| name | windsurf-advanced-troubleshooting |
| description | Advanced Windsurf debugging for hard-to-diagnose IDE, Cascade, and indexing issues.
Use when standard troubleshooting fails, Cascade produces consistently wrong output,
or investigating deep configuration problems.
Trigger with phrases like "windsurf deep debug", "windsurf mystery error",
"windsurf impossible to fix", "cascade keeps failing", "windsurf advanced debug".
|
| allowed-tools | Read, Grep, Bash(ls:*), Bash(curl:*), Bash(find:*) |
| version | 1.11.0 |
| license | MIT |
| author | Jeremy Longshore <jeremy@intentsolutions.io> |
| tags | ["saas","windsurf","debugging","advanced","troubleshooting"] |
| compatibility | Designed for Claude Code |
Windsurf Advanced Troubleshooting
Overview
Deep debugging techniques for Windsurf issues that resist standard troubleshooting. Covers Cascade context corruption, indexing engine problems, extension conflicts, MCP failures, and workspace configuration debugging.
Prerequisites
- Standard troubleshooting attempted (see
windsurf-common-errors)
- Terminal access
- Understanding of Windsurf's architecture (VS Code base + Codeium AI layer)
Instructions
Step 1: Isolate Windsurf Layer vs VS Code Layer
Windsurf = VS Code + Codeium AI Layer
If the issue is:
- Editor crashes, rendering, file system → VS Code layer
- AI suggestions wrong, Cascade fails, indexing stuck → Codeium layer
- Extension not working → Extension compatibility layer
Test VS Code layer:
windsurf --disable-extensions # Run without extensions
# If issue persists → VS Code layer problem
Test Codeium layer:
# Disable Codeium: Extensions > search "codeium" > Disable
# If issue resolves → Codeium layer problem
Step 2: Debug Cascade Context Issues
When Cascade consistently gives wrong or irrelevant suggestions:
set -euo pipefail
echo "=== Cascade Context Debug ==="
echo "--- .windsurfrules ---"
if [ -f .windsurfrules ]; then
CHARS=$(wc -c < .windsurfrules)
echo "Size: $CHARS chars (limit: 6000)"
[ "$CHARS" -gt 6000 ] && echo "WARNING: Over limit — content truncated!"
else
echo "MISSING — Cascade has no project context"
fi
echo "--- Workspace Rules ---"
TOTAL_RULE_CHARS=0
if [ -d .windsurf/rules ]; then
for rule in .windsurf/rules/*.md;
[ -f ] ||
CHARS=$( -c < )
TOTAL_RULE_CHARS=$((TOTAL_RULE_CHARS + CHARS))
HAS_TRIGGER=$(grep -c || )
RULES_CHARS=$( -c < .windsurfrules 2>/dev/null || 0)
GLOBAL_CHARS=$( -c < ~/.windsurf/global_rules.md 2>/dev/null || 0)
TOTAL=$((RULES_CHARS + GLOBAL_CHARS))
[ -gt 12000 ] &&
MEMORY_DIR=
[ -d ];
MEMORY_COUNT=$(find - f | -l)
[ -gt 50 ] &&