Windsurf - complete guide to AI-first IDE
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is a groundbreaking IDE (Integrated Development Environment) created by the makers of Codeium - a company known for its free AI coding assistant. Unlike traditional editors that add AI features as a plugin, Windsurf was designed from the ground up as an "AI-first" editor where artificial intelligence is an integral part of every aspect of a developer's workflow.
Windsurf introduces the concept of an "agentic IDE" - an editor in which AI doesn't just answer questions, but actively collaborates with the developer, navigates through code, executes multi-step tasks, and learns from the project's context. This is a fundamental shift in the approach to development tools.
Why Windsurf?
Key advantages of Windsurf
- Truly AI-first architecture - AI built into every aspect, not as an add-on
- Cascade - autonomous agent - Understands and navigates entire repositories
- Flows - task automation - Save and repeat complex workflows
- Free tier - Unlimited autocomplete at no cost
- Supercomplete - Context-aware completion from the entire project
- Performance - Optimized for speed
- Privacy - Option for local processing (self-hosted)
Windsurf vs traditional IDEs
| Aspect | Windsurf | VS Code + Plugin | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI integration | Native | Added | Native |
| Agent capabilities | Cascade (autonomous) | None | Composer |
| Workflow automation | Flows | None | None |
| Free tier | Unlimited autocomplete | Limited | $20/month |
| Project context | Full | Limited | Full |
| Command execution | Built-in | Limited | Built-in |
| Code base | VS Code fork | VS Code | VS Code fork |
Cascade - revolutionary AI agent
Cascade is the heart of Windsurf - an autonomous AI agent that is fundamentally different from traditional chatbots or code assistants.
How is Cascade different from regular AI?
Traditional AI assistant:
User: How do I add dark mode?
AI: Here's the code for dark mode... [shows snippet]
User: Where do I put it?
AI: In the ThemeProvider file...
User: And how do I update the components?
AI: You need to... [another instruction]Cascade in Windsurf:
User: Add dark mode to the application
Cascade:
1. Analyzing project structure...
→ Found Next.js App Router with Tailwind
2. Checking current styling system...
→ Tailwind with next-themes will work best
3. Creating dark theme configuration...
→ Updating tailwind.config.ts
4. Adding ThemeProvider...
→ Creating providers/ThemeProvider.tsx
5. Updating layout...
→ Modifying app/layout.tsx
6. Adding toggle in Header...
→ Creating components/ThemeToggle.tsx
7. Testing changes...
→ Checking in browser
✓ Dark mode added. Modified files:
- tailwind.config.ts
- providers/ThemeProvider.tsx
- app/layout.tsx
- components/ThemeToggle.tsx
- package.json (added next-themes)Cascade capabilities
1. Understanding the entire repository
User: Where are payments handled in this project?
Cascade:
I've analyzed the project structure. Payments are handled in:
1. API Endpoint: app/api/payments/route.ts
- Creating Stripe sessions
- Handling webhooks
2. Frontend: components/checkout/CheckoutForm.tsx
- Payment form UI
- Stripe Elements integration
3. Utils: lib/stripe.ts
- Stripe client configuration
- Helper functions
4. Types: types/payment.ts
- TypeScript interfaces
Would you like me to explain the payment flow?2. Executing multi-step tasks
User: Create a new API endpoint for handling newsletters with validation and database storage
Cascade:
Creating a complete newsletter endpoint...
[Step 1] Creating validation schema with Zod
→ lib/validations/newsletter.ts
[Step 2] Creating Prisma model
→ Updating prisma/schema.prisma
→ Running: npx prisma generate
[Step 3] Creating API endpoint
→ app/api/newsletter/subscribe/route.ts
[Step 4] Adding error handling
→ lib/errors/newsletter-errors.ts
[Step 5] Creating tests
→ __tests__/api/newsletter.test.ts
[Step 6] Running tests
→ npm test newsletter
Done! Newsletter endpoint is working:
POST /api/newsletter/subscribe
Body: { email: "user@example.com", name?: "Jan" }3. Code navigation and analysis
User: Find all places where we use useEffect without cleanup
Cascade:
Searching the project for useEffect without cleanup...
