windsurf-performance-tuning

Windsurf Performance Tuning

Overview

Optimize Windsurf's indexing engine, Cascade context building, Supercomplete latency, and overall IDE responsiveness. Most performance issues stem from indexing too many files or missing exclusion patterns.

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed
Understanding of workspace indexing
Access to Windsurf settings

Capture a repeatable latency or indexing symptom before changing exclusions, extensions, workspace scope, or editor settings.

Tool Use

Use Read to inspect only the repository files and configuration needed for the request.
Use Grep to locate relevant settings, rules, logs, or code without broad collection.
Use Write only for a new artifact the user requested; never write credentials or unreviewed production configuration.
Use Edit for bounded, reviewable changes and preserve unrelated user work.

Instructions

Step 1: Optimize Workspace Indexing

The indexing engine is the #1 performance factor. Exclude everything that isn't source code:

# .codeiumignore — aggressive exclusion for large codebases
# Build artifacts
node_modules/
dist/
build/
.next/
.nuxt/
.output/
.svelte-kit/
coverage/
.cache/

# Package manager
pnpm-lock.yaml
package-lock.json
yarn.lock

# Generated code
*.min.js
*.min.css
*.bundle.js
*.chunk.js
**/*.map
generated/
__generated__/

# Binary and media files
*.png
*.jpg
*.gif
*.svg
*.ico
*.mp4
*.woff
*.woff2
*.ttf
*.eot

# Data files
*.sqlite
*.db
*.sql.gz
*.csv

# Python
__pycache__/
*.pyc
.venv/
venv/
.tox/
*.egg-info/

# Go
vendor/

# Rust
target/

Step 2: Open Focused Workspaces

# DON'T: Open entire monorepo root
windsurf ~/monorepo/          # Indexes ALL packages = slow

# DO: Open specific service directories
windsurf ~/monorepo/apps/web/        # Only indexes web app
windsurf ~/monorepo/packages/api/    # Only indexes API

# Each Windsurf window gets its own focused AI context
# Cascade performs better with fewer, relevant files

Step 3: Tune IDE Settings

// settings.json — performance-focused configuration
{
  // Indexing limits
  "codeium.indexing.maxFileSize": 524288,

  // Reduce extension overhead
  "extensions.autoUpdate": false,
  "extensions.autoCheckUpdates": false,

  // Editor performance
  "editor.minimap.enabled": false,
  "editor.renderWhitespace": "none",
  "editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": false,

  // File watcher optimization
  "files.watcherExclude": {
    "**/node_modules/**": true,
    "**/dist/**": true,
    "**/.git/objects/**": true,
    "**/build/**": true
  },

  // Search exclusions
  "search.exclude": {
    "**/node_modules": true,
    "**/dist": true,
    "**/coverage": true,
    "**/*.min.js": true
  }
}

Step 4: Optimize Cascade Usage

## Cascade Performance Tips

1. Start fresh sessions for new tasks
   - Long conversations accumulate context, slowing responses
   - Click + in Cascade panel to start new conversation

2. Use @ mentions instead of describing files
   - BAD: "Look at the auth service file"
   - GOOD: "@src/services/auth.ts fix the token refresh logic"

3. Scope prompts narrowly
   - BAD: "Refactor the authentication system"
   - GOOD: "Extract JWT validation from src/middleware/auth.ts into src/services/jwt.ts"

4. Use Chat mode for questions, Code mode for edits
   - Chat mode is lighter — doesn't build full edit context
   - Switch modes based on intent

5. Choose the right model for the task
   - A currently available SWE-family model: routine work at lower or no quota cost when labeled free
   - SWE-1: standard coding tasks
   - SWE-1.5 / Claude: complex multi-file tasks (worth the wait)

Step 5: Memory Management

## Reduce Memory Usage

1. Close unused editor tabs
   - Each open file adds to memory footprint
   - Cmd/Ctrl+K Cmd/Ctrl+U: close unused tabs

2. Limit extensions
   - Each extension consumes memory
   - Disable extensions you don't actively use
   - Check: Extensions > "@enabled" to review

3. Disable unused Supercomplete languages
   - Settings > codeium.autocomplete.languages
   - Disable for languages you don't write

4. Monitor process memory
   - Help > Open Process Explorer
   - Look for extensions consuming >200MB

Step 6: Benchmark Your Setup

#!/bin/bash
set -euo pipefail
echo "=== Windsurf Performance Check ==="

# Workspace size
FILE_COUNT=$(find . -type f -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | wc -l)
echo "Indexed files: ~$FILE_COUNT"

# Config status
echo "Has .codeiumignore: $([ -f .codeiumignore ] && echo 'YES' || echo 'NO (SLOW!)')"
IGNORE_LINES=$(wc -l < .codeiumignore 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
echo "Ignore patterns: $IGNORE_LINES"

# Recommendations
if [ "$FILE_COUNT" -gt 5000 ]; then
  echo "WARNING: >5000 files. Add more patterns to .codeiumignore"
fi
if [ "$IGNORE_LINES" -lt 5 ]; then
  echo "WARNING: Few ignore patterns. Add build artifacts, binaries, lock files"
fi

Output

Return a before-and-after performance record with workspace size, indexing boundaries, memory and CPU observations, configuration changes, measured improvement, and rollback instructions. Label conclusions as measured, inferred, or still unverified.

Error Handling

Issue	Cause	Solution
Indexing never completes	Too many files	Add `.codeiumignore`, open subdirectory
Cascade timeout	Complex prompt + large context	Narrow scope, start fresh session
High memory usage	Too many extensions/tabs	Close tabs, disable unused extensions
Supercomplete lag	Large file open	Split large files, add to maxFileSize limit
IDE freezes	Extension conflict	Safe Mode: `windsurf --disable-extensions`

Examples

Quick Performance Fix

# Create minimal .codeiumignore if missing
[ -f .codeiumignore ] || cat > .codeiumignore << 'EOF'
node_modules/
dist/
build/
.next/
coverage/
*.min.js
*.map
EOF

Reset Indexing

Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P):
Use the current indexing reset control in Devin Desktop Settings after downloading diagnostics.

Resources

Related Skill

Continue with windsurf-cost-tuning to connect performance findings with seat allocation, quota consumption, and approved extra-usage budgets.