JetBrains AI / Junie vs WindsurfUpdated 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

FeatureJetBrains AI / JunieWindsurf
Config formatmarkdownmarkdown
Hierarchy support
Global config
Project config
Subdirectory scoping
File inclusion / imports
Ignore file.aiignore.codeiumignore
IDE integration
Schema / structureFree-form (Markdown)Free-form (Markdown)
Git committed
EncodingUTF-8UTF-8

FILE MAPPING

PurposeJetBrains AI / JunieWindsurf
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

1. Hierarchy support

JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.

2. Global config

JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.

3. Subdirectory scoping

JetBrains AI / Junie: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.

4. Ignore file

JetBrains AI / Junie: .aiignore. Windsurf: .codeiumignore.

WHICH SHOULD I USE?

Recommendation

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

agentconfig.ing2026-03-16COMPARE(1)