Windsurf

Windsurf is another AI editor built on VS Code. It was created by the Codeium team, who started out in code completion, and the product changed hands in 2025. Its emphasis is on the Cascade agent, which reads the repo, runs commands, edits multiple files and follows your actions in the editor to infer intent. Completions are quick.

It overlaps heavily with Cursor; choosing between them comes down to feel and price. What sets Windsurf apart is that it is more proactive — Cascade sees what you just edited and what you ran in the terminal, so you do not have to restate context every time you continue the conversation.

The product changes fast, including features and billing, so check how recent any tutorial is.

Key features

• Cascade agent: describe a task in the sidebar and it searches the codebase, plans steps, edits across files and runs commands.
• Editor awareness: it tracks your recent edits, open files and terminal output to work out what you are doing.
• Fast completion: real-time suggestions as you type, plus predictions of where you will edit next.
• Memories and rules: set global or project-level rules, and it can remember conventions established in conversation.
• MCP support: connect external tools and data sources through MCP.

How to use

1. Download the installer from the official site, install it and sign in.
2. Follow the prompts to import settings and extensions from VS Code or Cursor.
3. Open a project and describe a task in the Cascade panel, starting with something small.
4. Review the proposed changes and commands before accepting, and put recurring conventions into rules.

Best for

• Multi-step development tasks: Cascade can go from editing code to running tests in one flow.
• People who like the AI to keep up as they work, without re-explaining context.
• Developers comparing Cursor and its peers: the features are similar, so pick on feel and price.
• VS Code users who want a smooth transition, since the interface and extensions are largely the same.

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

• Cascade’s awareness of editor context makes collaboration feel natural.
• Fast completions keep everyday editing smooth.
• A free tier lets you try it properly before committing.

Limitations

• Very similar to Cursor, without a decisive point of difference.
• Features and billing change quickly; today’s tutorial may be outdated tomorrow.
• The change of ownership makes its long-term direction less certain than its peers’.
• It still means switching editors, which is costly for JetBrains users.