Installing Windsurf JetBrains Plugin
Learn how to install and set up Windsurf plugin for JetBrains IDEs
Installing Windsurf for JetBrains IDEs
Bring Windsurf's AI-powered coding assistance to your JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ, WebStorm, PyCharm, etc.).
Installation Steps:
- 1. Open Settings/Preferences:
- • Windows/Linux:
File
→Settings
- • macOS:
IntelliJ IDEA
(or your IDE name) →Preferences
- • Windows/Linux:
- 2. Go to Plugins: Select "Plugins" from the side menu.
- 3. Marketplace: Ensure you're in the "Marketplace" tab.
- 4. Search: Type "Windsurf" in the search bar.
- 5. Install: Click the "Install" button for the Windsurf plugin (it should be a prominent result).
- 6. Restart IDE: When prompted, restart your JetBrains IDE to complete the installation.
Initial Setup After Restart:
- 1. Language Server Download: Wait for Windsurf to download the necessary language server. You might see a "Windsurf" button or status indicator at the bottom of the screen.
- 2. Log In: Click the Windsurf button/prompt to log in. This will open a browser window for authentication.
- 3. Return to IDE: After successful login in the browser, navigate back to your IDE.
- 4. Open Cascade: You can typically open the Cascade AI chat panel from your plugins list or a dedicated Windsurf menu/icon.
You're now set up with Windsurf in your JetBrains IDE!
Using Windsurf in JetBrains
Tab Completions: Type code and accept suggestions with Tab key.
Command Access: Use keyboard shortcuts to trigger Command features.
Settings Management: Configure AI models and preferences in settings.
Status Monitoring: Check connection status in the IDE status bar.
Troubleshooting
Connection Issues: Verify your internet connection and Windsurf account status.
Performance: Adjust settings if you experience slow completions.
Compatibility: Ensure your JetBrains IDE version is supported.
Plugin Updates: Keep the plugin updated through the marketplace.
Best Practices
- • Enable Windsurf for your most-used programming languages
- • Adjust completion frequency based on your preferences
- • Use Command for complex code generation tasks
- • Monitor your usage and credit consumption
The JetBrains plugin brings Windsurf's AI capabilities to your existing development workflow without changing IDEs.