Windsurf (Codeium): The AI IDE That Writes Code For You

Windsurf is an AI-native IDE built by Codeium that takes a fundamentally different approach to AI-assisted coding. Rather than offering autocomplete suggestions or a chat sidebar, Windsurf introduces agentic AI that can independently navigate your codebase, make multi-file edits, and execute terminal commands. If Cursor is an AI-enhanced editor, Windsurf aims to be an AI developer that happens to have an editor attached.

What Is Windsurf and How It Works

Windsurf is a fork of VS Code, so it looks and feels familiar to most developers. The key innovation is Cascade, an agentic AI system that maintains deep awareness of your entire codebase. When you describe a task, Cascade does not just generate code in a single file. It reads relevant files, understands the project structure, makes coordinated changes across multiple files, runs terminal commands, and iterates on errors automatically. This is what Codeium calls the "agentic" approach — the AI acts as a capable junior developer rather than a fancy autocomplete engine.

Setting Up Windsurf

Download Windsurf from codeium.com/windsurf for macOS, Windows, or Linux. Installation takes about two minutes. On first launch, sign in with a Codeium account (free to create). Windsurf automatically imports your VS Code settings, extensions, and keybindings, so the transition is seamless. Open any project folder and Cascade will begin indexing your codebase in the background. For large projects, initial indexing may take a few minutes but subsequent sessions are instant.

Cascade: The Core Feature

Cascade is what makes Windsurf special. Open the Cascade panel and describe what you want to build or change. For example: "Add a user authentication system with JWT tokens, login and register endpoints, and password hashing." Cascade will analyze your existing project structure, identify where new files should go, create route handlers, update your database schema, install necessary packages, and wire everything together. You review each step and can accept, reject, or modify changes before they are applied. Cascade Flows maintain context across multiple interactions, so you can refine and iterate without repeating yourself. The Write mode makes direct edits while Chat mode provides explanations and suggestions without changing code.

Windsurf vs Cursor

Both are AI-powered IDEs built on VS Code, but they differ in philosophy. Cursor focuses on inline code generation, an excellent chat sidebar, and Composer for multi-file edits that you direct. Windsurf emphasizes autonomous agent behavior where Cascade takes the lead on implementation. Cursor generally offers more granular control and is preferred by developers who want to steer every decision. Windsurf is better when you want to describe a high-level task and let the AI figure out the implementation details. In terms of model access, both support GPT-4, Claude, and other frontier models. Pricing is comparable, with Cursor Pro at $20/month and Windsurf Pro at $15/month.

Tips for Productive Use

Start with clear, specific descriptions of what you want Cascade to do. Instead of "fix the bug," say "the login endpoint returns 500 when the email field is missing — add input validation and return a 400 with a descriptive error message." Let Cascade complete its entire flow before intervening. Review the diff of all changes before accepting. Use the Supercomplete feature for inline completions while you type — it predicts not just the current line but multi-line blocks based on your coding patterns. For existing projects, spend a few minutes letting Cascade index before starting complex tasks.

Pricing

The free tier includes limited Cascade actions and basic autocomplete. Windsurf Pro at $15/month provides unlimited Cascade flows, access to GPT-4 and Claude models, priority processing, and advanced codebase understanding. Team plans are available for organizations that need admin controls and shared context.

Final Thoughts

Windsurf represents the next evolution of AI coding tools. If you have tried GitHub Copilot and want something that goes beyond line-by-line suggestions, Windsurf's agentic approach is compelling. The seamless VS Code migration means you can try it with zero friction on your existing projects.