# Windsurf Upgrade Migration

> Upgrade Windsurf IDE, migrate settings from VS Code or Cursor, and handle Use when this capability is needed.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/windsurf-upgrade-migration-2` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/windsurf-upgrade-migration-2`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/windsurf-upgrade-migration-2/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/windsurf-upgrade-migration-2

---

# Windsurf Upgrade & Migration

## Current State

!`windsurf --version 2>/dev/null || echo 'Not installed'`
!`code --version 2>/dev/null | head -1 || echo 'VS Code not installed'`

## Overview

Guide for upgrading Windsurf to new versions and migrating from VS Code or Cursor. Covers settings transfer, extension compatibility, and Windsurf-specific configuration that doesn't exist in other editors.

## Prerequisites

- Current editor installation accessible
- Git for version controlling config files
- Backup of existing settings

## Instructions

### Step 1: Check Current Windsurf Version

```bash
# Current version
windsurf --version

# Check for updates
# Windsurf auto-updates by default
# Manual: Help > Check for Updates (or download from windsurf.com)
```

### Step 2: Migrate from VS Code

Windsurf is VS Code-based and supports most VS Code settings and extensions:

```bash
# Windsurf imports VS Code settings on first launch
# For manual migration:

# 1. Export VS Code extensions list
code --list-extensions > vscode-extensions.txt

# 2. Install in Windsurf
cat vscode-extensions.txt | xargs -L1 windsurf --install-extension

# 3. Copy settings
# macOS:
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Code/User/settings.json \
   ~/Library/Application\ Support/Windsurf/User/settings.json

# Linux:
cp ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json \
   ~/.config/Windsurf/User/settings.json
```

**Key difference:** Remove or disable GitHub Copilot -- it conflicts with Windsurf's Supercomplete.

### Step 3: Migrate from Cursor

Cursor and Windsurf both extend VS Code but have different AI config files:

```yaml
# Mapping Cursor concepts to Windsurf:
cursor_to_windsurf:
  .cursorrules:       .windsurfrules     # AI context rules
  .cursorignore:      .codeiumignore     # AI indexing exclusions
  .cursor/rules/:     .windsurf/rules/   # Workspace rules
  cursor_settings:    windsurf_settings  # IDE preferences
  Composer:           Cascade            # Agentic AI assistant
  Tab:                Supercomplete      # Inline completions
  Cmd+K:              Cmd+I              # Inline editing
  Cmd+L:              Cmd+L              # AI chat (same!)
```

**Migration script:**

```bash
#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail
echo "Migrating Cursor config to Windsurf..."

# Convert .cursorrules to .windsurfrules
[ -f .cursorrules ] && cp .cursorrules .windsurfrules && echo "Copied .cursorrules → .windsurfrules"

# Convert .cursorignore to .codeiumignore
[ -f .cursorignore ] && cp .cursorignore .codeiumignore && echo "Copied .cursorignore → .codeiumignore"

# Migrate workspace rules
if [ -d .cursor/rules ]; then
  mkdir -p .windsurf/rules
  cp .cursor/rules/*.md .windsurf/rules/ 2>/dev/null
  echo "Copied workspace rules to .windsurf/rules/"
  echo "NOTE: Check frontmatter -- Windsurf uses 'trigger:' field, Cursor uses different format"
fi

echo "Migration complete. Review .windsurfrules for Cursor-specific references."
```

### Step 4: Add Windsurf-Specific Configuration

After migration, add Windsurf-exclusive features:

```markdown
<!-- New Windsurf features not in VS Code or Cursor -->

1. Cascade Workflows (.windsurf/workflows/*.md)
   - Reusable multi-step automation via slash commands
   - No equivalent in VS Code or Cursor

2. Cascade Memories
   - Persistent facts across sessions
   - Partial equivalent: Cursor notepad

3. Turbo Mode
   - Auto-execute terminal commands
   - Cursor has "auto-run" but different config

4. Browser Previews
   - In-IDE preview with element selection
   - Send UI elements to Cascade for editing

5. Workspace Rules with Trigger Modes
   - glob, always_on, manual, model_decision
   - More granular than Cursor's rule system
```

### Step 5: Post-Upgrade Validation

```bash
set -euo pipefail
echo "=== Windsurf Post-Upgrade Check ==="
echo "Version: $(windsurf --version)"
echo "Extensions: $(windsurf --list-extensions | wc -l) installed"
echo "Rules: $([ -f .windsurfrules ] && wc -c < .windsurfrules || echo 'none') bytes"
echo "Ignore: $([ -f .codeiumignore ] && wc -l < .codeiumignore || echo 'none') patterns"

# Test AI features
echo ""
echo "Manual checks:"
echo "1. Open a code file -- Supercomplete should show ghost text"
echo "2. Press Cmd/Ctrl+L -- Cascade should open and respond"
echo "3. Press Cmd/Ctrl+I -- Command mode should activate"
```

## Error Handling

| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| Extensions not loading | Incompatible with Windsurf | Check Windsurf marketplace for alternative |
| Settings not applied | Wrong config directory | Verify OS-specific settings path |
| .cursorrules not working | Wrong filename | Rename to `.windsurfrules` |
| Keyboard shortcuts different | Windsurf overrides some defaults | Check Keyboard Shortcuts editor |
| Copilot still active | Not disabled | Extensions > search "copilot" > Disable |

## Examples

### Backup Before Upgrade

```bash
# Backup current Windsurf config
tar -czf windsurf-config-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz \
  ~/.config/Windsurf/User/ \
  ~/.codeium/ \
  .windsurfrules \
  .codeiumignore \
  .windsurf/ 2>/dev/null
```

### Check Windsurf Changelog

```
Visit: https://windsurf.com/changelog
Look for: breaking changes, deprecated settings, new features
```

## Resources

- [Windsurf Changelog](https://windsurf.com/changelog)
- [Windsurf Download](https://windsurf.com/download)
- [Migrating from Cursor](https://docs.windsurf.com)

## Next Steps

For CI integration, see `windsurf-ci-integration`.

---
> Source: [sharkitect-solutions/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills](https://github.com/sharkitect-solutions/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).
<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-06-15 -->