Using a Product Requirements Document (PRD)

A critical blueprint for any project, defining its purpose, features, and requirements

Learn how to create and integrate PRDs effectively in your development workflow

A PRD outlines the "what" and "why" of your project—its goals, target audience, features, and technical needs. In Cursor, the PRD not only guides your development but also enhances the AI's ability to provide context-aware coding suggestions. For our example, we'll create a PRD for a task management app designed to help users organize tasks efficiently.

The PRD acts as a reference point in tools such as Cursor:

  • Manual Guidance: You can refer to it while coding to ensure alignment with project goals.
  • AI Assistance: Cursor's AI can leverage the PRD to generate code, suggest implementations, or refine ideas based on the documented requirements.
  • Iterative Refinement: As you update the PRD, Cursor helps adapt your code to reflect changes.

For instance, you might prompt Cursor: "Generate a Flutter widget based on the task creation feature in my PRD." The AI uses the PRD's details to tailor its suggestions.

  • Clarity: A well-defined PRD keeps your project focused, reducing scope creep.
  • Efficiency: Cursor's AI can use the PRD to automate repetitive tasks or suggest code aligned with your specs.
  • Consistency: The PRD ensures that your implementation matches the intended design, especially as the project evolves.

These benefits amplify when the PRD is properly integrated into Cursor's workflow.

To fully leverage these advantages, you need to store and load the PRD so Cursor's AI can access it seamlessly. Here's how:

Storage

The PRD is typically saved as a markdown file (e.g., prd.md) within your project's directory. For organization, place it in a subfolder like docs/ or specifications/ (e.g., TaskApp/docs/prd.md). Markdown is ideal due to its simplicity and compatibility with Cursor.

Configuration

To make the AI aware of the PRD, specify its location in the .cursorrules file—a configuration file in your project's root that customizes Cursor's behavior. For example:

[project]
prd = "docs/prd.md"

This line tells Cursor where to find the PRD, enabling the AI to reference it during code generation or completion tasks.

Loading

When you open your project in Cursor, the editor loads all files in the directory, including the PRD. The AI accesses the PRD via the .cursorrules configuration whenever you use AI features. For example, asking Cursor to "suggest code based on the PRD" prompts it to read docs/prd.md and incorporate its content into the response.

Prompt Integration

For precise assistance, you can reference specific PRD sections in your prompts, like:

  • "Based on the 'Task Creation' section in the PRD, create a Flutter function."

This ensures the AI focuses on the relevant requirements.

Maintenance

Keep the PRD updated as your project evolves. Since Cursor can access the latest version via .cursorrules, it adapts its suggestions to reflect changes, maintaining alignment between specs and code.

This setup allows Cursor's AI to provide smarter, contextually relevant support throughout development.

The level of detail depends on your project's complexity:

  • Simple Projects: A 1-2 page PRD with high-level goals, key features, and basic tech requirements suffices. For our task app, listing features like "Task Creation" and "Sync" with brief descriptions is enough.
  • Complex Projects: Include detailed user stories, edge cases (e.g., offline mode), and specific metrics (e.g., "95% sync success rate").
  • Cursor's Role: Use the AI to strike a balance—prompt it with: "Is this PRD detailed enough for a small mobile app?" to get feedback.

For our example, a concise yet clear PRD works well, with enough specifics to guide both you and Cursor's AI.

Here's a sample prd.md stored in TaskApp/docs/:

# Task Management App PRD

## Overview  
A mobile app to streamline task organization and tracking for busy users.

## Goals  
- Create tasks in under 10 seconds.  
- Offer a clean, intuitive UI.  
- Sync tasks across devices.

## Key Features  
- **Task Creation**: Form-based input with title, description, and due date. Supports voice entry.    
- **Categories**: Tag tasks (e.g., Work, Personal).    
- **Reminders**: Notifications 24 hours and 1 hour before due dates.    
- **Sync**: Real-time cloud sync via Firebase.

## Technical Requirements  
- **Platform**: Flutter for iOS and Android.  
- **Backend**: Firebase Firestore for sync.  
- **Local Storage**: SQLite for offline use.

## Success Metrics  
- 90% of users create tasks in under 10 seconds.  
- 4+ star rating within 3 months of launch.

Corresponding .cursorrules file in TaskApp/:

[project]  
prd = "docs/prd.md"  
[style]  
use_flutter = true

A PRD is a vital tool in Cursor, guiding your project and empowering the AI to assist effectively. By storing it as a markdown file (e.g., docs/prd.md) and configuring its path in .cursorrules, you ensure Cursor loads and utilizes it seamlessly. Whether drafting the PRD, generating code, or adapting to changes, this integration streamlines development and keeps your project on track. Start with a clear PRD, configure it in Cursor, and let the AI enhance your workflow!

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