The Ultimate Workflow: Combining Cursor AI and Lovable.dev for Rapid Development

This article walks through a powerful workflow that combines Cursor AI and Lovable.dev to create MVPs, landing pages, and full web applications. The core idea is to leverage both platforms to work on the exact same project, capitalizing on the strengths of each tool for a seamless development experience.

The Core Concept: Two-Way GitHub Syncing

This process is made possible by Lovable.dev's two-way GitHub syncing feature. Here’s how it functions:

1. You initiate a new project in Lovable.dev.
2. Lovable.dev pushes the entire project structure and code to a new GitHub repository.
3. You can then clone this repository to your local machine and open it in Cursor AI.
4. Any modifications made using Cursor AI are pushed back to the GitHub repository.
5. These changes are automatically reflected back in your Lovable.dev project.

This allows you to continuously work on the same project from both Lovable.dev and Cursor AI, creating a fluid and efficient development cycle.

Step 1: Generating the Base Application with Lovable.dev

To begin, we'll generate the initial version of a project from Lovable.dev. For this demonstration, we will create a simple Airbnb clone.

A simple prompt, such as build a Airbnb clone, is sufficient to get started. The goal is to quickly generate a foundational codebase that we can then refine using Cursor AI.

Lovable.dev often goes beyond simple scaffolding, creating numerous files and implementing a variety of functionalities. For instance, it might generate a project with a specific design philosophy, as noted in its output:

"I'm envisioning a Sleek, minimalist Airbnb-inspired platform with the Elegance of apple design principles."

The result is a surprisingly detailed UI for an application, created from a single prompt, providing a solid starting point for further development.

Step 2: Connecting to GitHub

With the initial version of the product ready, the next step is to connect it to GitHub.

1. In your Lovable.dev project, locate and select the Connect GitHub option.
2. If it's your first time, you will be prompted to log in and authorize your GitHub account.
3. Once connected, Lovable.dev will create a new repository in your GitHub account and push all the project files to it.
4. You can then select View on GitHub to navigate directly to the newly created repository.

All the files from your Lovable.dev project are now present in the GitHub repo, completing the first part of the sync process.

Step 3: Cloning and Local Development with Cursor AI

The next phase involves bringing the project to your local environment for editing with Cursor AI.

1. In the GitHub repository, click the Code button and copy the HTTPS URL to clone the repository.

2. Open a terminal, navigate to your desired directory (e.g., cd ~/Desktop), and run the clone command: bash git clone <your-repository-link> Note: If the git clone command fails, you may need to install Git on your system. You can download it from git-scm.com.

3. Once the repository is cloned, open the project folder in Cursor AI.

4. Open a terminal within Cursor AI and install the necessary dependencies: bash npm install

5. After the installation is complete, run the project locally: bash npm run dev You can now access the application by navigating to the provided localhost address (e.g., http://localhost:8080). The project is now running on your local machine, ready for modification in Cursor AI.

For example, you can add a new feature like a contact page by providing a prompt to Cursor AI:

"Add a contact page to my Airbnb clone app at /contact-us"

Cursor AI will generate the necessary code, such as a new contact.tsx file, and integrate it into the application by modifying the app.tsx file. After accepting the changes, the new page will be available locally at the /contact-us route, a page that does not yet exist in the Lovable.dev version of the project.

Step 4: Pushing Changes Back to GitHub

After making any number of changes within Cursor AI, the critical next step is to push them back to the GitHub repository.

1. Open a new terminal in Cursor AI and check the status of your changes: bash git status
2. Add the modified and new files to the staging area: bash git add .
3. Commit the changes with a descriptive message: bash git commit -m "Cursor edit: Added contact page"
4. Push the changes to the remote repository: bash git push origin main

All the modifications made locally via Cursor AI are now live in the GitHub repository.

Step 5: Syncing Back to Lovable.dev

This is where the workflow comes full circle.

By simply refreshing your project in Lovable.dev, the platform will detect the new commit pushed to the repository. A popup will appear, indicating an "External commit" with your commit message.

After acknowledging the change, the updates are seamlessly integrated. The new contact page, created entirely within Cursor AI, is now fully accessible within the Lovable.dev project.

A Seamless, Hybrid Development Cycle

This workflow establishes a powerful, simultaneous development environment. You can leverage Cursor AI for complex, code-intensive tasks and use Lovable.dev for rapid UI generation and high-level project management.

The key is to ensure all changes made in Cursor AI are consistently pushed back to GitHub. This guarantees that Lovable.dev remains in sync, allowing you to publish the final website from Lovable, continue iterating, or manage the project from a higher level. The possibilities with this hybrid approach are vast, enabling you to build sophisticated features with the tool best suited for the job.