How To Build an App With Windsurf AI

Are you looking to supercharge your coding workflow? Windsurf AI is revolutionizing the development experience by integrating intelligent, AI-powered assistance right into your coding environment. Unlike traditional IDEs, Windsurf AI acts both as a collaborator and an autonomous agent, transforming how developers interact with their code.

Let’s begin by understanding what Windsurf AI is and what makes it different from other development tools.

What is Windsurf AI?

Windsurf AI is an AI-powered Integrated Development Environment (IDE) developed by Codeium (formerly known as Codeium) that combines the best of VS Code’s foundation with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. It’s designed to keep developers in a flow state by minimizing context-switching and providing intelligent assistance throughout the coding process.

What makes Windsurf AI stand out from other AI coding assistants is its agentic approach to development. Rather than just providing code suggestions when prompted, Windsurf AI actively maintains awareness of your codebase and actions, creating a seamless collaboration between human and AI.

Unlike traditional coding assistants that function primarily as autocomplete tools, Windsurf AI acts as a full-fledged development partner that can understand your intent, execute terminal commands, and reason about your codebase in real-time.

How to install Windsurf AI (Step by step)

Getting started with Windsurf AI is straightforward. Follow these steps to install and set up the environment:

1. Download the installer

• Visit the official Windsurf website

• Download the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)

2. Run the installation process

• For Windows: Run the installer executable and follow the on-screen instructions

• For macOS: Drag the application to your Applications folder

• For Linux: Extract the archive and run the installation script

3. Initial configuration

• Launch Windsurf AI after installation

• Choose whether to import your VS Code settings or start fresh

• Select your preferred editor theme

4. Account setup and authentication

• Sign up for a Windsurf account if you don’t have one

• Log in with your credentials

• Authenticate your session to access AI features

After authentication, you’ll see a confirmation page. Click “Open Windsurf” to proceed. The authentication process grants you access to free AI credits that allow you to use premium features for nearly a month at no cost.

With these steps completed, you’ll have Windsurf AI ready to use. The interface should be familiar if you’ve used VS Code before, with the addition of the Cascade panel for AI interactions.

Key features of Windsurf AI

Windsurf AI introduces several innovative features that set it apart from other development environments:

1. Cascade

The core of Windsurf’s intelligence is Cascade, which combines deep codebase understanding, advanced tools, and real-time awareness of your actions into a seamless, collaborative flow. Cascade allows the AI to maintain context across files and offer relevant suggestions based on your current work.

2. AI Flows

Windsurf’s AI Flows create a real-time collaboration between you and the AI. Both operate on the same project state simultaneously, creating what developers describe as a “mind-meld experience” that transcends traditional AI support.

3. Supercomplete

Unlike standard autocomplete, Supercomplete predicts your intent rather than just the next line of code. It can generate entire functions with proper documentation and functionality based on the context of your project.

4. Multi-file editing

One of Windsurf’s most powerful capabilities is coherent multi-file editing. The AI can make related changes across multiple files while maintaining consistency and context awareness.

5. Intelligent indexing

Windsurf’s indexing system creates a deep semantic understanding of your codebase, not just simple code parsing. This enables more relevant suggestions and better context awareness when working with large codebases.

6. Write mode vs. chat mode

Windsurf offers two interaction modes:

• Write Mode: Directly modifies your code, enabling quick implementation with AI assistance

• Chat Mode: Provides information and guidance without changing your code

7. Terminal integration

The AI can suggest and execute terminal commands, helping debug issues and run your code with minimal context switching.

While Windsurf AI’s main features are impressive, several lesser-known capabilities can further enhance your development experience:

Hidden features of Windsurf

1. Cascade Memories

You can configure AI rules globally or for specific workspaces, ensuring consistent behavior across your projects. This feature helps maintain coding standards and reduces the time spent on manual configuration.

2. Turbo Mode

Enable Turbo Mode in settings to allow Cascade to automatically execute terminal commands without requiring your confirmation, speeding up development workflows.

3. Dead Code Cleanup

Windsurf can identify and remove unused files and redundant code, helping maintain a clean and efficient codebase. This reduces the risk of errors and improves overall project maintainability.

4. Using the “@” Feature

Reference specific files or functions using the “@” notation to enhance the AI’s precision when generating outputs. For example, typing “@filename.js” will direct the AI to focus on that specific file.

5. Image-to-Code Conversion

You can upload screenshots or mockups directly into Cascade, and Windsurf will generate HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code that matches the design. This feature is particularly useful for quickly implementing UI elements.

6. .codeiumignore File

Similar to .gitignore, you can create a .codeiumignore file in your repository root to customize what gets indexed by Windsurf, using the same syntax as .gitignore.

