Windsurf

The original Windsurf AI editor has now been integrated into Cognition's Devin system. The official website directs to Devin Desktop, where multiple coding agents on local and cloud can be scheduled on a unified interface.

AI Developer Tools#IDE#Programming#AI Agent

Updated: 2026-10-26

What is Windsurf?

Windsurf was once one of the mainstream AI-native editors. Currently, its official website redirects to Devin Desktop. After the Windsurf team merged into Cognition, the product was integrated into Devin's agent system, and its positioning changed from "an AI editor" to "a workbench for scheduling a group of agents". The official description is: Schedule and manage multiple local and cloud agents from the same interface, plan, delegate, review, and release without ever leaving the editor.

Who is it for?

Engineering teams that are already using agents to write code but struggling with tasks scattered across multiple tools; it is also suitable for existing Windsurf users to understand the product's direction, as well as developers who want to unify the management of local and cloud coding agents in one place. Existing users of the Devin ecosystem can also use it to consolidate agent tasks scattered across browsers and terminals into one place.

Key features

Unified Command Interface

Dispatch and monitor multiple local and cloud-based agents in one place without switching between tools. The company states that "every engineer has a team of agents" and emphasizes real-time codebase context and monitoring capabilities that "never miss any details", enabling reliable tracking of delegated agents.

Planning and Delegation

Break down tasks and assign them to agents for execution. Humans are responsible for planning, reviewing and releasing, forming a complete closed loop of human-agent collaboration.

On-demand IDE Capabilities

The official description is "Giving you the power of an IDE when you need it". Daily work is primarily collaboration with agents, and the full editor capabilities are only invoked when required.

Multi-model Integration

Supports selecting different models and different agents, is compatible with open protocols such as ACP, maintains freedom of choice, and is not bound to a single model.

Free World-Class Models & Cloud Handover

Access free world-class models for use; ongoing local work can be seamlessly handed over to the cloud to continue running, balancing privacy and computing power.

How to use Windsurf

If you are using multiple agent tools, it is recommended to first try the free tier of Devin Desktop, run through the entire "planning—delegation—review—release" process with a real small task, and then decide whether to migrate.
For teams that focus on data flow, first confirm the respective boundaries between local agents and cloud relay before arranging the processing methods for sensitive code.
Users who rely heavily on the editor form can use it in parallel for light tasks for a period of time before switching.

Things to know

Note that the brand and product lines have changed: searching for "Windsurf" may easily yield outdated introductions. Currently, all official website content centers around Devin Desktop. If you originally relied on the editor form of Windsurf, you need to re-evaluate whether the interaction of Devin Desktop suits your habits; free tiers and paid plans are subject to the official website's instructions. Some advanced features may belong to paid subscriptions, and the free model quotas and usage limits on the cloud are also subject to the official plan page. For large team sizes, it is recommended to first evaluate the subscription costs.