JetBrains AI / Junie vs WindsurfComparisonUpdated 2026-03-16
SUMMARY
JetBrains AI / Junie (IDE) 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
| Feature | JetBrains AI / Junie | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Config format | markdown | markdown |
| Hierarchy support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Global config | ✗ | ✓ |
| Project config | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subdirectory scoping | ✗ | ✓ |
| File inclusion / imports | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ignore file | .aiignore | .codeiumignore |
| IDE integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schema / structure | Free-form (Markdown) | Free-form (Markdown) |
| Git committed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encoding | UTF-8 | UTF-8 |
FILE MAPPING
| Purpose | JetBrains AI / Junie | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Project rules | .aiassistant/rules/*.md | .windsurf/rules/*.md |
| Ignore patterns | .aiignore | .codeiumignore |
SIDE-BY-SIDE CODE SAMPLES
JetBrains AI / Junie
.aiassistant/rules/*.md
markdown
# Kotlin Conventions
## Language Features
- Use Kotlin 2.x with coroutines for async work
- Prefer data classes for DTOs and value objects
- Use sealed classes/interfaces for domain errors
- Extension functions over utility classes
## Spring Boot
- Constructor injection (no field injection)
- Use @ConfigurationProperties over @Value
- Prefer WebFlux for reactive endpoints
- Use Spring Security with method-level security
## Testing
- JUnit 5 with Kotest assertions
- MockK for mocking (not Mockito)
- Testcontainers for integration tests
- Use @Nested for test organization
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
JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
JetBrains AI / Junie: .aiignore. Windsurf: .codeiumignore.
WHICH SHOULD I USE?
Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use JetBrains AI / Junie, configure .aiassistant/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
Tool pages:
File references:
agentconfig.ing2026-03-16COMPARE(1)