Windsurf

Open Project and Wait for Windsurf to Index Codebase

Open the project folder in Windsurf for the tool to scan and index all files for AI context.

Select File > Open Folder, point to the project folder, and wait for the indexing status bar to complete at the bottom of the screen.

For large projects, add a .windsurfignore file to exclude unnecessary directories (node_modules, build) from indexing.

Switch to Cascade Mode and Describe Requirements

Open the Cascade panel and clearly describe the feature to be built, including any technical constraints if applicable.

Click the Cascade icon in the sidebar, type the requirement such as 'Add product filtering by price and category on the /products page.'

Specify the related file or component if known, to prevent Cascade from searching in the wrong scope.

Review Implementation Plan

Go through the list of Cascade files that are to be created or modified before running it.

Read the plan displayed in the panel, click Approve if you agree or type feedback to adjust the scope.

If you see Cascade is about to edit unrelated files, stop and clarify the requirements before proceeding.

Let Cascade Run and Self-Correct in a Loop

Allow Cascade to write code, run tests, and self-correct if any errors occur during execution.

Monitor the execution log displayed in real-time, intervene by adding messages if Cascade goes off track.

You can pause at any time using the Stop button if you notice Cascade repeatedly looping through ineffective error corrections.

Review Final Diff Before Commit

Check all changes in the Source Control tab before committing to git.

Open the Source Control tab, review each changed file, then write a message and commit if everything meets requirements.

Manually run the existing test suite of the project one more time before pushing to remote.