Windsurf Wave 4 - Preview in IDE, MCP Market, Linter Integration

Windsurf Wave 4 introduces game-changing features like Previews, Tab-to-Import, Linter Integration, Quick MCP Integration and more. It's giving tough competition to likes of Bolt.new & Lovable.dev

Looks like the Codeium Team is on a roll. They’ve been shipping out features at a pace that makes me think they’re leveraging their own tools to get it done. I mean, why wouldn’t they?

Codeium has just released Windsurf Wave 4 , in just a couple of weeks after Wave 3, for its AI-native IDE, Windsurf, marking what it calls "a turning point from catching up to leading the industry."

My Take on Windsurf Wave4

I’ve been playing around with Codeium’s Windsurf Editor for a while now, and Wave4 feels like a big step up. It’s clear they’re aiming to keep me—and other developers—locked into that sweet coding flow. Here’s what stood out to me in this update.

• Previews allow developers to send UI components and console errors back to Windsurf's AI assistant, eliminating the need for manual explanations of code issues

• Tab-to-Import provides passive predictive experience for import statements

• Linter Integration checks AI-generated code against linting rules before presenting it to the developer

• Suggested Actions anticipate the developer's next action after interacting with the AI assistant

• MCP Discoverability makes it easier to find and integrate tools that extend Windsurf's capabilities

• Drag & Drop Files simplifies sharing context with the AI assistant

• Enterprise Controls provide better governance and consistency across development teams

• Claude 3.7 Sonnet Improvements make interactions with Claude 3.7 Sonnet more natural and less intrusive and Making DeepSeek V3 free

Let’s try to understand these features in detail.

Previews: Real-Time Context for Faster Development

One of the standout features in Wave 4 is the new Previews functionality. This game-changing capability allows developers to iterate on their applications more rapidly by sending UI elements and console errors directly back to Cascade (Windsurf's AI assistant) as context.

This solves a common friction point in "vibe-coding" entire applications. Previously, when something didn't look or work correctly, developers had to manually explain the issues to the AI assistant, hoping it would properly identify the problematic components. With Previews, Cascade can now see exactly what you're seeing, eliminating this communication barrier.

It’s giving Lovable and Bolt.New a run for their money—Lovable’s got that slick no-code preview thing going, and Bolt’s all about rapid prototyping, but Wave4 brings it right into my IDE

MCP Discoverability: Expanding Tool Integration

This was one feature I was very excited about. Configuring an MCP is sometimes confusing but with Wave 4 they have introduced a simpler methods of identifying and integrating helpful MCP (Model Context Protocols) servers. This enhancement makes it easier to discover and utilize powerful tools that extend Windsurf's capabilities.

The MCP Servers you can connect easily are :

• GitHub : MCP Server for the GitHub API, enabling file operations, repository management, search functionality, and more.

• Sequential Thinking : An MCP server implementation that provides a tool for dynamic and reflective problem-solving through a structured thinking process.

• Puppeteer: A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides browser automation capabilities using Puppeteer. This server enables LLMs to interact with web pages, take screenshots, and execute JavaScript in a real browser environment.

• PostgreSQL: A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides read-only access to PostgreSQL databases. This server enables LLMs to inspect database schemas and execute read-only queries.

• Playwright: A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides browser automation capabilities using Playwright. This server enables LLMs to interact with web pages, take screenshots, and execute JavaScript in a real browser environment.

• Stripe: The Stripe Model Context Protocol (MCP) server allows you to integrate with Stripe APIs through function calling. This protocol supports various tools to interact with different Stripe services.

• Slack: MCP Server for the Slack API, enabling Claude to interact with Slack workspaces.

• Figma: A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants to interact with Figma files. This server provides tools for viewing, commenting, and analyzing Figma designs directly through the Model Context Protocol.

For those unfamiliar with MCP, it's the protocol that allows Windsurf to connect with external tools and services, significantly expanding what the IDE can do. With improved discoverability, developers can more easily find and leverage these integrations to enhance their workflow.

You can read more about it in my blog here -

Tab-to-Import: Enhanced Passive Prediction

Wave 4 introduces another addition to Windsurf's passive predictive experience: Tab-to-Import. This feature intelligently suggests import statements as you code, reducing the cognitive load of remembering and manually typing package imports.

When you reference a component or function that hasn't been imported yet, Windsurf will suggest the appropriate import statement, which you can accept with a simple tab press. This seamless experience keeps you in your coding flow without interruptions.

Linter Integration: Automatic Code Quality Checks

Whenever I used to build applications, one problem I always faced was Linter issues and it took hell of a time to fix them to make it production-ready. I know that Quality code isn't just about functionality—it's about adhering to best practices and coding standards.

Wave 4 integrates linters directly with Cascade, allowing the AI assistant to check its outputs against linting rules before presenting them to you.

This integration helps catch potential issues early in the development process, ensuring that AI-generated code maintains high-quality standards from the start. I don’t have to spend time again fixing them

Suggested Actions: Streamlined Workflow

After responding to your queries, Cascade now suggests what your next action might be. This feature anticipates your development flow, making the interaction with the AI assistant more conversational and intuitive.

For example, after helping you debug an issue, Cascade might suggest running tests to verify the fix, or after implementing a feature, it might recommend documenting the new functionality. These contextual suggestions help maintain momentum in your development process.

Drag & Drop Files: Simplified Context Sharing

You can now attach editor tabs or files directly from your file explorer to Cascade conversations. This streamlined approach to sharing context makes it easier to get help with specific code files without the need to copy and paste content.

This feature is particularly useful when working with multiple related files, as it allows you to quickly provide Cascade with all the necessary context to understand your codebase better.

Enterprise Controls: Model Options Administration

For enterprise users, Wave 4 adds administrative controls that allow organizations to specify which AI models their teams can use. This feature provides better governance and consistency across development teams.

IT administrators can now configure which AI models are available to their organization, ensuring compliance with company policies and optimizing for specific development needs.

Claude 3.7 Sonnet Improvements

The update includes improvements to Claude 3.7 Sonnet integration, with a "bit less aggression towards tool calling," creating a more balanced approach to when the AI suggests using external tools.

This refinement makes interactions with Claude 3.7 Sonnet more natural and less intrusive, focusing on providing assistance when needed without overwhelming you with tool suggestions.

Model Availability Updates

Windsurf Wave 4 also brings updates to model availability:

• Unlimited access to Deepseek-v3

• Access to Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Claude 3.7 Sonnet (thinking), and GPT 4.5

These model updates ensure that Windsurf users have access to some of the most advanced AI models available, providing more options for different coding scenarios and preferences.

Download Windsurf to experience these new features firsthand.