Bolt.new to Cursor: Keeping Your Momentum When Moving to Local Development

You've been shipping fast with Bolt.new—instant previews, zero setup, AI that just works. But now you're hitting walls: your project is too complex for the browser environment, you need proper version control, or you want deployment flexibility beyond what browser-based tools offer. The good news? You've already mastered the hardest part: rapid iteration with AI assistance. Moving to Cursor doesn't mean losing that velocity—it means gaining control while keeping your speed.

This guide shows you exactly how to migrate your Bolt.new workflow to Cursor IDE without breaking stride. You'll learn how to preserve the instant-feedback loop you love while unlocking professional capabilities like Git integration, custom deployment pipelines, and unlimited project scaling.

Before and After: Your Workflow Evolution

The key insight: Cursor's Composer gives you the same AI-driven development speed, but instead of being locked in a browser sandbox, you're working with real files you can version, customize, and deploy however you want.

Prerequisites Checklist

Before starting the migration, make sure you have:

• Node.js installed (v18 or higher) – node --version to check
• Cursor IDE installed – Download from cursor.sh
• Git installed (optional but recommended) – git --version to check
• A Bolt.new project you want to migrate
• 30-60 minutes for first migration (faster after you learn the pattern)

Step-by-Step Migration Guide

Step 1: Export Your Bolt.new Project

In Bolt.new, use the download/export feature to get your project files. You'll receive a ZIP containing:

• Source code files (components, pages, utilities)
• package.json with dependencies
• Configuration files (vite.config, tsconfig, etc.)
• Public assets (images, fonts)

Extract the ZIP to a new folder on your computer. This becomes your local project directory.

Step 2: Set Up Your Local Development Environment

Open your terminal and navigate to the project directory:

cd ~/Downloads/my-bolt-project

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start the development server
npm run dev

Your terminal will show a localhost URL (usually http://localhost:5173). Open it in your browser—you now have the same instant preview you had in Bolt.new, but running locally.

Step 3: Open Project in Cursor IDE

Launch Cursor and open your project folder (File → Open Folder). You'll see your project structure in the sidebar—all the files Bolt.new was managing for you are now visible and editable.

my-bolt-project/
├── src/
│   ├── components/     # Your React components
│   ├── pages/          # Your app pages
│   └── App.tsx         # Main app entry
├── public/             # Static assets
├── package.json        # Dependencies
└── vite.config.ts      # Build configuration

Keep your browser open with localhost:5173 visible. Position Cursor and your browser side-by-side—this recreates Bolt.new's split-pane experience.

Step 4: Learn Cursor's AI Composer

Cursor Composer is your Bolt.new chat replacement. Open it with Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows). Here's the workflow comparison:

You: "Add a dark mode toggle to the header"
Bolt: [Generates code, updates preview automatically]

You: "Add a dark mode toggle to the header"
Composer: [Shows proposed file changes]
You: [Review and accept changes]
Browser: [Auto-refreshes with new code]

The difference: Cursor shows you exactly what files it's modifying and lets you review before applying. You're learning the codebase structure while maintaining AI velocity.

Step 5: Initialize Git Version Control

This is your superpower upgrade. Bolt.new didn't give you version history—Cursor does. In your terminal:

# Initialize Git repository
git init

# Create initial commit
git add .
git commit -m "Initial migration from Bolt.new"

# Optional: Connect to GitHub
git branch -M main
git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo.git
git push -u origin main

Now every change you make can be committed, branched, and rolled back. Made a mistake with an AI suggestion? git checkout . reverts everything. This safety net doesn't exist in browser-based tools.

Step 6: Maintain Hot Reload Velocity

Ensure your vite.config.ts (or equivalent) has hot module replacement (HMR) enabled:

import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react()],
  server: {
    port: 5173,
    strictPort: true,
    hmr: {
      overlay: true, // Shows errors in browser
    },
  },
});

With this setup, saving a file in Cursor triggers instant browser updates—matching Bolt.new's responsiveness. Most exported Bolt projects already have this configured.

Step 7: Set Up Deployment

Bolt.new's one-click deploy is convenient but limiting. With local control, you can deploy anywhere. For the fastest Bolt.new-like experience, use Vercel:

# Install Vercel CLI
npm install -g vercel

# Deploy your project
vercel

# Follow prompts to link project
# Future deploys: just run 'vercel' again

Vercel automatically detects Vite/React projects and configures build settings. After initial setup, deployments are as simple as Bolt.new's—but you control environment variables, domains, and preview environments.

Skill Bridge: Translating Bolt.new Concepts

Troubleshooting Common Migration Issues

Issue: "npm install" Fails with Dependency Errors

Bolt.new sometimes uses package versions that conflict locally. Solution:

# Delete node_modules and package-lock.json
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json

# Try with legacy peer dependencies flag
npm install --legacy-peer-deps

# Or use npm's force flag
npm install --force

Issue: Environment Variables Not Working

Bolt.new manages environment variables automatically. Locally, create a .env file:

# .env file in project root
VITE_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
VITE_API_URL=https://api.example.com

# Access in code:
const apiKey = import.meta.env.VITE_API_KEY;

Vite requires VITE_ prefix for environment variables to be exposed to client code. Restart dev server after adding .env file.

Issue: Import Paths Don't Work

Bolt.new may use absolute imports that need configuration locally. Update vite.config.ts:

import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
import path from 'path';

export default defineConfig({
  plugins: [react()],
  resolve: {
    alias: {
      '@': path.resolve(__dirname, './src'),
      '@components': path.resolve(__dirname, './src/components'),
    },
  },
});

Issue: Cursor Composer Suggestions Are Too Generic

Give Composer more context by referencing specific files:

# Generic (less effective):
"Add authentication"

# Specific (much better):
"In src/components/Header.tsx, add a login button that 
calls the authenticateUser function from src/utils/auth.ts"

Cursor also has a Chat mode (Cmd+L) for questions about your codebase. Use Chat to understand, Composer to modify.

Preserving Your Vibe Coding Velocity

The goal isn't to abandon rapid prototyping—it's to enhance it. Here's how to maintain Bolt.new's speed in Cursor:

After a few projects, you'll realize you're moving faster than Bolt.new because you're not fighting browser sandbox limitations. Need to use a library that requires file system access? Just install it. Want to customize your build process? Edit the config. Bolt.new's simplicity becomes a constraint—Cursor's flexibility is your new velocity multiplier.

Realistic Time Estimate

Key Takeaways

• You're not losing speed—you're gaining control. Cursor Composer provides the same AI-driven development as Bolt.new's chat, but with file-level visibility and version control safety nets.
• Hot reload works the same way. With npm run dev running, changes appear instantly in your browser—just like Bolt's preview pane. Position your windows side-by-side for the familiar split-screen experience.
• Git is your superpower. Bolt.new offered no undo beyond its limited snapshot system. With Git, every change is versioned, every feature can be branched, and rolling back is trivial. This lets you experiment fearlessly.
• Deploy anywhere, not just one platform. Bolt.new locked you into their hosting. With local development, you can deploy to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, AWS, or your own infrastructure—whatever fits your project needs and budget.
• The learning curve pays dividends. First migration takes 1-2 hours. By your third project, you'll complete the process in 15 minutes. After that, you'll wonder how you tolerated browser-based development's limitations.

You've already proven you can build fast with AI assistance. Moving to Cursor isn't about slowing down to "do things properly"—it's about removing the ceiling on what you can build. Your vibe coding velocity stays intact. Your deployment options multiply. Your ability to scale projects becomes unlimited. That's not a trade-off. That's leveling up.