Found 7 problematic cases:
1. components/Chat.tsx:45
useEffect(() => {
socket.on('message', handleMessage)
}, []) // Missing cleanup for socket listener
2. hooks/useWindowSize.ts:12
useEffect(() => {
window.addEventListener('resize', handler)
}, []) // Missing cleanup for event listener
3. components/Timer.tsx:23
useEffect(() => {
const id = setInterval(tick, 1000)
}, []) // Missing clearInterval
[... remaining cases ...]
Should I fix these issues automatically?4. Running terminal commands
User: Configure the project for deployment on Vercel
Cascade:
Configuring the project for Vercel...
[Terminal] Checking if Vercel CLI is installed
→ vercel --version
→ Not found, installing...
→ npm install -g vercel
[Terminal] Logging into Vercel
→ vercel login
→ Open browser to log in
[File] Creating vercel.json with configuration
→ Setting Node.js 20, regions, redirects
[File] Updating .env.example
→ Adding variables required in production
[Terminal] Linking project
→ vercel link
[Terminal] Setting environment variables
→ vercel env add DATABASE_URL production
Project ready for deployment!
Run 'vercel --prod' to deploy.Cascade working modes
Write Mode (default)
Cascade can edit files and execute commands:
User: Add pagination to the product list
Cascade [Write Mode]:
→ Modifying ProductList.tsx
→ Adding usePagination hook
→ Updating API endpoint
→ Creating Pagination componentChat Mode
Cascade only answers questions, without making modifications:
User: [Chat Mode] Explain how this sorting algorithm works
Cascade [Chat Mode]:
This algorithm is QuickSort with the following optimizations...
[explanation without code modifications]Review Mode
Cascade analyzes code and suggests changes without applying them:
User: [Review] Check this PR for security issues
Cascade [Review Mode]:
Security analysis of PR #123:
⚠️ High risk:
1. SQL Injection on line 45
Suggested fix: [code]
⚠️ Medium risk:
2. Missing rate limiting on endpoint
Suggested fix: [code]
✓ Accept suggestions to apply themFlows - workflow automation
Flows is a unique Windsurf feature that lets you save repeatable tasks as templates.
Creating a Flow
# .windsurf/flows/new-component.yaml
name: New React Component
description: Creates a new React component with tests and storybook
author: team
version: 1.0.0
inputs:
- name: componentName
type: string
description: Component name (PascalCase)
required: true
- name: withTests
type: boolean
default: true
- name: withStorybook
type: boolean
default: true
- name: componentType
type: select
options:
- client
- server
default: client
steps:
- name: Create component file
action: create_file
path: src/components/{{componentName}}/{{componentName}}.tsx
template: |
{{#if (eq componentType "client")}}
'use client'
{{/if}}
import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
interface {{componentName}}Props {
className?: string
children?: React.ReactNode
}
export function {{componentName}}({ className, children }: {{componentName}}Props) {
return (
<div className={cn('', className)}>
{children}
</div>
)
}
- name: Create index file
action: create_file
path: src/components/{{componentName}}/index.ts
template: |
export { {{componentName}} } from './{{componentName}}'
- name: Create test file
condition: "{{withTests}}"
action: create_file
path: src/components/{{componentName}}/{{componentName}}.test.tsx
template: |
import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
import { {{componentName}} } from './{{componentName}}'
describe('{{componentName}}', () => {
it('renders children correctly', () => {
render(<{{componentName}}>Test content</{{componentName}}>)
expect(screen.getByText('Test content')).toBeInTheDocument()
})
it('applies custom className', () => {
const { container } = render(
<{{componentName}} className="custom-class">Content</{{componentName}}>
)
expect(container.firstChild).toHaveClass('custom-class')
