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How to Turn a Feature Idea into Executable AI-Generated Tasks in Cursor

Turn a feature idea into a repository specific PRD and task list, then have Cursor implement one small subtask at a time with explicit context, checks, commits, and stop conditions so errors remain easy to locate and reverse.

How to Turn a Feature Idea into Executable AI-Generated Tasks in Cursor

Source episode · 03:00

How I AI: Ryan Carson's 3-Step Playbook for Structured AI Development in Cursor

with Claire Vo

Ryan uses three Cursor rules to turn a feature idea into a PRD, clarify its user and placement, generate parent tasks and subtasks, and execute one subtask at a time while updating the Markdown checklist and checking the application between changes.

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Before you start

What you need

  • A clean branch and working baseline
  • A feature idea with user, problem, outcome, scope, and constraints
  • Repository context including architecture, data model, conventions, and commands
  • Cursor rules for PRD creation, task generation, and task execution
  • Acceptance tests and a definition of done for the feature

What you’ll make

A versioned PRD, ordered Markdown task list, and series of small tested diffs that implement the feature while recording progress, decisions, and deviations from the plan.

Tools used

Step by step

The workflow

Follow the sequence once, then adapt the prompts, checks, and handoffs to your own setup.

3 steps

Step01

Generate a Product Requirements Document (PRD)

Give Cursor the PRD rule and a short feature idea. Require clarifying questions about user, problem, workflow, data, permissions, edge states, non goals, and acceptance criteria before it writes the document.

Example prompt
Using the PRD rule, create a PRD for [feature] in this repository. First inspect [relevant context] and ask the minimum clarifying questions needed. Write for an implementer unfamiliar with the idea. Include user and problem, flows, data, permissions, states, requirements, non goals, risks, open questions, and testable acceptance criteria. Do not code.
Step02

Create a Detailed Engineering Task List

Give Cursor the reviewed PRD and task generation rule. Ask for ordered parent tasks and small subtasks with dependencies, relevant files, tests, and completion evidence, then inspect the sequence before adding implementation detail.

Example prompt
Generate an implementation task list from [PRD]. Cite likely files and interfaces from the repository. For each task include dependencies, exact behavior, tests or checks, and completion evidence. Start with the smallest end to end slice. Do not implement. Stop after parent tasks for review before expanding subtasks.
Step03

Execute Tasks Systematically with AI

Attach the execution rule, PRD, and task list. Ask Cursor to implement exactly one subtask, run its checks, summarize the diff, and stop. Verify behavior, update the checklist, and commit or checkpoint before continuing.

Example prompt
Implement subtask [ID] only. Stay within [scope]. Follow [PRD and repository rules]. Run [focused checks], inspect the diff, and stop on failure or unexpected scope. Do not begin the next task. Return files changed, evidence, risks, and any plan update needed.

What good looks like

  • The PRD resolves the user, problem, behavior, data, permissions, edge states, non goals, and acceptance criteria needed by this repository.
  • Tasks name dependencies, relevant files, tests, and observable completion conditions in a safe order.
  • Cursor changes one subtask at a time, runs the relevant checks, and updates the checklist only after evidence passes.
  • Each checkpoint is reviewable and reversible, and the final feature satisfies the PRD from a clean build and test run.

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After the steps

Runbook notes

How to recover when the loop fails and where human judgment helps.

Recover

If it goes sideways

A polished PRD hides unresolved product or technical decisions
Require clarifying questions and mark assumptions and open questions before task generation.
The task list starts UI work before data, interfaces, or migration decisions are ready
Add dependencies and acceptance evidence, then reorder tasks around the smallest end to end slice.
Cursor implements several subtasks at once and makes a large hard to debug diff
Constrain the prompt to one numbered subtask, stop after checks, and restore the last clean checkpoint if scope expands.
The checklist marks work complete without a passing test or working behavior
Define evidence per task, inspect the diff, run the command or behavior, and only then update status.

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