Windsurf Skills — Best AI Coding Skills for Windsurf Editor
What is Windsurf?
Windsurf is an AI-powered code editor from the team formerly known as Codeium. Built on VS Code, it features Cascade — an agentic AI system that can understand your codebase, plan changes, and execute multi-step tasks.
Windsurf stands out for its generous free tier and Cascade's ability to handle complex workflows autonomously.
Key Features
- Cascade: Agentic AI that plans and executes multi-step tasks
- Free tier: Generous AI usage without a subscription
- Codebase awareness: Indexes and understands your entire project
- Multi-file editing: Coordinated changes across your codebase
- Agent skills: Load domain-specific knowledge via SKILL.md files
- VS Code compatible: Familiar interface, extensions, and keybindings
How Skills Work in Windsurf
Windsurf reads SKILL.md files to learn domain-specific knowledge. When you ask Cascade to work on a task covered by a skill, it automatically applies the skill's instructions and best practices.
Installing Skills
/learn @owner/skill-name
Top Skills for Windsurf
| Skill | What it does |
|---|---|
| Frontend Design | Build production-grade UIs |
| Code Review | Review code for bugs and best practices |
| Testing | Write comprehensive test suites |
| DevOps | CI/CD and infrastructure automation |
| SEO Optimizer | Optimize web content for search engines |
Windsurf vs Other AI Coding Tools
| Feature | Windsurf | Cursor | Claude Code | Cline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Standalone IDE | Standalone IDE | CLI agent | VS Code extension |
| Price | Free + $15/mo Pro | $20/mo Pro | Usage-based | Free (BYO key) |
| Agent | Cascade | Agent mode | Claude agent | Autonomous mode |
| Agent Skills | SKILL.md | SKILL.md | SKILL.md | SKILL.md + MCP |
| Free tier | Yes (generous) | Limited | No | Yes (BYO key) |
| Best for | Budget-conscious devs | Power users | Terminal devs | VS Code loyalists |
Getting Started
- Download Windsurf (free tier available)
- Install the learn skill:
/learn @agentskill-sh/learn - Browse skills on agentskill.sh
- Install any skill:
/learn @owner/skill-name