})
})
- name: Create Storybook file
condition: "{{withStorybook}}"
action: create_file
path: src/components/{{componentName}}/{{componentName}}.stories.tsx
template: |
import type { Meta, StoryObj } from '@storybook/react'
import { {{componentName}} } from './{{componentName}}'
const meta: Meta<typeof {{componentName}}> = {
title: 'Components/{{componentName}}',
component: {{componentName}},
tags: ['autodocs'],
}
export default meta
type Story = StoryObj<typeof {{componentName}}>
export const Default: Story = {
args: {
children: '{{componentName}} content',
},
}
- name: Update barrel export
action: update_file
path: src/components/index.ts
insert_after: "// Components"
content: |
export { {{componentName}} } from './{{componentName}}'Running a Flow
# In Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P)
> Windsurf: Run Flow
# Or directly
> Run Flow: New React Component
# Dialog:
Component Name: ProductCard
With Tests: ✓
With Storybook: ✓
Component Type: client
# Cascade executes the Flow:
→ Created src/components/ProductCard/ProductCard.tsx
→ Created src/components/ProductCard/index.ts
→ Created src/components/ProductCard/ProductCard.test.tsx
→ Created src/components/ProductCard/ProductCard.stories.tsx
→ Updated src/components/index.tsAdvanced Flows
Flow with conditions and loops
# .windsurf/flows/crud-api.yaml
name: CRUD API Endpoints
description: Generates complete CRUD API for an entity
inputs:
- name: entityName
type: string
required: true
- name: fields
type: array
items:
- name: fieldName
type: string
- name: fieldType
type: select
options: [string, number, boolean, date]
required: true
- name: withAuth
type: boolean
default: true
steps:
# Prisma schema
- name: Update Prisma Schema
action: update_file
path: prisma/schema.prisma
insert_before: "// END MODELS"
template: |
model {{entityName}} {
id String @id @default(cuid())
{{#each fields}}
{{this.fieldName}} {{#if (eq this.fieldType "string")}}String{{/if}}{{#if (eq this.fieldType "number")}}Int{{/if}}{{#if (eq this.fieldType "boolean")}}Boolean{{/if}}{{#if (eq this.fieldType "date")}}DateTime{{/if}}
{{/each}}
createdAt DateTime @default(now())
updatedAt DateTime @updatedAt
}
# API routes - iteration
- name: Create List Endpoint
action: create_file
path: app/api/{{lowercase entityName}}s/route.ts
template: |
import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma'
import { NextResponse } from 'next/server'
{{#if withAuth}}
import { auth } from '@/lib/auth'
{{/if}}
export async function GET() {
{{#if withAuth}}
const session = await auth()
if (!session) {
return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 })
}
{{/if}}
const items = await prisma.{{lowercase entityName}}.findMany()
return NextResponse.json(items)
}
export async function POST(request: Request) {
{{#if withAuth}}
const session = await auth()
if (!session) {
return NextResponse.json({ error: 'Unauthorized' }, { status: 401 })
}
{{/if}}
const data = await request.json()
const item = await prisma.{{lowercase entityName}}.create({ data })
return NextResponse.json(item, { status: 201 })
}
# Repeat for each endpoint...Flow with AI integration
# .windsurf/flows/ai-refactor.yaml
name: AI-Powered Refactoring
description: Uses Cascade for intelligent refactoring
inputs:
- name: targetFile
type: file
required: true
- name: refactorType
type: select
options:
- Extract Functions
- Add TypeScript Types
- Improve Performance
- Add Error Handling
required: true
steps:
- name: Analyze with AI
action: cascade_analyze
file: "{{targetFile}}"
prompt: |
Analyze this file for: {{refactorType}}.
Identify all areas that need improvement.
- name: Apply Refactoring
action: cascade_refactor
file: "{{targetFile}}"
instruction: |
Based on the analysis, perform {{refactorType}}.
Preserve existing functionality.
Add comments where changes are significant.
