The Modern Dev Stack: GitHub, Vercel, and Cursor Explained

If you've worked with a web developer recently, you've probably heard terms like GitHub, Vercel, and maybe even Cursor. Here's what these tools actually do and why they matter for your business website.

GitHub: Your Code's Home Base

What it is: GitHub is where your website's code lives. Think of it as a sophisticated Google Drive for code—but with superpowers.

Why it matters:

• Version history: Every change is saved. If something breaks, you can instantly roll back to a working version
• Collaboration: Multiple developers can work on the same project without stepping on each other's toes
• Ownership: You own your code. If you change developers, your project transfers cleanly

Business takeaway: Always ask developers to use GitHub (or similar) for your projects. You should have access to the repository. This protects your investment.

Vercel: From Code to Live Website

What it is: Vercel is a hosting platform that automatically turns your code into a live website. When you push changes to GitHub, Vercel detects them and deploys your updated site within seconds.

Why it matters:

• Speed: Vercel's global network serves your site from locations closest to your visitors. Fast sites rank better on Google
• Preview deployments: See changes on a test URL before they go live. Perfect for approving updates
• Instant rollbacks: If something goes wrong, one click reverts to the previous version
• SSL included: Free security certificates, so your site shows as secure (https://)

Business takeaway: Vercel (and similar platforms like Netlify) give you professional-grade hosting without managing servers. Updates are instant and rollbacks are painless.

Cursor: The AI-Powered Code Editor

What it is: Cursor is a code editor with AI built-in. It's like having an experienced developer looking over your shoulder, ready to help write code, explain things, and catch errors.

Why it matters:

• Faster development: AI helps write boilerplate code, suggests completions, and catches bugs early
• Built-in chat: Ask questions about your code, get explanations, request changes in natural language
• Multi-model support: Use Claude, GPT-4, or other AI models depending on the task

Business takeaway: Developers using AI-powered tools like Cursor can work faster, which means lower costs and faster turnaround for your projects.

How They Work Together

Here's the typical workflow for a modern website:

1. 1.
   Code in Cursor: Developer writes and edits code with AI assistance
2. 2.
   Push to GitHub: Changes are saved with a description of what changed
3. 3.
   Vercel deploys: Automatically builds and publishes the updated site
4. 4.
   Preview and approve: Client reviews on a preview URL before going live
5. 5.
   Live in seconds: Once approved, the production site updates instantly

What This Means for Your Business

This modern stack offers several advantages over traditional website development:

• Faster updates: Changes can go live in minutes, not days
• Lower risk: Version control and instant rollbacks mean mistakes are easily fixed
• Better performance: Global CDN hosting makes your site fast for all visitors
• Transparency: You can see every change, when it was made, and by whom