Summary of Windsurf Tutorial for Beginners (AI Code Editor) - Better than Cursor??

Summary of "Windsurf Tutorial for Beginners (AI Code Editor) - Better than Cursor??"

This video is a comprehensive beginner-friendly tutorial on the AI-powered code editor Windsurf, explaining its features, pricing, usage tips, and comparisons to similar tools like Cursor. The presenter shares hands-on demonstrations and practical advice for maximizing productivity with Windsurf, especially for beginner programmers.

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Main Ideas and Concepts

• Introduction to Windsurf
  • Windsurf is a relatively new AI code editor released at the end of 2024.
  • It is a fork of VS Code, allowing import of existing VS Code settings, themes, and extensions.
  • The presenter has used Windsurf daily and prefers it over other AI editors like Cursor.
• Pricing and Plans
  • Windsurf offers a free plan, but it does not allow file modifications (only code generation/chat).
  • Paid plans (Pro Plan at $10/month and Pro Ultimate) enable full file editing and terminal command execution.
  • Compared to Cursor ($20/month), Windsurf is more affordable with more features.
  • The presenter recommends paying for the Pro Plan for practical use.
• Getting Started
  • Open a project folder early to keep code organized and avoid losing files.
  • Windsurf’s main feature is Cascade, the AI assistant that modifies code files.
  • Cascade operates in two modes:
    • Write mode: Edits and creates files directly.
    • Chat mode: Generates code or answers questions but does not modify files.
  • Beginners should plan their project and decide on tech stack/frameworks (e.g., React, backend, CSS libraries) before prompting the AI to avoid irrelevant or random outputs.
• Using Cascade (AI Assistant)
  • Cascade can generate entire projects, run terminal commands (e.g., npm install), and execute backend commands.
  • Terminal output and running commands are visible in a dedicated Cascade Terminal tab.
  • Cascade will not overwrite existing files but edits them; it will not edit files with unsaved changes.
  • After generating or modifying code, Windsurf shows a diff view similar to GitHub pull requests where users can accept or reject individual or all changes.
  • Edits made by Cascade are immediately reflected in files even before accepting changes, which can confuse users.
    • To discard edits, users must explicitly reject changes.
    • Accepted changes finalize the edits in the codebase.
• Best Practices for Prompting AI
  • Be specific with prompts, including framework and language details.
  • Use the chat window for conversations, asking questions, or requesting explanations.
  • Open new chat sessions for unrelated topics to avoid confusion from previous context.
  • You can tag files, directories, or code sections in prompts using the "@" mention feature to give precise context.
  • Highlight code and press Ctrl+L to add selected code as context for targeted questions or edits.
  • Inline editing is available by highlighting code and pressing Ctrl+I, allowing small refactors or changes using AI.
  • You can instruct the AI to continue a coding task by typing "continue," and it will logically extend previous work.
• Additional Features
  • Ability to run multiple background terminal processes.
  • Supports switching between AI models (e.g., GPT-4, Claude 3.5).
  • Features for explaining code, refactoring, or adding docstrings with quick buttons.
  • Can handle multi-file projects well, better than Cursor in this regard.
  • Can add images and reference multiple files in prompts.
• Common User Confusions
  • Understanding when changes are actually saved or just previewed.
  • Managing unsaved file states to allow AI edits.
  • Tracking multiple changes and undoing AI modifications.
• Tips for Best Results
  • Explicitly specify which files to edit to avoid unwanted changes.
  • The more you manually code and provide context, the better the AI performs.
  • Always review AI-generated code carefully; request smaller edits if changes are too large.
  • Maintain good project organization with logical directory structures and meaningful file/variable names to improve AI context understanding.
• Comparison to Cursor
  • Windsurf offers more advanced features like terminal command execution and better multi-file handling.
  • Windsurf’s paid plans are cheaper and more functional.
  • Free version of Windsurf is limited; for free usage, Cursor might be better.
• Mentorship Program Plug
  • The presenter mentions reopening a mentorship program called Dev Launch for personalized software engineering guidance.

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Methodology / Step-by-Step Instructions for Using Windsurf

1. Install Windsurf and optionally import VS Code settings.
2. Open a folder for your project in Windsurf.
3. Plan your project: decide framework, tech stack, UI design before prompting AI.
4. Use Cascade in Write mode to generate or modify

Category

Educational

Video