

From v0 to implementation: what’s next

• Design validation: check mobile responsiveness and layout provided by the v0 scaffolding; if something looks off, you’ll know what to adjust in the next pass.
• API integration plan:
  • Move from conceptual API exploration to actual code that calls endpoints
  • Create a small library folder to contain API calls and types
  • Keep it beginner-friendly: avoid overkill tools like TRPC/React Query at this stage
• Next video focus: implement the API calls, wire up data fetching, and bring the Strava data into the UI
• Design philosophy takeaway: iterate on the interface first, then layer in data fetching and API calls.

Quick takeaways

• Always start with the stack trace to pinpoint failures; use Augment to streamline fixes.
• Use GitHub CLI to bootstrap and push repos quickly; keep a clean remote branch strategy.
• Build and rely on a small set of terminal aliases to accelerate daily workflows.
• When integrating third-party APIs, write a simple API-checklist and define types early.
• Explore APIs with their playgrounds/swagger to understand endpoints, methods, and authentication flows before coding.

Links

• Strava API docs (and API Playground)
• OpenAPI / Swagger concepts
• GitHub CLI (gh)
• Vercel (deployment)
• Augment (AI-assisted prompt tooling)
• Warp terminal
• ZSH configuration and aliases
• Biome (auto-fixes / linting suggestions)
• npm / PNPM / Bun (package managers)