 after installing and exploring Cursor AI in the previous piece. Following similar steps, we’ll create a simple Next.js application, examine Windsurf’s AI-powered suggestions, and share insights from the experience.

From the start, you can select your preferred theme. If you choose the same theme as in 

, you’ll notice little to no difference, aside from minor variations in a few components.

Let’s build a Next.js application based on the following requirements:

Windsurf offers two modes for interacting with its AI assistant:

This feature allows Windsurf IDE to execute terminal commands directly within the communication screen.

For instance, the AI assistant shows output and suggests terminal command options within the same window. 

This is practical, as it consolidates the process of coding and command execution in one place—a feature I found particularly useful.

Switching to Chat Mode, I asked the AI assistant to:

Chat Mode closely resembles standard AI assistant interactions. While it’s helpful, I encountered some difficulty in creating new files during this process.

Unlike Cursor AI, Windsurf offers options to Copy/Insert or Preview/Apply suggestions but lacks the ability to ask follow-up questions directly about the suggestions.

Along with applying the changes you can see what is removed/added in your code editor.

Windsurf is effective at resolving errors and providing fixes. However, one limitation is the inability to quickly reference code from the error log—you must copy and paste the log into the AI chat to request clarification.

Despite this, the suggestions for resolving errors were accurate and helpful.

After spending about 30 minutes installing 

, familiarizing myself with the UI, and creating a Next.js site, I was able to replicate the site-building process I performed with 

Windsurf is an impressive AI-powered IDE. Its functionality feels similar to Cursor IDE, but its 

stands out for making significant changes more consistently than Cursor’s 

, which requires separate terminal executions.

On the other hand, I didn’t miss inline mode suggestions here—a feature I rarely used in Cursor.

Given that Windsurf has a robust free version and slightly more affordable first-tier pricing than 

, it’s a compelling option to explore, especially for smaller or medium-sized projects.

I look forward to testing Windsurf on more complex projects with larger codebases to identify more distinguishing factors.

Discover the capabilities of Windsurf IDE, including its AI-powered Write and Chat modes. Learn how to create a Next.js application, explore its strengths and limitations, and compare it to Cursor IDE in this detailed review.

Exploring Windsurf Editor: Features, Modes, and Next.js Integration

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