- name: Verify Changes
action: run_command
command: npm test -- --findRelatedTests {{targetFile}}
- name: Format Code
action: run_command
command: npx prettier --write {{targetFile}}Sharing Flows
# Flows can be shared within a team:
# 1. Locally in .windsurf/flows/
# 2. Company flows repository
# 3. Windsurf Marketplace
# Installing from marketplace:
> Windsurf: Install Flow
> Search: "nextjs api crud"
> Install: "NextJS CRUD Generator by @company"Supercomplete - intelligent autocomplete
Supercomplete is an advanced autocomplete system that understands the context of your entire project.
How does Supercomplete work?
// Traditional autocomplete:
// Suggests only based on local context
const user = {
na| // Suggests: "name", "navigate", "NaN"
}
// Windsurf Supercomplete:
// Understands the project structure
// If the project contains:
// types/user.ts: interface User { name: string; email: string; role: 'admin' | 'user' }
const user: User = {
na| // Suggests: "name" (string) - with full type
}
// After selection:
const user: User = {
name: '|' // Suggests values based on existing data in the project
}Supercomplete in practice
Import completion
// I start typing:
import { use|
// Supercomplete understands the project and suggests:
// → useAuth (from hooks/useAuth.ts)
// → useCart (from hooks/useCart.ts)
// → useToast (from @/components/ui/use-toast)
// → useState (from react)
// → useEffect (from react)
// The ordering is intelligent - local imports first, then dependenciesFunctions with context
// In file components/ProductCard.tsx
// Project uses TailwindCSS and shadcn/ui
function ProductCard({ product }: { product: Product }) {
return (
<Card className="|
// Supercomplete suggests:
// → "p-4 hover:shadow-lg" (pattern from other cards in the project)
// → "flex flex-col gap-4" (common pattern)API calls
// Knowing the API structure in the project:
async function getProduct(id: string) {
const response = await fetch|
// Supercomplete:
// → fetch(`/api/products/${id}`) - based on existing endpointsSupercomplete configuration
// .windsurf/settings.json
{
"supercomplete": {
"enabled": true,
"debounceMs": 100,
"maxSuggestions": 5,
"contextDepth": "project", // "file" | "directory" | "project"
"prioritizeLocal": true,
"learnFromEdits": true,
"excludePatterns": [
"node_modules/**",
"dist/**",
".git/**"
]
}
}Command Palette + AI
Windsurf integrates AI directly into the Command Palette.
Basic usage
Cmd+K → Opens AI Command
Examples:
"refactor this to use hooks"
"add error handling"
"convert to TypeScript"
"explain this code"
"add tests for this function"
"make this component responsive"Inline AI actions
// Select code and press Cmd+K
function processData(data) { // ← Selected
const result = [];
for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
if (data[i].active) {
result.push(data[i].value * 2);
}
}
return result;
}
// Cmd+K → "convert to functional style"
// Result:
const processData = (data: DataItem[]): number[] =>
data
.filter(item => item.active)
.map(item => item.value * 2);Multi-file commands
Cmd+Shift+K → AI Command for multiple files
"add loading states to all components in components/dashboard"
"update all API calls to use new error handling pattern"
"migrate class components to functional"Terminal integration
Cascade has full integration with the terminal.
Automatic command execution
User: Install and configure TailwindCSS
Cascade:
[1/4] Installing dependencies...
> npm install -D tailwindcss postcss autoprefixer
[2/4] Initializing Tailwind...
> npx tailwindcss init -p
[3/4] Configuring tailwind.config.js...
→ Updating file with appropriate paths
[4/4] Adding directives to CSS...
→ Updating globals.css
✓ TailwindCSS configured!Debugging with the terminal
User: Tests in auth.test.ts are failing, help me fix them
Cascade:
[1/3] Running tests to see the errors...
> npm test auth.test.ts
Error on line 45: "TypeError: Cannot read property 'user' of undefined"
[2/3] Analyzing the problem...
