Connecting Cursor, GitHub, and Vercel

If you’re starting to build web projects, you’ll see these three names: Cursor, GitHub, and Vercel.

Together, they make the process from writing code to getting your website online fast and simple.

Here’s how it works and 2 ways to set it up.

What these tools do

• Cursor – your code editor. It’s where you write and run your project.
• GitHub – your online code backup. It tracks every change you make.
• Vercel – your hosting. It takes your GitHub project and puts it live on the internet.

The chain looks like this:
Cursor → GitHub → Vercel.

You write code in Cursor, push it to GitHub, and Vercel automatically updates your live site.

1. The full setup (the normal way)

If you want the standard setup that developers use:

Create a GitHub repo

• Go to github.com → click New → name it.
• Copy the repo link.

Open it in Cursor

• In Cursor, open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
• Type Git: Clone, paste the repo link, and open the folder.

Write code

• Start a new file like index.html or use a framework (Next.js, React, etc.).

Push your code to GitHub

• Open the Source Control panel in Cursor, click the checkmark, add a message, and press Commit & Push.

Deploy on Vercel

• Go to vercel.com → sign up with GitHub.
• Click Add New Project → select your repo → Deploy.

That’s the automatic pipeline.

2. The simpler options

If you don’t want to learn Git right now, you can still get your code live:

Option A: Let Cursor do it for you

1. Inside Cursor, open the command bar and type “Deploy with Vercel”.
2. If the Cursor Agent is enabled, it will guide you through connecting GitHub and Vercel automatically.
3. You’ll just confirm a few prompts and it sets everything up — no commands needed.

Option B: Skip Git completely

1. Go to github.com.
2. Create a new repository → click Add file → Upload files.
3. Drag and drop your project folder from your computer.
4. Click Commit changes.

Then go to vercel.com/new, select that repo, and deploy.
This method takes five minutes, no coding commands required.

3. How to update later

When you change something:

• If you used GitHub manually: just upload your new files again (same Add file → Upload files process).
• If you used Cursor with Git: commit and push again — Vercel updates automatically.
• If you used Cursor’s agent: just tell it “deploy to Vercel again.”

4. Why this setup matters

• It’s the easiest way to make websites live without touching servers.
• Cursor helps you code faster and can do most Git actions for you.
• GitHub keeps backups of every version.
• Vercel makes deployment instant.

Even if you start with file uploads or AI prompts, learning the full loop later will make everything easier to maintain.