greenfieldintermediate30 minutes

AI-Powered SQL Development with Cursor and MotherDuck

A comprehensive workflow for setting up Cursor IDE with AI assistance to write perfect SQL queries on the first try. This workflow combines Cursor's AI capabilities with MotherDuck's DuckDB cloud platform to create an efficient SQL development environment.

Jacob Matson
Jacob Matson
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Tools & Prerequisites

Required Tools

Cursor(AI-Powered IDE)
DuckDB(Database Engine)
MotherDuck(Cloud Database Platform)

Optional Tools

Claude(AI Assistant)

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Install and Set Up Cursor IDE

Download and install Cursor IDE, then configure it for SQL development. Cursor is a fork of VS Code with built-in AI capabilities.

Pro Tip

Cursor offers both free and paid tiers. The free tier is sufficient for getting started with AI-assisted SQL development.

2

Create a MotherDuck Account

Sign up for a free MotherDuck account to access cloud-based DuckDB. MotherDuck provides a serverless DuckDB platform that integrates seamlessly with development tools.

Pro Tip

MotherDuck offers a generous free tier that's perfect for development and testing.

3

Connect Cursor to MotherDuck

Configure the connection between Cursor and your MotherDuck instance. This involves setting up authentication tokens and connection strings in your development environment.

Code Example

# Example connection setup
CONNECT 'md:my_database?motherduck_token=<your_token>'

Pro Tip

Store your MotherDuck token securely using environment variables or a secrets manager.

4

Create Context Files for AI

Set up context files that help the AI understand your database schema, naming conventions, and query patterns. These files guide the AI to generate accurate SQL.

Code Example

# schema_context.md
## Database Schema
- Tables: users, orders, products
- Naming convention: snake_case
- Primary keys: id columns
- Timestamps: created_at, updated_at

Pro Tip

The more detailed your context files, the better the AI will understand your specific requirements.

5

Configure AI Prompts

Set up custom prompts in Cursor to optimize SQL generation. These prompts tell the AI how to structure queries for your specific use case.

Prompt Template

Generate a DuckDB SQL query that [your requirement]. Follow these rules:
- Use proper JOIN syntax
- Include appropriate WHERE clauses
- Optimize for performance
- Add comments explaining complex logic

Pro Tip

Experiment with different prompt structures to find what works best for your workflow.

6

Test with Real Queries

Validate your setup by having the AI generate various SQL queries. Start with simple SELECT statements and progress to complex JOINs and aggregations.

Code Example

-- AI-generated example
SELECT 
    u.name,
    COUNT(o.id) as order_count,
    SUM(o.total_amount) as total_spent
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
WHERE o.created_at >= '2024-01-01'
GROUP BY u.id, u.name
ORDER BY total_spent DESC

Pro Tip

Keep a library of successful AI-generated queries as examples for future prompts.

7

Iterate and Refine

Continuously improve your setup by refining context files and prompts based on the AI's output. Track which prompts produce the best results and update your configuration accordingly.

Pro Tip

Consider creating different context files for different types of queries (analytics, reporting, data manipulation).

AI-Powered SQL Development with Cursor and MotherDuck

This workflow demonstrates how to configure Cursor IDE with AI assistance to write accurate SQL queries that work on the first attempt. By combining Cursor's AI-powered code completion with MotherDuck's cloud-based DuckDB platform, developers can significantly improve their SQL development productivity.

Overview

The setup involves:

  • Installing and configuring Cursor IDE
  • Setting up MotherDuck for cloud-based DuckDB
  • Creating context files for AI assistance
  • Configuring AI prompts for optimal SQL generation
  • Testing the setup with real queries

Benefits

  • First-try accuracy: AI generates working SQL queries without debugging
  • Context awareness: AI understands your database schema and conventions
  • Cloud integration: Seamless connection to MotherDuck's DuckDB platform
  • Productivity boost: Reduce time spent on SQL syntax and debugging

Prerequisites

  • Basic SQL knowledge
  • Familiarity with IDE usage
  • MotherDuck account (free tier available)
  • Cursor IDE installation

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AI-Powered SQL Development with Cursor and MotherDuck - LLM Workflow | LLM Workflows