As a programmer whose "mother tongue" is C++, I found myself exploring new opportunities due to the limited job market. Two weeks ago, I decided to dive into Next.js development using Cursor, despite having little experience with it. The result? My first website: Random Tarot Card.
Along the way, I learned some valuable lessons:
Plan with AI first – Before jumping into Cursor, I should have used DeepSeek to outline a clearer approach.
Start small – The first version doesn’t need to be perfect. With Cursor, it’s better to tackle one feature at a time.
Avoid over-scoping – I initially planned support for 11 languages, which caused unnecessary back-and-forth with Cursor. English alone would’ve sufficed for V1.
SEO-driven demand – My target site gets 160K monthly users and has Google sitelinks, but my initial demand research was only about 60% accurate.
Skip default landing pages – After buying a domain, don’t just leave the default page up—launch something simple ASAP.
Collaborate & improve – If anyone has similar experience, let’s exchange ideas! I’ll share more insights as I refine the project.
Would love to hear your thoughts—especially from fellow devs transitioning between languages or building small SEO tools!
Top comments (0)