Introduction
Seen job listings asking for vibe coding experience? Cursor AI is behind the buzz.
If you’re a Laravel or PHP developer, you might’ve seen a curious term pop up in tech circles lately — vibe coding. It sounds like a trendy gimmick, but in reality, it’s a serious signal of how coding workflows are being redefined by AI.
At the heart of this shift is Cursor AI, an AI-powered IDE that’s transforming the way developers write, refactor, and ship code. In this post, we’ll explore what vibe coding means, why it’s becoming a desirable skill in job listings, and how you — especially if you’re a Laravel developer — can use Cursor AI to boost productivity and gain an edge in 2025.
What Is Vibe Coding and Why It’s Trending
Vibe coding refers to the experience of coding in a smooth, uninterrupted flow, with AI handling the boilerplate, suggesting smarter logic, and debugging as you go.
The phrase was popularized after tech leaders like Andrej Karpathy and Sundar Pichai highlighted the role of AI copilots in streamlining software development. Cursor AI picked up on this idea and turned it into a real-world developer experience.
Why Developers Love It:
- No more context switching — code, ask, and refactor in the same tab.
- Less time on repetitive tasks like writing CRUD controllers or test cases.
- Rapid feedback loops that keep you in the zone — or as we say, in the vibe.
Real job snippet:
“We’re looking for engineers experienced in vibe coding workflows — familiarity with AI IDEs like Cursor AI is a big plus.”
Why Cursor AI Is Dominating the AI IDE Space
Cursor AI is built from the ground up as an AI-first IDE, offering developers an intelligent assistant inside their codebase. Unlike traditional IDEs with limited AI extensions, Cursor is designed for deep integration with your code and context.
What Makes Cursor AI Stand Out:
- Full repository awareness: Understands your Laravel app structure, routes, and models.
- Real-time chat: Ask it to explain, refactor, or debug without leaving your code.
- Smart autocomplete: Not just syntax — it predicts logic based on your current file and app architecture.
Cursor vs Others:
- GitHub Copilot: Great for suggestions, but lacks full-project awareness.
- Claude in Slack: Good for brainstorming, not coding.
- Replit Ghostwriter: Nice for prototyping, but not production-scale Laravel apps.
Cursor AI brings the whole package — it’s like having a Laravel expert pair-programming with you, 24/7.
7 Practical Ways Laravel/PHP Developers Can Use Cursor AI
1. Generate Laravel Controller with CRUD in Seconds
Problem: Writing boilerplate CRUD logic manually.
Prompt: “Create a Laravel controller for Post model with index, store, show, update, destroy methods.”
Before: 20+ lines of repetitive code
After: Generated instantly and follows Laravel best practices.
2. Refactor Complex Eloquent Relationships Automatically
Problem: Nested relationships get messy and unreadable.
Prompt: “Refactor this Eloquent relationship chain to be more readable.”
// Before
User::with('posts.comments.likes')->get();
// After
User::with([
'posts' => function ($query) {
$query->with('comments.likes');
}
])->get();
3. Write PHPUnit Tests Using Prompts
Problem: Tedious to write test cases for every controller.
Prompt: “Generate PHPUnit tests for the PostController.”
Cursor outputs full test methods with assertions, saving hours.
4. Debug SQL Query Performance with AI Suggestions
Problem: N+1 queries or slow query execution.
Prompt: “Optimize this Laravel query for performance.”
Cursor identifies unnecessary joins and suggests eager loading.
5. Auto-Document Functions and Classes in PHP
Problem: Manual documentation is time-consuming.
Prompt: “Add PHPDoc comments to this service class.”
Instant docblocks with proper parameter and return type hints.
6. Create Seeders and Migrations from Sample JSON
Problem: Manually writing migrations from sample data.
Prompt: “Generate migration and seeder from this JSON.”
{
"title": "Laravel AI Blog",
"published": true,
"views": 150
}
7. Rewrite Legacy Code into Laravel 11+ Structure
Problem: Old Laravel apps using outdated conventions.
Prompt: “Convert this legacy Laravel 6 controller to Laravel 11 standards.”
Cursor updates syntax, uses modern middleware, and proper route methods.
Why Cursor AI Skills Are Showing Up in Job Listings
Employers are no longer just hiring developers who can write code — they want coders who can ship faster, maintain cleaner code, and adapt AI tools into their workflows.
We’re seeing mentions like:
- “Experience with AI IDEs such as Cursor or Copilot.”
- “Bonus if you can demonstrate vibe coding workflows.”
- “AI-accelerated development experience preferred.”
As the development landscape evolves, the ability to code with AI is now part of the hiring criteria. If you’re a Laravel developer who knows how to use Cursor effectively, you instantly stand out.
Tips to Master Cursor AI for Laravel Projects
🧠 Prompt Engineering for Laravel
- Use scoped prompts like “Write a migration for a products table with name, price, and stock fields.”
- “Explain the logic of this service class.”
⚙️ Customize the AI Assistant
- Use context window features to give full file access.
- Adjust the tone (formal, concise, humorous) for explanations.
- Switch models when needed for speed or accuracy.
🚫 Common Pitfalls
- Overreliance on AI for architectural decisions.
- Forgetting to validate generated code.
- Misleading prompts lead to inaccurate results.
Pro Tip: Treat Cursor like a smart assistant — not your lead architect.
The Flip Side: Limitations and Real-World Feedback
While Cursor AI is powerful, it’s not perfect. Developers have shared feedback around:
- Pricing: Not always budget-friendly for indie devs.
- Model switching confusion: Sometimes unclear which model is responding.
- Occasional bugs: Especially with deeply nested projects or package-heavy Laravel apps.
When Not to Use Cursor
- Planning high-level system design
- Security-sensitive code
- Codebases with heavy dynamic behavior
Best Practice: Blend AI workflows with human logic, reviews, and tests.
Conclusion
Vibe coding isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a signal.
It shows you’re coding in a modern, efficient, AI-assisted way — and “Cursor AI is leading that movement.
✅ Start here with our Cursor AI installation guide
For Laravel and PHP developers, mastering Cursor is a productivity win and a career boost. It’s not about replacing your skills; it’s about enhancing them.
✅ Start by using Cursor on your next Laravel CRUD, test case, or legacy code update.
🚀 You’ll feel the productivity boost — and maybe even land that next job a little faster.
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