Tendril

Tendril · Builders · Tools Literacy

AI and Windsurf: A Cursor Alternative for AI Coding

Windsurf is an AI-first code editor where AI can read your whole codebase and run multi-step tasks.

40 min · Reviewed 2026

The big idea

Windsurf is a code editor from Codeium with deep AI built in. Its 'Cascade' mode can plan and execute multi-step changes across your project — like adding a whole feature at once.

Some examples

Cascade: 'Add user authentication across the whole app.'
Watch it edit multiple files and run terminal commands.
Approve or reject each change before it sticks.
Compare it to Cursor — pick the one that fits your brain.

Try it!

Try Windsurf's free tier on a small project. Run one Cascade task. Compare the experience to Cursor if you've used it.

AI and Windsurf: An IDE That Codes With You

The big idea

Windsurf (by Codeium) has Cascade — an agent that reads your repo, plans changes, and executes them. It's a direct rival to Cursor and worth trying for free.

Some examples

Cascade reads your codebase before suggesting a change.
Built-in command terminal so the agent can run tests.
Free tier is generous compared to Cursor.
Try both Cursor and Windsurf — pick the vibe you like.

Try it!

Install Windsurf and clone any project. Have Cascade add one feature. Compare the experience to Cursor.

Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once

The big idea

Cascade plans changes across multiple files (component + types + tests) and shows you the diff.

Some examples

Use it for refactors that touch many files.
Review every diff — don't accept all at once.
Pair with git so you can revert.

Try it!

In a small project, ask Cascade to add one feature that touches 3 files. Review every diff.

Understanding "Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once" in practice: Understanding AI in this area gives you a real advantage in how you work and think. Windsurf's Cascade mode reasons across your whole codebase, not one file at a time — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

Apply the concepts from Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once directly
Identify where this fits into your current workflow
Measure the before/after difference when you apply this
Iterate and refine — first attempts rarely nail it

Apply Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once in a live project this week
Write a short summary of what you'd do differently after learning this
Share one insight with a colleague

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-builders-tools-AI-and-windsurf-editor-teen

Which company created Windsurf, the AI-first code editor?
1. Codeium
2. Microsoft
3. OpenAI
4. GitHub
What is the name of Windsurf's feature that can plan and execute multi-step changes across an entire project?
1. Cascade
2. Spectrum
3. Flow
4. Copilot
When using Cascade to make changes across multiple files, what should you do before accepting all the proposed changes?
1. Accept them all without review to save time
2. Share them with your friends for feedback
3. Reject them all and make changes manually
4. Carefully review each change
In Cascade mode, how does the AI indicate the changes it wants to make to your project?
1. It sends you an email with the changes
2. It asks for your password before making changes
3. It shows you each change and lets you approve or reject them
4. It immediately modifies all files without notification
What type of task was given as an example of what Cascade can do?
1. Add user authentication across the whole app
2. Design a company logo
3. Create a new programming language
4. Write a poem about coding
Which statement best describes what it means for Windsurf to be an 'AI-first' code editor?
1. AI can only autocomplete single lines of code
2. AI is only used for spelling corrections
3. AI is optional and disabled by default
4. AI is deeply built into the editor and can control the entire workflow
What advantage does Windsurf have because its AI can read your entire codebase?
1. The AI can understand how different parts of your project connect
2. The AI writes code faster than you can type
3. The AI can only edit one file at a time
4. The AI automatically fixes all bugs
A developer wants to add a new feature that requires changes to five different files. What feature in Windsurf would help with this?
1. Theme customization
2. Cascade
3. Copy and paste
4. Syntax highlighting
What does the lesson suggest when comparing Windsurf to Cursor?
1. Pick the one that fits your brain
2. Cursor is better for all tasks
3. Windsurf is only for beginners
4. They are exactly the same tool
What happens if you reject a specific change that Cascade proposes?
1. That particular change is not made to your project
2. Cascade will stop working
3. Cascade will delete all your files
4. Cascade will ignore your rejection and apply it anyway
Why is it important to review AI-generated changes before accepting them?
1. Because reviewing is required by law
2. Because AI can make mistakes or propose unintended changes
3. Because the AI always makes perfect code
4. Because the AI will get upset if you don't
What kind of projects does the lesson suggest trying Windsurf's free tier on?
1. Small projects
2. Massive enterprise systems
3. Production apps used by millions of users
4. Anything—size doesn't matter
What capability allows Cascade to 'add a whole feature at once'?
1. It can only work with JavaScript files
2. It can only edit one line at a time
3. It can plan and execute multi-step changes across files
4. It requires you to manually edit each file
What is one thing you can do while Cascade is working on a task?
1. Watch it edit multiple files and run terminal commands
2. Nothing—you must wait motionless
3. Go watch a movie and come back later
4. Close the editor completely
What makes Windsurf different from a traditional code editor like Notepad?
1. Traditional editors are more powerful
2. Traditional editors have AI deeply built in to control the entire workflow
3. Notepad can also run AI tasks
4. There is no difference

← Back to interactive lesson

Tendril · Builders · Tools Literacy

AI and Windsurf: A Cursor Alternative for AI Coding

Windsurf is an AI-first code editor where AI can read your whole codebase and run multi-step tasks.