7. Automated Linting

If Cascade generates code that doesn’t pass a linter, it will automatically fix the errors, ensuring that the generated code adheres to your project’s style guidelines.

Once you become familiar with these hidden features, they can significantly improve your workflow, making Windsurf AI even more powerful as a development tool.

Build your first app with Windsurf AI

Now that we’ve set up Windsurf AI, let’s walk through a practical example of building a mindfulness application. This step-by-step guide will demonstrate how to leverage Windsurf AI’s capabilities throughout the development process.

Step 1: Define your project requirements

First, create a new folder for your project and open it in Windsurf AI. In the Cascade panel, start by describing your application requirements clearly. Here’s a comprehensive prompt you can use:

Create a web-based mindfulness application with the following features: 

1. A clean, minimalist interface with soothing colors (soft blues, greens, and purples) 

2. A breathing exercise module that guides users through timed breathing patterns 

3. A meditation timer with customizable duration and background sounds 

4. A daily gratitude journal where users can record things they're thankful for 

5. A progress tracker to monitor meditation streaks and journal entries 

The app should use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend. Make it responsive for both desktop and mobile devices. Implement local storage to save user preferences and journal entries. 

Start by creating the project structure and generating the main files. 

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Step 2: Review the initial project structure

Windsurf AI will analyze your requirements and propose a project structure. It might suggest something like:

mindfulness-app/ 

├── index.html           # Main entry point 

├── css/ 

│   ├── main.css         # Core styles 

│   ├── animations.css   # Breathing animations 

│   └── responsive.css   # Mobile-friendly styles 

├── js/ 

│   ├── app.js           # Application initialization 

│   ├── breathing.js     # Breathing exercise functionality 

│   ├── meditation.js    # Meditation timer functionality 

│   ├── journal.js       # Gratitude journal functionality 

│   ├── tracker.js       # Progress tracking functionality 

│   └── storage.js       # Local storage utilities 

├── assets/ 

│   ├── sounds/          # Meditation sounds 

│   └── images/          # UI images and icons 

└── README.md            # Project documentation 

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Review this structure and ask for any modifications if needed. For example:

“This looks good, but I’d prefer to combine all CSS files into one main.css file for simplicity.”

Step 3: Generate the HTML structure

Once you’re satisfied with the project structure, ask Windsurf AI to create the HTML foundation:

Generate the index.html file with a proper semantic HTML5 structure.  

Include sections for each of the core features: breathing exercise,  

meditation timer, gratitude journal, and progress tracker.  

Use a clean, accessible navigation system to switch between features. 

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Windsurf AI will generate the HTML file, which you can review in the editor. Pay special attention to:

• Semantic HTML elements (header, nav, section, footer)

• ARIA attributes for accessibility

• The overall page structure and navigation

Step 4: Develop the core styling

Next, request the CSS implementation:

Create the CSS styling for the application with these requirements: 

- Use a calming color palette with soft blues (#e6f3ff), greens (#e6fff0), and purples (#f0e6ff) 

- Implement a clean, minimalist design with adequate whitespace 

- Add subtle transitions between sections 

- Make the layout responsive with a mobile-first approach 

- Use flexbox or grid for layout instead of floats 

- Include subtle animations for interactive elements 

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Review the generated CSS and ask for specific adjustments as needed:

“Make the breathing circle animation smoother by increasing the animation duration to 5 seconds.”

Step 5: Implement the breathing exercise module

Now, develop the core breathing exercise functionality:

Create the breathing.js file that: 

1. Implements a visual breathing guide with an expanding/contracting circle 

2. Adds customizable breathing patterns (4-7-8, box breathing, etc.) 

3. Includes audio cues to guide inhalation and exhalation 

4. Provides a settings panel to adjust duration and pattern 

5. Saves user preferences to local storage 

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When Windsurf AI generates this file, examine the code and test the functionality by running the application.

Step 6: Build the meditation timer

For the meditation timer feature, use this prompt:

Implement the meditation timer functionality in meditation.js that: 

1. Creates a customizable countdown timer with start, pause, and reset buttons 

2. Allows users to select background ambient sounds 

3. Includes volume control for the sounds 

4. Offers preset meditation durations (5, 10, 15, 30 minutes) 

5. Supports custom duration input 

6. Provides gentle bell sounds at the beginning and end of sessions 

7. Saves session history to local storage 

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After the code generation, test the timer functionality and make any necessary adjustments.

Step 7: Create the gratitude journal

For the journaling feature, request:

Develop the gratitude journal feature in journal.js that: 

1. Provides a daily entry form with date stamping 

2. Includes a rich text editor for journal entries 

3. Allows users to add tags or categories to entries 

4. Implements a calendar view to see entry history 

5. Adds a search function to find previous entries 

6. Stores all entries in local storage with encryption for privacy 

7. Includes an export feature for backup purposes 

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Review the implementation and test the journal’s functionality by creating a few test entries.