→ Mock for useSession returns undefined instead of a session object
[3/3] Fixing the test...
→ Updating mock in auth.test.ts
Re-running tests...
> npm test auth.test.ts
✓ All 12 tests passed!Watching and reacting
User: Run tests in watch mode and fix errors automatically
Cascade:
> npm test -- --watch
[Watch] Test failed: ProductCard.test.tsx
→ Analyzing error...
→ Missing 'onAddToCart' prop
→ Updating test...
→ Test passed!
[Watch] Test failed: useCart.test.ts
→ Analyzing error...
→ State is not reset between tests
→ Adding beforeEach with reset...
→ Test passed!
[Watch] All tests passing ✓
Monitoring for further changes...Installation and configuration
System requirements
| System | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | 10.15+ | 12.0+ |
| Windows | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
| Linux | Ubuntu 20.04+ | Ubuntu 22.04+ |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Disk | 2 GB | SSD 5 GB+ |
Installation
macOS
# Homebrew
brew install --cask windsurf
# Or download from windsurf.ai
curl -fsSL https://windsurf.ai/install.sh | shWindows
# Winget
winget install Codeium.Windsurf
# Or download the installer from windsurf.aiLinux
# Ubuntu/Debian
wget -qO- https://windsurf.ai/gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/windsurf.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/windsurf.gpg] https://windsurf.ai/apt stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/windsurf.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install windsurf
# Arch Linux (AUR)
yay -S windsurf-bin
# Flatpak
flatpak install flathub ai.windsurf.WindsurfFirst-time setup
# 1. Launch Windsurf
windsurf
# 2. Log in to Codeium (free account)
# → Click "Sign In" in the bottom-right corner
# → Authorize via GitHub/Google/Email
# 3. Configure your project
# → Open the project folder
# → Windsurf will automatically index the codeConfiguring settings.json
// .windsurf/settings.json (project)
// or ~/.config/windsurf/settings.json (global)
{
// Cascade
"cascade": {
"enabled": true,
"model": "gpt-4-turbo", // or "claude-3-opus", "custom"
"temperature": 0.3,
"maxTokens": 8192,
"autoApprove": false, // true = automatically apply changes
"showDiff": true
},
// Supercomplete
"supercomplete": {
"enabled": true,
"debounceMs": 150,
"maxSuggestions": 5,
"contextDepth": "project"
},
// Terminal
"terminal": {
"cascadeIntegration": true,
"autoRunSuggested": false,
"shell": "/bin/zsh"
},
// Privacy
"privacy": {
"telemetry": false,
"shareUsageData": false,
"localIndexing": true
},
// Appearance
"theme": "windsurf-dark",
"fontSize": 14,
"fontFamily": "JetBrains Mono"
}Migrating from VS Code
# Windsurf automatically imports:
# - Extensions (most are compatible)
# - Settings
# - Keybindings
# - Snippets
# Manual migration:
windsurf --import-from-vscode
# Or copy settings:
cp ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json ~/.config/windsurf/Keyboard shortcuts
Basic
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+K | AI Command (inline) |
Cmd+Shift+K | AI Command (multi-file) |
Cmd+I | Open Cascade |
Cmd+Shift+I | Cascade in new panel |
Cmd+Enter | Send to Cascade |
Escape | Cancel AI action |
Cascade
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+L | New Cascade conversation |
Cmd+Shift+L | Continue last conversation |
Cmd+. | Stop generation |
Cmd+Y | Accept all changes |
Cmd+Shift+Y | Reject all changes |
Tab | Accept single change |
Supercomplete
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Tab | Accept suggestion |
Cmd+] | Next suggestion |
Cmd+[ | Previous suggestion |
Escape | Dismiss suggestion |
Cmd+Space | Force suggestion |
Flows
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+Shift+F | Run Flow |
Cmd+Shift+R | Repeat last Flow |
Cmd+Alt+F | Edit Flow |
Navigation
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Cmd+P | Quick file open |
Cmd+Shift+P | Command Palette |
Cmd+G | Go to line |
Cmd+Shift+O | Go to symbol |
Cmd+T | Search symbol in workspace |
Windsurf vs Cursor - detailed comparison
Functionality
| Feature | Windsurf | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| AI Agent | Cascade | Composer |
| Autonomy | Full | Partial |
| Flows/Automation | Yes | No |
| Autocomplete | Supercomplete (Codeium) | Custom |
| Multi-file edit | Native | Native |
| Terminal integration | Deep | Basic |
| Codebase understanding | Full | Full |
| Custom models | Yes | Yes |
Pricing
| Plan | Windsurf | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Unlimited autocomplete | Limited |
| Pro | $15/month | $20/month |
| Teams | $30/user/month | $40/user/month |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
AI quality
| Aspect | Windsurf | Cursor |
|---|---|---|
| Context understanding | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Code quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Response speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Multi-step tasks | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customization | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
When to choose Windsurf?
