Windsurf

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is an AI-native IDE that quickly established itself as the main alternative to Cursor. Launched in late 2024, it stands out with Cascade — a deeply integrated AI agent that doesn't just autocomplete, but truly understands your project structure.

What makes Cascade unique is its ability to index your entire codebase and maintain persistent contextual memory (Memories). When you request a refactoring that touches 12 files, Cascade does it correctly — no copy-paste errors, no missed references. It's the first time AI editing feels truly agentic.

Windsurf also offers automatic Auto Lint Fixing, correcting linting errors on the fly, and MCP support for connecting AI workflow tools. The proprietary SWE-1.5 model is Windsurf's Fast Agent model, optimized for daily development tasks.

The editor supports visual previews and integrated deployments, allowing you to see the results of your changes in real time. The prompt credit system offers usage flexibility: simple tasks consume fewer credits than complex ones.

Partially acquired by Google in 2025 with Varun Mohan joining Google DeepMind, Windsurf continues to evolve as an independent product while benefiting from Gemini's power.