AI Prompts for Cursor for Technical Documentation
The top AI prompts for Cursor for Technical Documentation. Copy any prompt and get results in seconds.
Top tested AI prompts for Cursor for Technical Documentation that get you real results, fast.
Technical documentation is the task developers most consistently under-invest in, and it is the one that creates the most friction for everyone else on the team. Cursor can generate a first draft of documentation directly from the code it can read, which removes the blank-page problem that causes most documentation to never get written. These prompts cover the full documentation workflow: writing inline comments and docstrings, creating README files and API references, building guides for contributors, and keeping documentation synchronized with code changes.
Stage 1
Write inline documentation
The most immediately useful documentation is what lives in the code itself. These prompts add inline comments and docstrings without over-commenting obvious things.
Add docstrings to all public functions
Add JSDoc / Python docstrings / Go doc comments to every public function in this file. For each function, include: a one-sentence description of what it does, the parameters with their types and description, the return value with its type and description, and any exceptions or error conditions it can produce. Do not add comments to private or internal helper functions unless their logic is non-obvious. File: [PASTE].
Add inline comments to non-obvious logic
Review this code and add inline comments only where the logic is non-obvious. A comment is needed when: the why is not clear from the code, there is a constraint or workaround that a reader would not know about, the algorithm is complex enough that a summary line helps, or there is a subtle side effect. Do not add comments that describe what the code does rather than why. File: [PASTE].
Write a file header comment
Write a header comment for this file. It should describe: what this module does and why it exists, what its main exports are, any key architectural decisions or constraints, and any dependencies or context a new reader would need to understand the code. Keep it under 10 lines. File: [PASTE].
Improve weak existing comments
Review the comments in this file and rewrite any that are: just restating what the code does, outdated and no longer accurate, so brief they add no value, or missing where the logic is clearly non-obvious. For each comment you rewrite, show the old version and the new version. File: [PASTE].
Add type annotations with documentation
Add type annotations to this [LANGUAGE, e.g. Python / TypeScript] code. For complex types, add a brief comment explaining what each type represents. For type aliases, add a docstring explaining when to use this type versus similar types. For interfaces or protocols, document what implementors must guarantee. File: [PASTE].
Stage 2
Write README and API documentation
These prompts produce the external-facing documentation that other developers rely on to understand and use your code.
Write a README for this project or module
Write a README for [PROJECT/MODULE NAME]. Include: what it does (one paragraph, lead with the problem it solves), installation or setup instructions, basic usage with a code example, configuration options if any, how to run tests, and contributing guidelines. Tone: clear and direct, written for a developer who has never seen this code. Source code for context: [PASTE OR DESCRIBE].
Write API reference documentation
Write API reference documentation for this module. For each public function or method, document: the signature with types, a description of what it does, a parameter table with name, type, required/optional, and description, the return value with type and description, an example showing the most common usage, and any errors it can throw. Format: markdown with code blocks. Module: [PASTE].
Document a REST API endpoint
Write documentation for this REST API endpoint. Cover: the endpoint URL and HTTP method, description of what it does, request headers, request body schema with field descriptions, query parameters, response schema for success and each error case, and a working curl example. Format it for inclusion in an API reference doc. Endpoint code: [PASTE].
Write a configuration reference
Write a configuration reference for [PROJECT/TOOL]. For each configuration option, document: the key name, data type, default value, required or optional, a description of what it controls, and an example value. Format as a table or as markdown sections. Source code or config schema: [PASTE].
Write a quick start guide
Write a quick start guide that takes a new developer from zero to a working example in under 10 minutes. Include: one-sentence project description, prerequisites, installation steps (numbered, exact commands), the minimal configuration needed to get started, a working code example they can copy-paste and run, and the URL or command to verify it is working. Project context: [DESCRIBE].
Stage 3
Write guides for contributors and teams
Internal documentation is what keeps a team aligned. These prompts write the guides, decision records, and onboarding materials that prevent repeated questions.
Write a CONTRIBUTING guide
Write a CONTRIBUTING.md for this project. Include: how to set up the development environment, how to run tests, the branching and PR strategy, the commit message convention, how to report bugs, and what a PR needs before it can be merged. Keep it practical and specific. Project context: [DESCRIBE].
