Get set up for class

This should take about 30 minutes. When you're done, you'll have deployed your first website to the internet. For real.

If you get stuck, ask Pat Bot for help or email Pat.

0 of 6 steps complete

Step 1: Create a GitHub account

If you already have one, skip this step.

Go to github.com and sign up. Use your @rice.edu email.

Why? GitHub stores your code. Think of it as Google Drive for code.

Step 2: Get Cursor Pro (free for students)

  1. Go to cursor.com/students
  2. Click "Verify Status"
  3. Sign in with your @rice.edu email
  4. Complete the SheerID verification (takes ~1 min)
  5. Download Cursor for your OS (Mac or Windows)
  6. Install and open it. Sign in.

You now have Cursor Pro for 1 year — normally $20/month. This gives you access to Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, and more, all built into the editor.

What is Cursor?

It's a code editor (like a fancy text editor for code) with AI built in. You describe what you want in plain English, and it writes the code. Think of it like ChatGPT, but instead of just showing you code in a chat, it creates actual files you can run.

Step 3: Install Node.js

Mac:

  1. Open Terminal (search "Terminal" in Spotlight)
  2. If you have Homebrew: brew install node
  3. If not: go to nodejs.org, download the LTS version, run the installer
  4. Verify: node --version should show a version number

Windows:

  1. Go to nodejs.org
  2. Download the LTS version
  3. Run the installer (accept all defaults)
  4. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell
  5. Verify: node --version should show a version number

What is Node.js?

It's what lets you run JavaScript (the programming language of the web) on your computer. You need it to preview and build websites locally before deploying them.

Step 4: Create a Vercel account

  1. Go to vercel.com and sign up
  2. Sign up with your GitHub account (easiest)
  3. The free "Hobby" plan is all you need

What is Vercel?

It's where your website lives on the internet. When you "deploy" to Vercel, it takes your code and makes it available at a real URL that anyone can visit.

Step 5: Build & deploy your first site

  1. Open Cursor
  2. Press Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows) to open the AI Composer

  3. Type this prompt:

    Create a new Next.js app. It should have a single page with:
    - A centered layout with lots of whitespace
    - My name in large, bold text: "[Your actual name]"
    - Below it, a subtitle: "I'm ready to build something great."
    - Below that, a small line: "BUSI-371 · Rice University · 2026"
    - Use a clean, minimal design. Dark text on a light background.
    - No images, no icons. Just beautiful typography and spacing.
  4. Let Cursor generate the project
  5. Open the terminal in Cursor (View → Terminal, or Ctrl+`)
  6. Run: npm install
  7. Run: npm run dev
  8. Open http://localhost:3000 in your browser. You should see your page!
  9. Now deploy it:
    1. Run: npx vercel in the terminal
    2. Follow the prompts (accept defaults)
    3. It will give you a URL like your-project.vercel.app
    4. Visit that URL. Your site is live on the internet.

Step 6: Submit your work

Paste your Vercel URL below, tell us what you want to build in class, and you're done.

Submit your work

Paste your Vercel URL and tell us what you want to build in class.

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