AI IDE

Windsurf

December 1, 2024 1 min read Updated: 2026-03-01

Windsurf is Codeium’s AI-native IDE that combines familiar VS Code foundations with powerful agentic AI capabilities.

What is Windsurf?

Windsurf is a fork of VS Code rebuilt around AI-first principles. It features Cascade, an AI agent that can understand your entire codebase and make multi-file changes autonomously.

Key Features

Cascade AI

Agentic coding assistant:

  • Plans multi-step changes
  • Modifies multiple files
  • Understands project context
  • Executes terminal commands

Codebase Intelligence

Deep understanding:

  • Indexes entire project
  • Semantic code search
  • Dependency awareness
  • Architecture understanding

Flows

Guided AI workflows:

  • Refactoring assistance
  • Feature implementation
  • Bug investigation
  • Code review

Privacy by Default

Codeium’s privacy commitment:

  • No code training
  • Secure processing
  • Enterprise compliance
  • Self-hosted options

Pricing

PlanPriceFeatures
Free$0Core features, limited AI credits
Pro$15/moUnlimited AI, advanced features
Team$25/user/moCollaboration, admin controls

Windsurf vs Cursor

FeatureWindsurfCursor
Price$15/mo$20/mo
AgentCascadeComposer
PrivacyStrong (Codeium)Standard
MaturityNewerMore established
AI ModelsCodeium modelsClaude, GPT-4

Best Use Cases

  • Developers wanting AI-native IDE
  • Privacy-conscious teams
  • Those preferring Codeium’s approach
  • Budget-conscious professionals

Getting Started

  1. Download Windsurf
  2. Import VS Code settings
  3. Let it index your project
  4. Start using Cascade for complex tasks