1 min lesson
Keyboard-first and command surfaces
Show why this lesson detail matters: "You are keeping a human in command of their own code."
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Keyboard-first and command surfacesthe primary interaction model for power users
Developers live on the keyboard. A command palette is often the main entry point to functionality, not a fallback. Design it as a primary surface: fast fuzzy matching, discoverable shortcuts shown inline and a flow that never forces a reach for the mouse.
Every AI-native pattern reduces to one question: does the user stay in control? Legible diffs, instant dismissal, visible tool calls, a real stop button. When you design these, you are not decorating AI - you are keeping a human in command of their own code.
Asked how you’d improve an AI editing flow, anchor on trust and control rather than aesthetics: “My first move is making reject as fast and clean as accept, because the failure mode for AI features is users not trusting them enough to invite them in.” That framing shows you understand what makes these products work.
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Optional practice
Practice: Keyboard-first and command surfaces
QYou’re asked how you’d improve Cursor’s inline-diff accept/reject flow. What principle should anchor your answer?