Guide
Is Cursor Only for Developers? A Better AI Interface for Anyone With Files
Anyone outgrowing ChatGPT tabs who wants file-grounded AI that remembers your rules across projects, semesters, jobs, and side work
Practical writing on using AI well
What worked, what failed, and what helped me move from pilot to production.
New posts ship on the blog; the weekly digest catches what you missed — one email, practical only.
Nathan Petralia
I have spent two decades leading digital and commercial programs across APAC. Today I build AI products and use agents daily across consulting, practice building, go-to-market, delivery governance, and operational leadership.
About me →Start here
New to the site? Pick one path — each opens a guide or series hub.
Series hub
External Memory Series: A Practical Guide to AI Session Continuity
Program leads and knowledge workers adopting file-based memory for AI-assisted work — start here for the series map
Series hub
One Agent, Many Workflows: What Cursor Customize Is For (Beyond Coding)
Anyone who uses AI across study, business, and personal work and wants one customized agent interface instead of a pile of chat tabs
Reading paths
Multi-part guides — start at the hub, then follow the series in order.
Reading path
Cursor Customize Series
Anyone who uses AI across study, business, and personal work and wants one customized agent interface instead of a pile of chat tabs
Reading path
Knowledge Work Engine Series
Leaders and operators designing a knowledge-work engine around agents
Reading path
Cursor Agent Harness Series
Practice leads governing Cursor Agent with harness discipline without microservice overhead
Reading path
External Memory Series
Program leads and knowledge workers adopting file-based memory for AI-assisted work — start here for the series map
Latest
New this week
The CDP Your Agents Need Is a Folder Contract
Best forMarketing and program leads running agent pilots who need governed customer context without buying another CDP seat
Composable martech plus a folder contract: governed customer-context paths for agents—when CDP, lake, or hybrid stacks fit, and best practice for commerce and marketing.
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Shopify Hydrogen vs Online Store 2.0 When AI Is the Front End
Best forEcommerce operators and tech leads choosing Shopify storefront architecture when AI assists design, copy, and component generation
When AI generates storefront UI and copy, the stack choice shifts. Hydrogen offers component control; Online Store 2.0 offers speed. Here is how I decide.
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Hong Kong Customer AI Is Still Mostly a Label
Best forCX leaders, digital banking heads, and public-sector service owners benchmarking Hong Kong front-line AI against policy rhetoric
Three Hong Kong touchpoints in one afternoon—IRD, Standard Chartered, HSBC—failed the same simple tests. Policy and press releases run ahead of what citizens and customers actually experience.
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n8n vs My Cursor and Obsidian System: Scheduled Automation vs Judgment Work
Best forOperators comparing n8n to a Cursor plus Obsidian harness who need a clear line between scheduled integrations and file-grounded agent judgment
I retired n8n last year for AI-coded microservices on petralian.com. Cursor plus Obsidian still owns judgment work. Here is when each layer wins.
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OpenClaw vs Cursor in 2026: Ambient Messaging Agent vs File-Grounded IDE
Best forAnyone who read OpenClaw hype and uses Cursor who wants a clear comparison between ambient messaging agents and file-grounded IDE work
OpenClaw is my mental model for ambient agents on WhatsApp and Telegram. Cursor is where files, rules, and shipping live. Here is the 2026 split.
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Hermes vs Cursor in My Setup: Life Agent on the Server, File Work at the Desk
Best forAnyone comparing a hosted messaging agent with Cursor who wants a clear split between ambient life admin and file-heavy project work
Hermes is my hosted life agent on Telegram and family WebUI. Cursor is my file-grounded desk agent. Here is when each wins in 2026.
Continue reading →