Setup
Install CineCode in Cursor
Add the CineCode skill to Cursor, open a dedicated project folder, and start your first local render.
Check the local tools
Open a terminal in Cursor and check Git, Node.js 22 or later, Python 3.9 or later, and FFmpeg. Install Chrome, Chromium, or Edge and make sure it can use your GPU.
If you add a tool to PATH, restart Cursor and rerun the check in its terminal. This confirms that the environment running your film can see it.
git --version
node --version
python3 --version
ffmpeg -versionInstall the Cursor skill
In Cursor’s Agent chat, ask it to install sarpstar/cinecode in ~/.cursor/skills/cinecode. You can run the command below in your terminal to install the same copy.
If the target folder already contains CineCode, check that checkout and update it in place. Open a fresh Agent chat after installing or updating the skill.
git clone https://github.com/sarpstar/cinecode.git ~/.cursor/skills/cinecodeApprove the draft before the final render
Open an empty project folder in Cursor, switch to Agent chat, and give CineCode a short brief. Include the duration and aspect ratio if you already know them.
The upstream make.py and qc.py checks run in Cursor. CineCode’s guard hooks run in Claude Code only, so tell the Cursor agent when to stop for review. For a first film, review the opening and one contrasting scene, then watch the draft before approving the final MP4.
Use CineCode in Quick mode for a 15-second 16:9 product film. Show me the first two preview stills and wait for my approval. Let me review the draft before you render the final MP4.