IDE vs. Playground?
Playgrounds (OpenAI, PromptQuorum) are fast. IDEs (Cursor, VS Code) are better for version control, complex workflows, team collaboration.
Best for Developers
- Cursor: AI-native, autocomplete, git integration
- VS Code + extensions: Familiar, extensible
- LM Studio: Local focus, built-in execution
Best for Non-Developers
- PromptQuorum: Web-based, no setup
- Jan AI: Local-first, simple UI
- LM Studio: Visual interface, click-to-run
Key Features
- Syntax highlighting and completion
- Version control (git or built-in)
- Local model support (Ollama, LM Studio)
- Integrated testing/evaluation
- Team collaboration (comments, branches)
- Export/API access
Sources
- Cursor documentation
- VS Code Marketplace extensions
- LM Studio GitHub
Common Mistakes
- Choosing IDE over simplicity when testing
- Ignoring local model support
- Not integrating with team workflows
- Spending time on IDE setup over prompting