windsurf-performance-tuning

What this skill does

# 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

## Instructions

### Step 1: Optimize Workspace Indexing

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

```gitignore
# .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

```json
// 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

```markdown
## 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, Write 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
   - SWE-1 Lite: fast, lightweight questions (no credits)
   - SWE-1: standard coding tasks
   - SWE-1.5 / Claude: complex multi-file tasks (worth the wait)
```

### Step 5: Memory Management

```markdown
## 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

```bash
#!/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
```

## 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

```bash
# 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):
"Codeium: Reset Indexing"
```

## Resources

- [Windsurf Context Awareness](https://docs.windsurf.com/context-awareness/overview)
- [Windsurf Ignore](https://docs.windsurf.com/context-awareness/windsurf-ignore)
- [Autocomplete Tips](https://docs.windsurf.com/autocomplete/tips)

## Next Steps

For cost optimization, see `windsurf-cost-tuning`.