How to Use Windsurf Cascade Agent: A Complete Guide

Windsurf is an AI-first code editor from the team formerly called Codeium. Its Cascade agent keeps a running model of what you are trying to do across the whole session, editing multiple files and running terminal commands to reach the goal.

The editor looks like VS Code because it is a fork of it. Your extensions and keybindings carry over, which removes the usual switching cost.

How Do You Install Windsurf and Import Your Setup?

• Download the installer for macOS, Windows, or Linux
• On first launch, choose to import settings from VS Code
• Sign in to activate the free tier
• Open a project folder and let the index build
• Open the Cascade panel from the sidebar

The import step copies extensions, themes, and shortcuts. Budget ten minutes for the first index on a large project.

What Is Cascade and Why Does It Feel Different?

Cascade tracks your recent edits, terminal output, and stated intent, so you rarely re-explain context. Ask it to fix a test that just failed and it already knows which test, because it watched the run.

That continuity is the product’s real selling point. Other agents start each conversation cold.

How Do You Use Cascade Day to Day?

Write a goal in the Cascade panel, not a command list. “Add pagination to the user list endpoint and update the client” works better than a numbered procedure, because the agent can inspect the code and choose its own path.

Review the proposed diff set before accepting. Multi-file changes land as one reviewable batch.

Is Windsurf Free?

There is a free tier with a monthly allowance of Cascade credits, enough for light use. Pro starts around $15 a month and raises the credit ceiling. Autocomplete runs on in-house models with low latency and does not consume the same quota.

What Does It Handle Poorly?

Very large monorepos stretch the index, and the agent occasionally edits a file you did not ask it to touch while pursuing the goal. Keep changes on a branch and read the diff. Also, because it is a fork, new VS Code features arrive late.

Quick Summary

• Windsurf is an AI-first editor with the Cascade agent built in.
• It imports VS Code settings, extensions and keybindings.
• Cascade keeps session context so you re-explain less.
• Free tier has a monthly Cascade credit allowance; Pro is about $15/mo.
• Branch your work and review multi-file diffs before accepting.