The Truth About Windsurf: It’s Not as Clever as You Think

I keep seeing posts claiming that it’s broken again, but if you expect it to think exactly like a human, that’s unrealistic. It’s just a tool that requires plenty of babysitting and careful guidance. It takes a lot more work than you might expect, and many problems arise from not setting up every detail properly.

You need simple, clear rules for your entire project and for each individual part. Often, being extremely specific and breaking the process down into a few steps is the only way to solve problems without overloading the system with too many instructions. Whether you’re using Windsurg, any of the tools, or options like the Windsurf Base or DeepSeek R3, a step-by-step approach is essential.

Remember, free models don’t have the power to take over the whole process, but some parts might work better if you switch between models. The current model might start going in circles, so alternating can keep things moving forward. It’s important to keep a close watch and even change the model when needed.

Another key aspect is your cascade conversation. Sometimes, starting a new conversation—by transferring or copying over all the important parts from the previous one—can help fix issues. This is because a long, continuous conversation tends to lock in the guide rules for all models, which can lead to repeating the same mistakes. Starting fresh can break that cycle and help the model integrate the previous information with a new perspective.

Also, note that the Cascades writing and reading tools sometimes run into errors or struggle with large files. In these cases, setting up MCP servers with proper write and read access can be useful, and switching to different tools might be the best option.

In short, understand the limits of each tool, keep your instructions simple and clear, and be ready to switch models or even start a new conversation when needed. With diligent oversight and flexibility, even free or basic models can achieve great results when used the right way.