Windsurf

Editorial Review

Windsurf represents Codeium's ambitious pivot from a code completion extension to a full AI-native IDE. Built on top of VS Code, it retains compatibility with the extensions ecosystem while layering on agentic AI capabilities that go well beyond simple autocomplete. The standout feature is Cascade, an AI agent that can reason through multi-step coding tasks, editing multiple files and understanding project-wide context. For developers already comfortable in VS Code, the transition is seamless, and the free tier is genuinely generous compared to competitors. The main concern for business buyers is maturity — Windsurf is newer than established alternatives and the company has undergone a rebrand. The AI agent capabilities are impressive but can occasionally make sweeping changes that require careful review. Teams should evaluate whether the productivity gains justify switching from their current IDE setup.