- You need an autonomous agent for complex tasks
- You want to automate workflows with Flows
- You value free autocomplete
- You prefer deep terminal integration
When to choose Cursor?
- Code generation quality is your top priority
- You need more control over AI
- Flexibility in choosing models is important
- You have a larger budget for tools
Tool integrations
Git integration
User: Prepare a commit with a meaningful description
Cascade:
Analyzing changes in the staging area...
Found changes:
- components/Cart.tsx: Added quantity validation
- hooks/useCart.ts: Error handling on update
- api/cart/route.ts: New DELETE endpoint
Proposed commit message:
---
feat(cart): add quantity validation and error handling
- Add min/max quantity validation in Cart component
- Implement error handling in useCart hook
- Add DELETE endpoint for removing items
---
Accept? (Y/n)Docker integration
User: Create a Dockerfile for this Next.js project
Cascade:
Analyzing project structure...
→ Next.js 14 with App Router
→ Uses Prisma (requires generate)
→ Environment variables: DATABASE_URL, NEXTAUTH_SECRET
Creating an optimized Dockerfile:
[File] Dockerfile
[File] .dockerignore
[File] docker-compose.yml (with PostgreSQL)
Run the build? (docker build -t app .)CI/CD integration
# .github/workflows/windsurf-review.yml
name: AI Code Review
on:
pull_request:
types: [opened, synchronize]
jobs:
cascade-review:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Windsurf AI Review
uses: codeium/windsurf-action@v1
with:
api-key: ${{ secrets.CODEIUM_API_KEY }}
review-mode: security,performance,best-practices
- name: Post Review Comments
uses: codeium/windsurf-comment@v1
with:
github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}Best practices
Working effectively with Cascade
# 1. Be specific in your instructions
❌ "Fix this bug"
✅ "The calculateTotal function in Cart.tsx doesn't account for discounts.
Add support for percentage discounts from the discount field."
# 2. Provide context
❌ "Add a form"
✅ "Add a user registration form matching the design
in Figma (link). Use React Hook Form and Zod for validation.
Fields: email, password, confirmPassword, name."
