Cursor
integration
Vercel and Netlify Build Errors on Cursor-Generated Projects
Your Cursor-generated project builds and runs perfectly locally with npm run dev, but deploying to Vercel or Netlify fails with build errors. The platform's build log shows module resolution failures, SSR compatibility errors, missing dependencies, or Next.js/Nuxt-specific issues that didn't appear during development.
Vercel and Netlify run production builds in a clean environment, which exposes issues hidden by your local development setup. Hot module replacement (HMR) and development-mode error recovery mask problems that surface in production builds. Additionally, these platforms have specific requirements for server-side rendering, API routes, and static generation that differ from local development servers.
Each failed deploy means another round of pushing a fix and waiting 1-3 minutes for the build to run, making the feedback loop painfully slow compared to local development.
Error Messages You Might See
Build error: Module not found: Can't resolve 'package-name'
ReferenceError: window is not defined
Error: Failed to collect page data for /
Build exceeded maximum allowed duration (45 minutes)
Error: Environment variable not found: NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL
Export encountered errors on following paths: /dynamic-page
Common Causes
- Dependencies in devDependencies instead of dependencies — Cursor installed packages as devDependencies that are needed at build time. Vercel/Netlify may not install devDependencies in production builds
- Server-side code using browser APIs — Cursor generated code that references window, document, or localStorage in components that run during SSR, causing ReferenceError on the server
- Missing build-time environment variables — Environment variables used during the build (like API URLs, public keys) aren't configured in the Vercel/Netlify dashboard
- Node.js version mismatch — The platform uses a different Node.js version than your local machine. Cursor may have used syntax or APIs from a newer Node version
- Dynamic imports not handled for static generation — Pages that use dynamic data are configured for static export but can't be pre-rendered without the data source
- Monorepo or workspace configuration issues — The platform can't find the correct root directory or build command in a monorepo setup
How to Fix It
- Check the build logs carefully — The exact error message and the file/line it points to are your best debugging tools. Most build failures have a specific, fixable cause in the logs
- Guard browser API usage — Wrap browser-only code in checks:
if (typeof window !== 'undefined') { /* browser code */ }or use Next.js dynamic imports with{ ssr: false } - Configure environment variables on the platform — Add all required env vars in the Vercel/Netlify dashboard. For build-time vars in Next.js, prefix with NEXT_PUBLIC_
- Pin the Node.js version — Add
"engines": { "node": ">=18" }to package.json, or set the NODE_VERSION environment variable on the platform - Run the production build locally first — Execute
npm run buildlocally to catch the same errors before deploying. This replicates what the platform does - Move build-time packages to dependencies — If a package is used during build or SSR, it must be in
dependencies, notdevDependencies
Real developers can help you.
Nam Tran
10 years as fullstack developer
Milan Surelia
Milan Surelia is a Mobile App Developer with 5+ years of experience crafting scalable, cross-platform apps at 7Span and Meticha. At 7Span, he engineers feature-rich Flutter apps with smooth performance and modern UI. As the Co-Founder of Meticha, he builds open-source tools and developer-focused products that solve real-world problems.
Expertise:
💡 Developing cross-platform apps using Flutter, Dart, and Jetpack Compose for Android, iOS, and Web.
🖋️ Sharing insights through technical writing, blogging, and open-source contributions.
🤝 Collaborating closely with designers, PMs, and developers to build seamless mobile experiences.
Notable Achievements:
🎯 Revamped the Vepaar app into Vepaar Store & CRM with a 2x performance boost and smoother UX.
🚀 Launched Compose101 — a Jetpack Compose starter kit to speed up Android development.
🌟 Open source contributions on Github & StackOverflow for Flutter & Dart
🎖️ Worked on improving app performance and user experience with smart solutions.
Milan is always happy to connect, work on new ideas, and explore the latest in technology.
Vlad Temian
15+ years shipping production infrastructure for startups. Former CTO at qed.builders (acquired by The Sandbox).
Cursor ambassador and agentic tooling builder.
I've scaled systems, automated deployments, and built observability tools for AI coding workflows. I specialize in taking vibe-coded apps from broken prototype to production-ready: fixing Supabase auth/RLS, Stripe integrations, deployment pipelines, and cleaning up AI-generated spaghetti.
