Cursor breaks when your codebase gets big. Here’s how to vibe code...
Prajwal Tomar@PrajwalTomar_
44 views
May 05, 2025
~2 min read
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Cursor breaks when your codebase gets big.
Here’s how to vibe code large projects ↓
Here’s how to vibe code large projects ↓
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1. What is Plandex?
Plandex is an AI-powered command-line tool designed for massive codebases.
It works like Cursor, but without choking on size.
Built to handle:
- 2 million tokens in context
- 20+ million tokens when indexing directories
Here’s how it works:
Plandex is an AI-powered command-line tool designed for massive codebases.
It works like Cursor, but without choking on size.
Built to handle:
- 2 million tokens in context
- 20+ million tokens when indexing directories
Here’s how it works:
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2. Why Plandex is different
- It uses Tree Sitter project maps to understand code structure
- It auto-selects the best LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral, OpenAI, etc.) via OpenRouter
- It supports brainstorming + implementation through chat and tell modes
- All changes are sandboxed until you approve them
- It uses Tree Sitter project maps to understand code structure
- It auto-selects the best LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, Mistral, OpenAI, etc.) via OpenRouter
- It supports brainstorming + implementation through chat and tell modes
- All changes are sandboxed until you approve them
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3. Three ways to use Plandex
- Plandex Cloud (no API keys needed)
- Plandex Cloud with your own keys
- Self-hosted local mode (the one I used)
Here’s how to set it up locally:
- Plandex Cloud (no API keys needed)
- Plandex Cloud with your own keys
- Self-hosted local mode (the one I used)
Here’s how to set it up locally:
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4. Step-by-step: Install Plandex (Local Mode)
Install Docker: docs.docker.com/get-docker/
Clone the repo:
git clone github.com/plandex-ai/pla…
Start the local server using the command from their GitHub
Docs: docs.plandex.ai/hosting/
Install Docker: docs.docker.com/get-docker/
Clone the repo:
git clone github.com/plandex-ai/pla…
Start the local server using the command from their GitHub
Docs: docs.plandex.ai/hosting/
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5. Continue setup (Local Mode)
- Open a new terminal → install the CLI (uses sudo)
- Sign in locally (it creates a user for you)
- When prompted, select local mode and confirm the host address (just press Enter)
- Set your OpenRouter and OpenAI API keys as environment variables
- Open a new terminal → install the CLI (uses sudo)
- Sign in locally (it creates a user for you)
- When prompted, select local mode and confirm the host address (just press Enter)
- Set your OpenRouter and OpenAI API keys as environment variables
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6. Initialize your project
Navigate to your project directory, run: plandex init
This sets up your project so you can start coding with AI support.
Use:
- Chat mode to brainstorm features
- Tell mode to generate step-by-step code
- Auto mode to debug issues
Navigate to your project directory, run: plandex init
This sets up your project so you can start coding with AI support.
Use:
- Chat mode to brainstorm features
- Tell mode to generate step-by-step code
- Auto mode to debug issues
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8. Worth exploring
Tried out Plandex and it looked super cool for big projects.
Haven’t used it on a real client build yet so can’t say much long-term.
Just wanted to share it in case it helps someone. Credits to the Plandex team for the demo.
Let me know if you try it out.
Tried out Plandex and it looked super cool for big projects.
Haven’t used it on a real client build yet so can’t say much long-term.
Just wanted to share it in case it helps someone. Credits to the Plandex team for the demo.
Let me know if you try it out.
