Create your first Windsurf Cascade interaction and Supercomplete experience. Use when starting with Windsurf, testing your setup, or learning basic Cascade and Supercomplete workflows. Trigger with phrases like "windsurf hello world", "windsurf example", "windsurf quick start", "first windsurf project", "try windsurf".
First hands-on experience with Windsurf's three AI modalities: Cascade (agentic chat), Supercomplete (inline completions), and Command (inline editing). This skill walks through real interactions, not placeholder code.
windsurf-install-auth setupOpen any code file and start typing. Supercomplete predicts your intent based on recent edits, cursor movement, and surrounding context.
// Type this in a new file: hello.ts
// After typing "function greet", Supercomplete suggests the rest
function greet(name: string): string {
// Just type "return" and press Tab -- Supercomplete fills the template literal
return `Hello, ${name}! Welcome to Windsurf.`;
}
// Start typing "const users" -- Supercomplete predicts array based on greet() context
const users = ["Alice", "Bob", "Charlie"];
users.forEach(user => console.log(greet(user)));
Key Supercomplete behaviors:
Open Cascade panel and try Write mode -- Cascade modifies your codebase directly.
Prompt to try:
"Create a REST API endpoint in src/api.ts using Express that serves
the greet function. Include error handling for missing name parameter."
Cascade will:
src/api.ts with Express setupReview and accept/reject each file change before Cascade proceeds.
Switch to Chat mode (toggle in Cascade panel) for questions that don't need file edits:
Prompt: "Explain the difference between Write and Chat mode in Cascade"
Expected response: Write mode can create/modify files and run terminal commands.
Chat mode answers questions without touching your codebase.
Highlight a block of code in the editor and press Cmd/Ctrl+I to invoke Command mode:
Select the greet function, then type:
"Add JSDoc documentation and input validation"
Cascade edits the selected code inline, showing a diff you can accept or reject.
In Cascade chat, use @ to inject specific context:
@src/api.ts -- reference a specific file
@src/ -- reference an entire directory
@web -- search the web for current info
Example prompt with context:
"@src/api.ts Add rate limiting middleware to all endpoints"
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No Supercomplete suggestions | Extension disabled | Click status bar widget, enable autocomplete |
| Cascade not editing files | In Chat mode | Switch to Write mode in Cascade panel |
| Slow Cascade response | Large workspace | Add .codeiumignore for build artifacts |
| @ mention not working | File not indexed | Wait for indexing to complete (status bar) |
Press Cmd/Ctrl+I in the terminal, then type:
"Find all TypeScript files that import express"
Windsurf generates: find src -name "*.ts" -exec grep -l "express" {} \;
Ask Cascade: "Preview the API server in the browser"
Windsurf opens an in-IDE preview tab with your running app.
Click elements in the preview to send them back to Cascade for edits.
Proceed to windsurf-local-dev-loop for development workflow setup.