40 min · Reviewed 2026

The big idea

Windsurf is a code editor from Codeium with deep AI built in. Its 'Cascade' mode can plan and execute multi-step changes across your project — like adding a whole feature at once.

Some examples

Cascade: 'Add user authentication across the whole app.'
Watch it edit multiple files and run terminal commands.
Approve or reject each change before it sticks.
Compare it to Cursor — pick the one that fits your brain.

Try it!

Try Windsurf's free tier on a small project. Run one Cascade task. Compare the experience to Cursor if you've used it.

AI and Windsurf: An IDE That Codes With You

The big idea

Windsurf (by Codeium) has Cascade — an agent that reads your repo, plans changes, and executes them. It's a direct rival to Cursor and worth trying for free.

Some examples

Cascade reads your codebase before suggesting a change.
Built-in command terminal so the agent can run tests.
Free tier is generous compared to Cursor.
Try both Cursor and Windsurf — pick the vibe you like.

Try it!

Install Windsurf and clone any project. Have Cascade add one feature. Compare the experience to Cursor.

Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once

The big idea

Cascade plans changes across multiple files (component + types + tests) and shows you the diff.

Some examples

Use it for refactors that touch many files.
Review every diff — don't accept all at once.
Pair with git so you can revert.

Try it!

In a small project, ask Cascade to add one feature that touches 3 files. Review every diff.

Apply the concepts from Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once directly
Identify where this fits into your current workflow
Measure the before/after difference when you apply this
Iterate and refine — first attempts rarely nail it

Apply Windsurf: AI that edits multiple files at once in a live project this week
Write a short summary of what you'd do differently after learning this
Share one insight with a colleague

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-builders-tools-AI-and-windsurf-editor-teen

Which company created Windsurf, the AI-first code editor?
1. Codeium
2. Microsoft
3. OpenAI
4. GitHub
What is the name of Windsurf's feature that can plan and execute multi-step changes across an entire project?
1. Cascade
2. Spectrum
3. Flow
4. Copilot
When using Cascade to make changes across multiple files, what should you do before accepting all the proposed changes?
1. Accept them all without review to save time
2. Share them with your friends for feedback
3. Reject them all and make changes manually
4. Carefully review each change
In Cascade mode, how does the AI indicate the changes it wants to make to your project?
1. It sends you an email with the changes
2. It asks for your password before making changes
3. It shows you each change and lets you approve or reject them
4. It immediately modifies all files without notification
What type of task was given as an example of what Cascade can do?
1. Add user authentication across the whole app
2. Design a company logo
3. Create a new programming language
4. Write a poem about coding
Which statement best describes what it means for Windsurf to be an 'AI-first' code editor?
1. AI can only autocomplete single lines of code
2. AI is only used for spelling corrections
3. AI is optional and disabled by default
4. AI is deeply built into the editor and can control the entire workflow
What advantage does Windsurf have because its AI can read your entire codebase?
1. The AI can understand how different parts of your project connect
2. The AI writes code faster than you can type
3. The AI can only edit one file at a time
4. The AI automatically fixes all bugs
A developer wants to add a new feature that requires changes to five different files. What feature in Windsurf would help with this?
1. Theme customization
2. Cascade
3. Copy and paste
4. Syntax highlighting
What does the lesson suggest when comparing Windsurf to Cursor?
1. Pick the one that fits your brain
2. Cursor is better for all tasks
3. Windsurf is only for beginners
4. They are exactly the same tool
What happens if you reject a specific change that Cascade proposes?
1. That particular change is not made to your project
2. Cascade will stop working
3. Cascade will delete all your files
4. Cascade will ignore your rejection and apply it anyway
Why is it important to review AI-generated changes before accepting them?
1. Because reviewing is required by law
2. Because AI can make mistakes or propose unintended changes
3. Because the AI always makes perfect code
4. Because the AI will get upset if you don't
What kind of projects does the lesson suggest trying Windsurf's free tier on?
1. Small projects
2. Massive enterprise systems
3. Production apps used by millions of users
4. Anything—size doesn't matter
What capability allows Cascade to 'add a whole feature at once'?
1. It can only work with JavaScript files
2. It can only edit one line at a time
3. It can plan and execute multi-step changes across files
4. It requires you to manually edit each file
What is one thing you can do while Cascade is working on a task?
1. Watch it edit multiple files and run terminal commands
2. Nothing—you must wait motionless
3. Go watch a movie and come back later
4. Close the editor completely
What makes Windsurf different from a traditional code editor like Notepad?
1. Traditional editors are more powerful
2. Traditional editors have AI deeply built in to control the entire workflow
3. Notepad can also run AI tasks
4. There is no difference

← Back to interactive lesson