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Local Development with AI

Working with AI coding assistants locally gives you the most control over your development environment. This section covers how to set up and optimize your local AI-assisted workflow.

Getting Started

Why Work Locally?

Working with AI tools on your local machine offers several advantages:

Benefit Description
Privacy Your code stays on your machine (depending on tool)
Speed No network latency for file operations
Control Full access to your development environment
Integration Works with your existing tools and workflows
Customization Extensive configuration options

The Local AI Stack

A typical local AI development setup includes:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│              Your Codebase                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│     IDE (Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf)         │
│              or                              │
│     CLI (Claude Code, Aider, Codex)         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│     Config (~/.cursor, ~/.claude, etc.)     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│     AI Model API (Claude, GPT-4, etc.)      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Quick Comparison

Approach Best For Learning Curve Flexibility
IDE-based Visual learners, integrated workflows Gentle Medium
CLI-based Power users, automation, scripting Steeper High
Hybrid Complex projects, team collaboration Medium Highest

Detailed comparison

Essential Concepts

Configuration Directories

AI tools store settings in your home directory (~/.cursor, ~/.claude, etc.). Understanding these is key to customization.

Config directory guide

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

MCP servers extend what AI tools can do - from browsing documentation to controlling browsers.

Learn about MCP

Project vs Global Config

Most tools support both global settings (your preferences) and project settings (team standards).

Global vs project config

Planning Your Work

How you plan and organize your AI-assisted work significantly impacts results:

  • Local Planning - Using markdown files, comments, and local tools
  • BrainGrid - External tool for structured requirements

Next Steps

  1. Compare IDE vs CLI - Decide which approach fits your workflow
  2. Set up your environment - Get your local setup ready
  3. Explore tools - Deep dive into specific tools
  4. Community resources - Shared configurations and best practices