There are two broad kinds of AI coding tools, and picking the wrong one for your first project is one of the top reasons beginners quit in week one.
Chat tools (Claude, ChatGPT) live in a browser tab. You describe what you want, and they hand back working HTML or sometimes a hosted preview link. With many chat tools, including ChatGPT, you will save that HTML as a file and open it in your browser yourself. Best for your very first project, quick one-off pages, and anything you do not need to keep editing long-term.
In-editor tools (Cursor, Claude Code) live inside a code editor, on your actual computer, working on real project files. Best for anything you plan to keep building on, connect to other services, or eventually put online properly.
A slightly more detailed comparison
| Chat tool | In-editor tool | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Browser tab | An app on your computer |
| Best for | One-off pages, quick ideas, learning the basics | Ongoing projects, things you will keep editing |
| How you save work | Save HTML as a file, or use a generated link if the tool offers one | Built into the project itself |
| Starting cost (effort) | Almost none, open a tab and type | A bit more setup the first time |
| What breaks if it breaks | Usually nothing, you just try again | Slightly more, which is why version control matters more here |
You do not need to pick the "best" tool. You need to pick the one that matches what you are making this week. Plenty of real useful things get built entirely in a chat tool and never need anything more.
A note on which one this course uses: this free course sticks entirely to chat tools on purpose. It is the lowest-friction way to prove the core idea to yourself in one sitting. In-editor tools like Cursor and Claude Code, and the real workflows around them, are what later modules cover in depth.
Assignment 1.2 - Pick your tools, and know why
You're done when: you have a chat tool open and ready, and can explain why it is the right tool for right now.
0 of 4 items checked
Self-check
For a quick one-off page you do not plan to keep editing, which type of tool fits better?
A chat tool. It is the lowest-friction option for something short-lived.
Why does version control matter more for in-editor tools than for chat tools?
In-editor tools work on real, ongoing project files where a bad change can affect existing work. Chat tools are often shorter-lived and easier to restart.
True or false: this free course teaches Cursor and Claude Code in depth.
False. This course uses chat tools to prove the core idea quickly. Cursor and Claude Code are covered in separate modules.