How to Use Windsurf, Now Called Devin Desktop
A practical guide to what actually changed after the shift from editor-with-agent to agent manager, and how to work with it safely after every task.
Beginner7 min read
What you'll be able to do by the end
- Understand the name genuinely changed: Windsurf became Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026 via an automatic update — not a new download or a separate tool
- Grasp the core shift: it was an editor with an agent inside; now it's an agent manager wrapped in an editor — opening onto a task board instead of the code screen
- Decide whether this matches your style: delegating whole tasks and reviewing results, or writing code and watching completions line by line (then Cursor suits you better)
- Commit to one safety habit after every task: read the full diff and run your tests, because the agent is fully confident it succeeded even when it broke something
- Factor in that pricing and ownership have changed more than once in a year — if you build team workflows on it, expect future changes
Before you start
- A real software project on your machine (or an earlier Windsurf account worth auto-updating)
- Willingness to read every change the agent proposes before accepting it — not just quick-approving
Windsurf is no longer a name that exists today in the form you knew it — since June 2, 2026 it’s Devin Desktop, and this is more than a logo swap. The transformation goes from a code editor with a helper agent called Cascade, to an agent manager wrapped in an editor: it opens onto a task board where you manage agents running locally and in the cloud, rather than opening straight onto your code.
This guide focuses on the confusing reality for anyone who knew the tool under its old name: what actually changed, why the app opens on a board instead of a code screen, and how to decide whether delegation-first even matches your style — hand off whole tasks and review outcomes, or keep hands on the editor while you write.
If you already had Windsurf, there’s no new download and no second account — the update lands automatically and the app appears under its new name next launch, plan and settings intact.
The steps
The steps below run from understanding the transformation, through daily use, to the safety habit you never skip after any task.
Steps
Step 1: Understand what changed before you open the app
Windsurf emerged from Codeium in late 2024 as a code editor with an agent called Cascade — it understood your project, edited multiple files, ran terminal commands, and explained each step before executing. But Cognition (maker of the Devin agent) acquired Windsurf in late 2025 in a deal of roughly $250 million, and on June 2, 2026 officially renamed the app to Devin Desktop via automatic update. The difference isn't cosmetic: it was an editor with an agent; now it's an agent manager wrapped in an editor. If you had Windsurf, there's no new download — the update arrives automatically and the app opens under its new name next launch, with your plan, pricing, and settings unchanged.
Note: If you see 'Windsurf' in an old article or video, know it's the same app today as Devin Desktop — there are no two versions to choose between.
Step 2: Open the app and expect a task board, not a code screen
The first real difference you'll notice: the app no longer opens directly onto your code. It opens onto a Kanban-like board managing agents running locally on your machine plus cloud agents, each on its own task. Excellent if your style is delegating work and tracking status; annoying if all you want is an editor suggesting completions while you type. Coming from old Windsurf, try importing VS Code settings and extensions — it imports them easily so you don't start from zero.
Note: If opening it feels disorienting because you're hunting for the code screen, open your project from the board first — the editor itself is still reachable, just not the first thing you see.
Step 3: Hand the agent complete tasks instead of waiting for line-by-line completions
Open your project, let it index, then create a task from the agent board described in plain language — exactly what you want and any constraints that apply. Cascade reads your project, proposes a plan, executes across multiple files, and shows you the changes for review. You can run several tasks in parallel and track each one's status from the same board.
Note: A clear, specific task description reduces the odds of misinterpretation or the agent expanding scope on its own.
Step 4: Read the full diff and run your tests after every single task
This is the most important safety habit with the tool: the agent convinces you with total confidence that it completed the job, yet sometimes changes things you never asked about or breaks previously passing tests. Don't trust the agent's summary alone — open the full diff, check every file touched, and run your test suite after each task before calling it done. This step isn't optional, especially on projects containing client code or anything under NDA.
Note: If the agent touched files you didn't mention in the request, treat that as a stop-and-review signal, not a detail to overlook.
Step 5: Check privacy and pricing before building a fixed workflow on it
Like any cloud assistant, parts of your code get sent to models for processing — review the privacy settings before opening projects with client code or NDAs, and Teams plans offer clearer controls if you work in a group. On pricing: the free plan is more generous than direct rival Cursor and enough for genuine use rather than a token trial, but it hits the weekly quota fast under daily professional use. And since March 2026 pricing runs on daily and weekly quotas instead of the credits system — easier to predict, fewer invoice surprises. Remember the tool sits under new ownership and has changed pricing more than once in a year — if you plan a full team workflow around it, budget for future changes.
Note: On a tight budget, the free plan covers serious evaluation, but don't make it your permanent daily working plan.
Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
MistakeHunting for a Windsurf download today expecting the old app under the same name and shape.
Do this insteadKnow it became Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026 — same tool, new name, automatic update not a separate download, and an interface opening onto an agent board instead of a code screen.
MistakeTrusting the agent's completion summary and shipping or merging without review.
Do this insteadOpen the full diff after every task and run your tests — the agent speaks confidently even when it changed something unrequested or broke an existing test.
MistakeSubscribing primarily wanting an editor that completes lines while you type, expecting exactly a Cursor experience.
Do this insteadCompare the two philosophies before choosing: Cursor accelerates you while typing (stronger, sharper Tab feature), while Devin Desktop delegates entire tasks to an agent working for you. Pick by style.
MistakeOpening a project with client code or NDA coverage before checking privacy settings.
Do this insteadReview privacy settings and Teams plans before opening sensitive projects — like any cloud assistant, portions of your code are sent for processing.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Do I need to download Devin Desktop again if I already had Windsurf?
No. The update arrives automatically and the app opens as Devin Desktop on next launch, with your plan, quota, and settings unchanged. Starting fresh? Download it from devin.ai directly under the new name.
Why does it now open on a task board instead of the code?
Because the philosophy changed: it was an editor with a helper agent, and became an agent manager wrapped in an editor. The board manages local and cloud agents in parallel, each on its own task. Want an editor that completes while you type without that shift? Cursor is closer to that style.
Can I keep my VS Code setup?
Yes — Devin Desktop imports VS Code settings and extensions easily, so switching over doesn't mean rebuilding your environment from scratch. Import them on first run and most of your keybindings, themes, and plugins carry straight across.
Is it safe to open a client project on it?
Review the privacy settings first. Like any cloud assistant, parts of your code are sent to models for processing, and Teams plans carry clearer controls for groups. And don't skip the key habit after every task: read the full diff and run your tests before trusting any change.