Roo Code vs WindsurfComparisonUpdated 2026-03-16
SUMMARY
Roo Code (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 | Roo Code | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Config format | markdown | markdown |
| Hierarchy support | ✗ | ✓ |
| Global config | ✗ | ✓ |
| Project config | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subdirectory scoping | ✗ | ✓ |
| File inclusion / imports | ✗ | ✗ |
| Ignore file | ✗ | .codeiumignore |
| IDE integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schema / structure | Free-form (Markdown) | Free-form (Markdown) |
| Git committed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Encoding | UTF-8 | UTF-8 |
FILE MAPPING
| Purpose | Roo Code | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Project rules | .roo/rules/*.md | .windsurf/rules/*.md |
| Project rules | .roo/rules-{modeSlug}/*.md | AGENTS.md |
SIDE-BY-SIDE CODE SAMPLES
Roo Code
.roo/rules/*.md
markdown
# Code Standards
## TypeScript
- Enable strict mode in all tsconfig files
- No `any` types — use `unknown` and narrow
- Prefer interfaces over type aliases for object shapes
## React
- Functional components only
- Use custom hooks for shared stateful logic
- Colocate component, styles, and tests
## Git
- Conventional commits (feat:, fix:, chore:, etc.)
- Keep commits atomic and focused
- Squash merge feature branches
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
Roo Code: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
Roo Code: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
Roo Code: Not supported. Windsurf: Supported.
Roo Code: Not supported. Windsurf: .codeiumignore.
WHICH SHOULD I USE?
Choose based on your IDE/CLI preference. If you use Roo Code, configure .roo/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
File references:
agentconfig.ing2026-03-16COMPARE(1)