Amazon Q Developer vs WindsurfUpdated 2026-03-16

SUMMARY

Amazon Q Developer (CLI) uses markdown configuration while Windsurf (IDE) uses markdown. They differ on 4 of 11 compared features. Both tools provide AI-assisted development but take different approaches to project configuration.

FEATURE COMPARISON

FeatureAmazon Q DeveloperWindsurf
Config formatmarkdownmarkdown
Hierarchy support
Global config
Project config
Subdirectory scoping
File inclusion / imports
Ignore file.codeiumignore
IDE integrationCLI
Schema / structureFree-form (Markdown)Free-form (Markdown)
Git committed
EncodingUTF-8UTF-8

FILE MAPPING

PurposeAmazon Q DeveloperWindsurf
Project rules.amazonq/rules/*.md.windsurf/rules/*.md

SIDE-BY-SIDE CODE SAMPLES

Amazon Q Developer
.amazonq/rules/*.md
markdown
# React Component Standards

## Purpose
Ensure consistent React component patterns across the frontend codebase.

## Priority
High

## Instructions
- Use functional components with TypeScript
- Define props interfaces above the component
- Use React.FC only when children are expected
- Colocate styles using CSS Modules (*.module.css)
- Extract hooks into separate files when reused
- Memoize expensive computations with useMemo
- Use React.lazy for route-level code splitting

Windsurf
.windsurf/rules/*.md
markdown
---
trigger: glob
globs: "**/*.test.ts"
---

# Testing Conventions

- Use Vitest as the test runner
- Colocate test files next to source files
- Use describe blocks organized by function/component name
- Prefer userEvent over fireEvent in component tests
- Mock external services; never hit real APIs in unit tests

KEY DIFFERENCES

1. Hierarchy support

Amazon Q Developer: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.

2. Subdirectory scoping

Amazon Q Developer: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.

3. Ignore file

Amazon Q Developer: Not supported. Windsurf: .codeiumignore.

4. IDE integration

Amazon Q Developer: CLI. Windsurf: Supported.

WHICH SHOULD I USE?

Recommendation

Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use Amazon Q Developer, configure .amazonq/rules/*.md. If you use Windsurf, configure .windsurfrules. Many projects include config files for multiple tools so each team member can use their preferred editor.

PORTABILITY TIP

sync-instructions.sh
bash
# Maintain a single source of truth:
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md CLAUDE.md
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md .cursorrules
cp AI-INSTRUCTIONS.md AGENTS.md

SEE ALSO

agentconfig.ing2026-03-16COMPARE(1)