# 3. Break down complex tasks
❌ "Build the entire authentication system"
✅ "Step 1: Configure NextAuth with GitHub provider
Step 2: Add middleware for protected routes
Step 3: Create Login and Register components"
# 4. Use Review Mode for learning
"[Review] Check my code and explain what can be improved"Organizing Flows
# Directory structure
.windsurf/
├── flows/
│ ├── components/ # Component generation
│ │ ├── react-component.yaml
│ │ └── page-component.yaml
│ ├── api/ # API generation
│ │ ├── crud-endpoint.yaml
│ │ └── graphql-resolver.yaml
│ ├── testing/ # Test generation
│ │ ├── unit-test.yaml
│ │ └── e2e-test.yaml
│ └── refactoring/ # Refactoring
│ ├── to-typescript.yaml
│ └── extract-hook.yaml
├── templates/ # Templates for flows
│ ├── component.tsx.hbs
│ └── test.tsx.hbs
└── settings.jsonOptimizing Supercomplete
// For large projects
{
"supercomplete": {
"contextDepth": "directory", // Instead of "project"
"excludePatterns": [
"**/*.test.ts",
"**/*.spec.ts",
"**/__mocks__/**",
"**/fixtures/**"
],
"priorityPaths": [
"src/components/**",
"src/hooks/**",
"src/lib/**"
]
}
}Troubleshooting
Cascade doesn't understand the project
# 1. Reindex the project
Cmd+Shift+P → "Windsurf: Reindex Project"
# 2. Check .windsurfignore
# Make sure you're not ignoring important files
# 3. Add a CLAUDE.md or WINDSURF.md with a project description
echo "# Project: E-commerce
Tech: Next.js, Prisma, Tailwind
Structure: app/ (pages), components/, lib/" > WINDSURF.mdSlow autocomplete
// Optimization for slower machines
{
"supercomplete": {
"debounceMs": 300,
"contextDepth": "file",
"maxSuggestions": 3
}
}Errors when executing commands
# Check terminal permissions
# macOS: System Preferences → Security → Full Disk Access → Windsurf
# Check PATH
# .windsurf/settings.json
{
"terminal": {
"env": {
"PATH": "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:$PATH"
}
}
}Detailed pricing
Free plan
Price: $0/month
Includes:
- Unlimited Supercomplete autocomplete
- Basic Cascade access (daily query limit)
- Project indexing
- Basic Flows
- Community support
Pro plan
Price: $15/month
Includes:
- Everything in Free
- Unlimited Cascade
- Advanced AI models (GPT-4, Claude)
- Unlimited Flows
- Priority support
- Real-time code analysis
Teams plan
Price: $30/user/month (min. 5 users)
Includes:
- Everything in Pro for each member
- Shared Flows within the team
- Centralized management
- SSO and SAML
- Audit logs
- Dedicated support
Enterprise plan
Price: Custom
Includes:
- Everything in Teams
- Self-hosted deployment
- Custom AI models
- 99.9% SLA
- Custom integrations
- On-premise support
FAQ - frequently asked questions
Is Windsurf free?
Yes, the basic version of Windsurf with unlimited autocomplete is completely free. The Pro plan ($15/month) unlocks full Cascade capabilities and advanced features.
Is my data safe?
Windsurf offers:
- Local code indexing
- Self-hosted option for enterprise
- End-to-end encryption for cloud features
- SOC 2 Type II compliance
- GDPR compliance
Does Windsurf work offline?
Basic editor features work offline. AI features (Cascade, Supercomplete) require an internet connection, unless you use a self-hosted deployment with local models.
Can I use my own AI models?
Yes, in Pro and higher plans you can configure custom models:
- OpenAI API
- Anthropic Claude
- Azure OpenAI
- Local models (Ollama, LM Studio)
How does Windsurf compare to GitHub Copilot?
| Aspect | Windsurf | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| AI Agent | Cascade (autonomous) | None |
| Flows | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| IDE | Dedicated | Plugin |
| Multi-file edit | Native | Limited |
Can I migrate projects from VS Code?
Yes, Windsurf automatically imports:
- Extensions (most are compatible)
- Settings
- Keybindings
- Snippets
- Workspace configurations
Summary
Windsurf represents a new generation of development tools where AI is not an add-on, but a fundamental part of the coding experience. Thanks to Cascade - an autonomous agent, Flows - workflow automation, and Supercomplete - intelligent autocomplete, Windsurf allows developers to focus on solving problems instead of tedious tasks.
Key advantages of Windsurf:
- Cascade - an AI agent that truly understands your project
- Flows - automation of repetitive tasks
- Free tier - unlimited autocomplete
- Deep integration - AI in every aspect of the IDE
- Active development - regular updates and new features
If you're looking for an IDE that doesn't just help you write code, but actively collaborates on solving problems, Windsurf is worth trying out.