How to Use Deepseek V3 with Cursor for Free

Learn to use Deepseek V3 for FREE with Cursor in this step-by-step beginner's guide! Code a Python factorial function with AI. My takes: fast and cost-effective!

Ashley Goolam

Ashley Goolam

29 April 2025

How to Use Deepseek V3 with Cursor for Free

Want to level up your coding game with Deepseek V3 right inside Cursor? I recently set up Deepseek V3 on my windows computer and let me tell you—it’s like having a coding wizard by your side, whipping up solutions faster than you can say “debug”! In this beginner’s guide, I’ll walk you through setting up Deepseek V3 with Cursor to make coding a breeze, with a simple example: writing a Python function to calculate a factorial. No tech wizardry required—just a sprinkle of curiosity! Ready to team up Deepseek V3 and Cursor for some coding magic? Let’s get started!

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Before we dive in, a quick shoutout to Apidog—an awesome tool for API fans! It makes designing, testing, and documenting APIs super easy, perfect for tweaking your Deepseek V3 integrations. Check it out at apidog.com—it’s a coder’s best pal! Now, let’s jump into the Deepseek V3 goodness…
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What is Deepseek V3 with Cursor?

Deepseek V3 is a powerful open-source AI model by DeepSeek AI. It’s a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) model that rivals top models like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, excelling in coding, math, and reasoning tasks. Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built on VS Code, featuring a chat interface and Composer for seamless code generation. Together, Deepseek V3 and Cursor let you generate code, debug, and refactor with ease. We’ll set it up and write a factorial function to see it in action—let’s roll!

deepseek v3 model

Setting Up Your Environment to Run DeepSeek V3: The Basics

Before we get Deepseek V3 running in Cursor, let’s prep your system. This is totally beginner-friendly, with each step explained so you’re never lost.

Check Prerequisites: Make sure you’ve got these ready:

Missing something? Install it now to keep things smooth.

Install Cursor: Download Cursor from cursor.com for macOS, Windows, or Linux. Install and launch it—it’s a VS Code-like editor with AI superpowers built in.

cursor ai

Create a Project Folder: Let’s stay organized:

mkdir deepseek-coding
cd deepseek-coding

This folder will hold your Deepseek V3 projects, and cd gets you ready for the next steps.

Set Up a Virtual Environment: To keep things tidy, create a Python virtual environment:

python -m venv venv

Activate it:

Seeing (venv) in your terminal means you’re in a clean Python environment, avoiding dependency clashes.

Open in Cursor: Launch Cursor with your project folder:

Open Cursor, then use File > Open Folder to select deepseek-coding. This sets up your workspace for coding with Deepseek V3.

Installing Dependencies

Let’s get your environment ready for Deepseek V3. Since Cursor handles most of the heavy lifting, we just need a few basics for testing.

Install Python Dependencies (optional): While our test is simple, let’s install a dependency for future Deepseek V3 projects:

pip install requests

The requests library is useful for API-based tasks, though our factorial example won’t need it. This ensures your setup is ready for more complex coding later.

Verify Cursor Installation: Open Cursor and ensure it’s running smoothly. You should see the chat sidebar (Ctrl+L) and Composer (Ctrl+I). If not, restart Cursor or reinstall from cursor.com.

Configuring Deepseek V3 with Cursor

Good news—Cursor directly supports Deepseek V3 as of version 0.44 and higher (we’re on 0.45 in April 2025). We just need to enable it in settings and grab an API key if you’re using a custom setup. Let’s get Deepseek V3 ready to roll!

Check Cursor Version: Ensure you’re on Cursor version 0.44 or 0.45, where Deepseek V3 is supported:

Enable Deepseek V3 in Cursor:

select deep seek v3 model

Optional: Use a Custom Deepseek API Key:

configure using an api key

Understand Deepseek V3 Pricing:

cursor model pricing

Testing Deepseek V3 in Cursor

Let’s test Deepseek V3 in Cursor with a simple task: “Write a Python function to calculate the factorial of a number.” This keeps things straightforward, showcasing Deepseek V3’s coding skills without complex steps.

Test in Cursor Chat:

def factorial(n):
    if n < 0:
        raise ValueError("Factorial is not defined for negative numbers")
    elif n == 0 or n == 1:
        return 1
    else:
        result = 1
        for i in range(2, n + 1):
            result *= i
        return result
print(factorial(5))  # Outputs: 120
ask mode with deepseek v3

Test in Cursor Composer:

However, take note that:

agent mode with deepseek v3

But non the less, you could still try it out on simpler tasks!

Understand the Test Results: The factorial function is a great test—it’s simple but shows Deepseek V3’s ability to generate correct, recursive code. The output 120 confirms it understood the task perfectly. If you see errors, ensure Cursor is using Deepseek V3 and your setup matches the steps above.

Tips for Using Deepseek V3 Effectively

To make the most of Deepseek V3 in Cursor:

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My Takes on Deepseek V3 with Cursor

After testing Deepseek V3, here’s my vibe:

If you hit issues, double-check your model selection or update Cursor.

Wrapping Up: Your Deepseek V3 Coding Adventure

You’ve just unlocked Deepseek V3 in Cursor, turning your coding sessions into AI-powered awesomeness! From coding a factorial function to tackling bigger projects, you’re ready to roll. Try generating a web scraper or debugging code next and share your wins. For more, check out Cursor’s community forums, and keep coding with Deepseek V3 and Cursor!

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