Document an architecture decision
Write an Architecture Decision Record (ADR) for this decision: [DESCRIBE THE DECISION]. Format: Title, Status (Proposed/Accepted/Deprecated), Context (why a decision was needed), Decision (what was chosen and why), Consequences (what becomes easier, what becomes harder, any known trade-offs). Keep it under 400 words so it will actually be read.
Write a developer onboarding guide for this codebase
Write a developer onboarding guide for a new engineer joining this codebase. It should cover: the technology stack and why each piece was chosen, the high-level architecture with the main modules and how they interact, the local development setup, where to find things (key files, config, tests, docs), and the most common tasks a new developer will need to do in the first week. Codebase context: [DESCRIBE].
Document a deployment or ops runbook
Write a runbook for [DEPLOYMENT PROCESS OR OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE]. A runbook is a step-by-step guide a developer should be able to follow without prior context. Include: when to use this runbook, prerequisites, numbered steps with the exact commands to run, what success looks like at each step, and what to do if a step fails. Context: [DESCRIBE THE PROCESS].
Write a migration guide for a breaking change
Write a migration guide for developers upgrading from [VERSION A] to [VERSION B]. This version includes breaking changes. For each breaking change: describe what changed, show the before and after in code, explain why the change was made, and give the exact steps to migrate. Organize from most impactful to least. Breaking changes: [LIST].
Stage 4
Keep documentation current
Documentation that is not updated becomes a liability. These prompts integrate documentation into the development workflow rather than treating it as a one-time task.
Identify outdated documentation
Compare this documentation with the current code and identify anything that is outdated or incorrect. Look for: function signatures that have changed, configuration options that no longer exist or have new defaults, examples that would not run with the current version, and any claims about behavior that the code no longer supports. Docs: [PASTE]. Current code: [PASTE].
Update docs to match a code change
The following code was changed: [DESCRIBE OR PASTE THE CHANGE]. Update the relevant documentation to reflect this change. Specifically update: the function docstring or API reference, any README or guide sections that describe this behavior, and any code examples that would now produce a different result. Existing docs: [PASTE].
Generate a changelog entry
Write a changelog entry for these changes. Use the Keep a Changelog format with sections for Added, Changed, Deprecated, Removed, Fixed, and Security. Only include the sections that apply. Each entry should be one sentence, written for a developer upgrading to this version. Changes made: [DESCRIBE OR PASTE DIFF SUMMARY].
Review documentation for accuracy before a release
I am about to release [VERSION]. Review this documentation for anything that needs updating before the release. Check: are all described features still present and working as described, are the installation instructions correct for the current version, are any deprecated features still documented as if they are current, and does the quick start example still work? Docs to review: [PASTE].
Add documentation to the PR checklist
I want to make sure documentation is updated as part of every code change. Help me write a PR checklist item for documentation that: is specific enough to be actionable, covers the most common types of documentation that need updating, and does not require documentation for every trivial change. The goal is to catch the cases where documentation genuinely needs updating, not to mandate documentation for everything.
Frequently asked questions
Can Cursor generate accurate documentation without reading the tests?+
Better documentation comes from reading both the implementation and the tests. The tests reveal how the function is meant to be used, what edge cases matter, and what the expected return values are for different inputs. When using the API reference prompt, paste both the function and its test file for the most accurate result.
How do I stop Cursor from adding too many comments?+
Specify in the prompt: "only comment where the logic is non-obvious, do not comment self-explanatory code." Without this instruction, Cursor tends to comment every line. The inline comment prompt in Stage 1 includes this constraint by default. For review, use the improvement prompt that specifically targets redundant comments.
What is the difference between a docstring and an inline comment?+
A docstring documents the contract of a function: what it does, what it accepts, what it returns, and what can go wrong. It is for the caller. An inline comment explains why the implementation does something non-obvious. It is for the person reading the code. Both have their place. Writing them at the same time with the same prompt usually produces worse output than writing them with separate, focused prompts.
Should documentation live in the code or in a separate docs folder?+
Both, for different purposes. Inline docstrings belong in the code because they stay synchronized as the code changes. Conceptual guides, architecture decisions, and tutorials belong in a docs folder or wiki because they need more structure and context than code comments allow. The prompts in Stage 2 cover both types.
How do I get Cursor to match the documentation style already used in the codebase?+
Paste three to five examples of existing documentation from the codebase before asking Cursor to write new documentation. It will match the style, format, and level of detail of the examples. This is especially important for docstrings because different projects have very different conventions for what to include.
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