I build tools in this space (agentprobe, claudebin, micode) and understand both sides: how AI generates code and why it breaks.
https://blog.vtemian.com/
Meïr Ankri
Full-stack developer specializing in React / Next.js / Node.js with 6+ years of experience. I've worked across various sectors including automotive (Reezocar/Société Générale), healthcare (Medical Link SaaS), and e-commerce (Glasman). I build web apps end-to-end, from architecture to production, with a focus on scalability, performance, and code quality. I also mentor junior developers and contribute to technical decisions and code reviews.
Richard McSorley
Full-Stack Software Engineer with 8+ years building high-performance applications for enterprise clients. Shipped production systems at Walmart (4,000+ stores), Cigna (20M+ users), and Arkansas Blue Cross. 5 patents in retail/supply chain tech. Currently focused on AI integrations, automation tools, and TypeScript-first architectures.
Caio Rodrigues
I'm a full-stack developer focused on building practical and scalable web applications. My main experience is with **React, TypeScript, and modern frontend architectures**, where I prioritize clean code, component reusability, and maintainable project structures.
I have strong experience working with **dynamic forms, state management (Redux / React Hook Form), and complex data-driven interfaces**. I enjoy solving real-world problems by turning ideas into reliable software that companies can actually use in their daily operations.
Beyond coding, I care about **software quality and architecture**, following best practices for componentization, code organization, and performance optimization.
I'm also comfortable working across the stack when needed, integrating APIs, handling business logic, and helping transform prototypes into production-ready systems.
My goal is always to deliver solutions that are **simple, efficient, and genuinely useful for the people using them.**
Matt Butler
Software Engineer @ AWS
David Olverson
Solo dev shipping production apps with AI-assisted development. I specialize in rescuing broken Lovable/Bolt/Cursor builds and taking them to production. 10+ apps shipped including SaaS CRMs, gaming platforms, real estate tools, and Discord bots. Stack: Next.js 16, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, Prisma. I use Claude Code with 50+ custom skills for rapid delivery. Average turnaround: 2-4 weeks from broken prototype to production.
Jacek Rozanski
Senior PHP/Symfony developer and DevOps engineer with 20+ years of professional experience, running opcode.pl (web development agency, est. 2004).
Day job: I'm the sole backend developer at merketing company where I own and maintain 11 PHP/Symfony microservices on AWS (ECS Fargate, RDS, S3, CloudFront), handle the full CI/CD pipeline (Bitbucket Pipelines, Docker), and manage monitoring with Sentry and CloudWatch. These services handle high request volumes in production every month.
What I bring to AI-built apps:
- I audit and fix security issues (OWASP methodology), performance bottlenecks, and architectural problems in codebases generated by Cursor, Claude Code, Lovable, Bolt, and v0
- I refactor AI-generated prototypes into production-grade applications with proper error handling, testing, and clean architecture (SOLID, DDD, hexagonal architecture)
- I set up the infrastructure AI tools don't touch: AWS hosting, CI/CD pipelines, automated deployments, database optimization, monitoring, and alerting
- I integrate external services: payment providers, email systems, partner APIs, SSO/auth
Tech stack: PHP 8.x, Symfony, React, Next.js, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Docker, AWS (ECS, RDS, S3, SQS/SNS, CloudFront), Terraform, Supabase. I also use AI tools daily (Claude Code, Cursor) in my own workflow, so I understand both the strengths and the gaps in AI-generated code.
Based in Poland (CET timezone). Available for async work and calls during EU/US business hours.
Simon A.
I'm a backend developer building APIs, emulators, and interactive game systems. Professionally, I've developed Java/Spring reporting solutions, managed relational and NoSQL databases, and implemented CI/CD workflows.
You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Why does my app work with npm run dev but fail on Vercel?
npm run dev uses a development server with hot reloading that's more forgiving. The production build (npm run build) runs static analysis, tree shaking, and SSR that expose issues hidden in development. Always test with npm run build locally before deploying.
How do I fix 'window is not defined' on Vercel?
This happens when server-side rendering (SSR) tries to run browser-only code. Wrap browser API usage in if (typeof window !== 'undefined') checks, or use Next.js dynamic() with ssr: false for components that require the browser environment.