Step 8: Implement the progress tracker

For the progress tracking feature:

Create the tracker.js module that: 

1. Visualizes meditation streaks using a calendar heatmap 

2. Displays statistics like total meditation time and average session length 

3. Shows journal entry frequency 

4. Implements achievement badges for milestones 

5. Creates weekly and monthly reports on usage patterns 

6. Saves all tracking data to local storage 

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Step 9: Connect all components

Once all individual features are implemented, ask Windsurf AI to integrate them:

Create the app.js file that: 

1. Initializes all application modules 

2. Manages navigation between different features 

3. Implements a settings panel for global preferences 

4. Sets up event listeners for UI interactions 

5. Handles data synchronization between modules 

6. Adds a welcome screen for first-time users 

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Step 10: Test and refine

After all components are integrated, it’s time to test the application thoroughly:

Review the entire application for: 

1. Bugs or errors in functionality 

2. UI consistency across all sections 

3. Responsive behavior on different screen sizes 

4. Accessibility issues 

5. Local storage reliability 

6. Performance optimization opportunities 

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Based on the review, you can request specific improvements such as:

Improve the application by: 

1. Fixing the meditation timer which doesn't pause correctly 

2. Optimizing the animations to reduce CPU usage 

3. Adding keyboard shortcuts for common actions 

4. Implementing a dark mode toggle 

5. Adding a simple onboarding tutorial for new users 

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Step 11: Add final touches

For the finishing touches, request:

Add these final enhancements: 

1. Create a custom favicon and app icons 

2. Implement a service worker for offline functionality 

3. Add appropriate meta tags for SEO 

4. Include social sharing capabilities for achievements 

5. Create a simple installation guide in the README.md file 

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Step 12: Deploy the application

Finally, prepare the application for deployment:

Prepare the application for deployment by: 

1. Minifying and bundling CSS and JavaScript files 

2. Optimizing asset files (images, sounds) 

3. Adding cache control headers 

4. Creating a manifest.json file for PWA support 

5. Generating deployment instructions for GitHub Pages or Netlify 

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The real power of Windsurf AI becomes apparent during the iteration process. If you’re not satisfied with any aspect of the generated application, you can provide specific feedback to refine the results:

• For UI adjustments: “Revise the color scheme to use more muted blues and increase the whitespace between elements for better visual hierarchy,” or “Make the breathing exercise animation more subtle with smoother transitions.”

• For functionality changes: “Modify the meditation timer to include interval bells at customizable time points” or “Enhance the journal feature to support markdown formatting and photo attachments.”

• For architecture improvements: “Refactor the code to use the MVC pattern for better separation of concerns” or “Implement a service worker for offline functionality.”

As the AI implements your requests, it will explain its approach and reasoning, providing valuable insights into modern development practices and potential alternative solutions. This creates a collaborative development process where you can learn from the AI while guiding it toward your specific vision for the application.

Conclusion

Windsurf AI is more than just a code completion tool—it’s a true development partner. With features like Cascade, AI Flows, and Supercomplete, it offers deep contextual awareness, intelligent multi-file editing, and real-time collaboration that adapts to your coding style. Whether you’re building simple apps or managing large-scale projects, Windsurf helps you stay productive and focused by minimizing repetitive tasks and boosting code quality.

To maximize the benefits of Windsurf AI and similar AI-powered development tools, it’s crucial to have a solid foundation in programming and data analysis. Codecademy’s Data and Programming Foundations for AI skill path offers comprehensive training in these areas, equipping you with the necessary skills to leverage AI tools effectively in your development workflow.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is Windsurf AI free to use?

Windsurf AI offers both free and paid plans. The free plan provides access to most features but may have limitations on premium model usage. Paid plans start at $15 per month and provide additional capabilities and faster access to premium AI models.

2. Does Windsurf AI work offline?

While the basic editor functions work offline, the AI features require an internet connection to access the underlying models that power its intelligence.

3. How does Windsurf AI handle data privacy?

Windsurf emphasizes user control and data security. It doesn’t train on non-permissive data and offers features like encryption for data in transit and optional zero-day data retention.

4. Can Windsurf AI work with any programming language?

Yes, Windsurf AI supports a wide range of programming languages, though the effectiveness of its suggestions may vary depending on the language’s popularity and the amount of training data available.

5. How does Windsurf AI differ from GitHub Copilot or other AI coding assistants?

Unlike many AI coding assistants that function primarily as autocomplete tools, Windsurf AI provides a more comprehensive development experience with features like multi-file editing, terminal integration, and deep contextual awareness of your entire codebase.