Being a long-distance running coach is one of my passion projects, and I love how it gives me the chance to keep learning and improving—both for my athletes and for myself. What makes it even more exciting is when I get to combine it with my constant curiosity for the latest advancements in technology. My latest project, the Distance Runner’s Hub, is where these two passions intersect. It’s an application to help me manage my athletes and streamline their training experience, but it’s also a chance to explore something I’m incredibly curious about: AI-Integrated Development Environments (AI IDEs).
This is an ongoing research project. My goal is to see how these tools—Cursor and Windsurf, in particular—can help build an application faster, smarter, and better. I’m learning as I go and will continue to share my findings along the way.
The Vision: Combining Coaching and Cutting-Edge Tech
The Distance Runner’s Hub is designed to simplify how I manage athlete profiles, training preferences, and third-party integrations like Garmin Connect. But beyond that, it’s a sandbox for exploring how AI can change the way we develop software.
For me, this isn’t just about automating code generation. It’s about understanding how AI-powered tools can enhance creativity, reduce repetitive tasks, and make the entire development process more efficient.
This project reflects where I see the future going: AI embedded into every step of the development lifecycle, helping technical teams build better solutions faster.
The AI IDEs: Cursor vs. Windsurf
AI IDEs are relatively new, and I’ve spent the last few weeks experimenting with two of them—Cursor and Windsurf. Both have been valuable, but they each have their quirks.
What Are AI IDEs?
These are more than your average code editors. AI IDEs bring features like:
- • Context-Aware Coding Assistance. Autocompletion, real-time debugging, and smarter code suggestions.
- Natural Language Commands. Write or refactor code by simply describing what you want in plain English.
- Multi-File Editing. Keep changes consistent across the entire project with minimal manual effort.
- Project Context Awareness. They “understand” your codebase enough to give relevant suggestions.
My Experience with Cursor
Cursor has been impressive in generating large chunks of code quickly. It’s a huge time-saver for creating scaffolding or prototyping features. But it’s not without its challenges:
What Works:
- Fantastic at generating functional code fast.
- Useful debugging assistance when things go sideways.
What Doesn’t:
- It sometimes gets stuck in error loops that no amount of explaining can fix. I’ve had to reset sessions and start fresh to get around this.
- Context Forgetting. With the latest update, it seems to lose track of what’s happening in the project. This has slowed me down more than I expected.
- Costs Add Up. I’ve burned through my free credits and can see how it could get expensive quickly in a professional setting.
First Impressions of Windsurf
I’ve just started using Windsurf, which is developed by Codeium, but so far, I’m impressed. It feels a bit more polished and less prone to errors compared to Cursor.
What Works:
- Smarter at handling project context, especially across multiple files.
- Great at natural language interactions for things like improving UI usability or refactoring code.
What’s Next:
I’ve only scratched the surface here, but the free trial gives plenty of credits to explore. I’m using the same codebase I built with Cursor to see how it compares when tasked with improving specific features like the profile page.
Technical Architecture is Built with AI Assistance
Here’s the nuts and bolts of what I’m building. AI IDEs are helping me create, refine, and improve this architecture:
Frontend (React + TypeScript)
- Auth0 for secure access.
- State Management is done with a mix of React Context for global data and local state for UI details.
- Main features include profile management and training preferences.
Backend (Node.js + Express + TypeScript)
- RESTful APIs for athlete profiles and Garmin integration.
- MariaDB with TypeScript to ensure type safety.
- Business logic is modular, making it easier to maintain.
Infrastructure
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk for deployment.
- CloudFront for secure, fast content delivery.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automating resource management.
Why This Matters
For CTOs, CDOs, and data engineers, this project isn’t just a coaching tool—it’s a hands-on experiment in how AI IDEs can change software development.
These tools are exciting because they offer a glimpse into a future where developers spend more time on creative problem-solving and less on repetitive tasks. But there are still challenges, like managing costs, resolving persistent errors, and maintaining context across sessions.
I’m learning that while these tools are powerful, they’re not magic. You still need to guide them, troubleshoot, and adapt as you go.
An Ongoing Journey
The Distance Runner’s Hub is a work in progress, and so is my research into AI-powered development tools. As I continue refining the app and testing new capabilities in Cursor and Windsurf, I’ll share updates about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.
This project is as much about the process as it is about the end result. For me, that’s the fun part—experimenting, learning, and sharing those lessons with others. Whether you’re a developer, a technical leader, or just curious about AI, I hope this inspires you to dive into something new.
Stay tuned for more updates!