Windsurf Core Workflow A — Cascade Code Mode

Overview

Devin Desktop is the current name for Windsurf. Cascade Code mode is its agentic editing workflow: it can create and modify files, call tools, run approved terminal commands, inspect diagnostics, and iterate on failures.

Prerequisites

• Devin Desktop with Cascade enabled
• .devin/rules/project.md configured (see windsurf-sdk-patterns)
• Git initialized with clean working tree

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.
• Use only the command-scoped Bash entries declared in frontmatter, with non-destructive checks before mutations.

Instructions

Step 1: Create a Git Checkpoint

Always commit or stash before a Cascade session. Cascade writes directly to your files.

git add -A && git commit -m "checkpoint: before cascade session"
# Or for uncommitted work:
git stash push -m "pre-cascade stash"

Step 2: Open Cascade in Code Mode

Open the Cascade panel and select Code rather than Chat. Keyboard shortcuts can vary by imported profile, so use the visible command or confirm the current binding before documenting it.

• Create and modify files
• Run terminal commands (with Turbo or per-command approval)
• Install dependencies
• Read terminal output for debugging
• Open browser previews

Step 3: Write an Effective Prompt

Structure your prompt with scope, specifics, and constraints:

"In src/services/, create a NotificationService that:
1. Sends email via Resend API (already in package.json)
2. Sends Slack messages via webhook URL from env
3. Uses the Result<T,E> pattern from src/types/result.ts
4. Includes retry logic with exponential backoff (max 3 retries)
5. Add unit tests in tests/services/notification.test.ts
Don't modify any existing files except to add exports."

Step 4: Review Cascade's Plan and Execution

Cascade shows its reasoning and plan before executing:

Cascade output flow:
1. "I'll create the notification service with email and Slack support..."
2. Creates src/services/notification.ts (shows diff)
3. Creates tests/services/notification.test.ts (shows diff)
4. Runs: npm install resend (if needed)
5. Runs: npx vitest run tests/services/notification.test.ts
6. Reports results

Review each file diff in the Cascade output. Then:

• Revert individual steps by hovering over a step and clicking the revert arrow
• Revert all to return to the state before the Cascade session
• Create named checkpoints for complex multi-step sessions

Step 5: Iterate on Errors

If tests fail, Cascade retains context about what it just did:

"The test for sendSlack is failing with 'fetch is not defined'.
Fix it by using the node:test built-in fetch mock."

Cascade reads the error, understands its own recent changes, and applies targeted fixes.

Step 6: Use @ Mentions for Precision

@src/types/result.ts — force Cascade to read this file for the Result pattern
@src/services/       — reference the entire services directory for consistency
@web resend API docs  — search the web for current Resend documentation

Output

• Multi-file code changes applied by Cascade
• Terminal commands executed (installs, tests, builds)
• Test results confirming implementation correctness
• Reviewable diffs for every file change

Error Handling

Examples

Full-Stack Feature

"Add a user profile page:
1. Create app/profile/page.tsx as a Server Component
2. Create app/profile/edit/page.tsx as a Client Component with form
3. Add GET /api/profile and PUT /api/profile route handlers
4. Use the existing UserSchema from lib/types/user.ts for validation
5. Style with Tailwind matching the existing design system
6. Add tests for both API routes"

Refactoring Task

"Extract the authentication logic from src/middleware/auth.ts into:
- src/services/auth.ts (JWT validation, token refresh)
- src/services/session.ts (session management)
Update all imports across the codebase. Run tests after."

Resources

• Focused first-party references
• Cascade Code and Chat modes
• Cascade Checkpoints

Related Skill

Continue with windsurf-core-workflow-b to convert repeated session guidance into the appropriate Rules, Skills, Workflows, or Memories layer.