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Introduction​

Windsurf is more than just a code editor — it’s the agentic IDE built for real collaboration between developers and AI.
Its built-in agent, Cascade, understands your entire project, works across files, remembers context, and follows rules you set.

Instead of just autocompleting, Windsurf helps plan, refactor, and execute complex workflows — turning ideas into working code faster.
It’s a tool designed to make developers more productive, creative, and future-ready.

Highlight Features​

1. Tab​

Windsurf Tab bundles several passive AI coding features like:

  • Autocomplete
  • Tab to Import
  • Tab to Jump

All within a single, convenient keystroke — enhancing your coding speed and efficiency.

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2. Command: Inline AI Assistance​

Command is a core Windsurf feature that generates new code or edits existing code directly within your editor using natural language prompts.
It’s designed for quick, file-scoped inline changes, helping you stay in your flow state.

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3. Cascade​

Cascade is the engine powering Windsurf’s agentic AI capabilities in both the Windsurf IDE and JetBrains extensions.
It understands your codebase and can take action intelligently.

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Better Code Quality Generation​

1. Model Selection​

Cascade allows you to choose from a variety of AI models to power its capabilities — ensuring you have the right tool for your specific tasks and preferences.

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2. Rules, Memories, & Workflows​

Windsurf uses Rules, Workflows, and Memories to understand and adapt to your unique coding standards and practices.

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3. Creating & Modifying Rules​

Rules in Windsurf help maintain consistent code style and project-specific conventions by providing guidelines for Cascade.

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4. Planning Mode​

Planning Mode transforms how you approach complex development tasks.
It provides a structured framework for collaboration with Cascade — helping break large initiatives into manageable, sequential steps instead of trying to describe them all in a single prompt.

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Prompt Engineering Best Practices​

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