VS Code Fork Wars: Cursor vs. Windsurf vs. Firebase Studio
A new breed of code editors has emerged, transforming how developers write, debug, and maintain code. These editors, Cursor, Windsurf, and Firebase Studio, build upon the solid foundation of Visual Studio Code while integrating cutting-edge AI capabilities. Let’s explore how these tools are reshaping the coding experience and which might be right for your workflow.
Key takeaways
- Cursor offers the most comprehensive feature set with deep AI integration, making it ideal for complex professional development work
- Windsurf provides an elegant flow-based approach with cleaner UI and automatic context management, perfect for developers prioritizing workflow
- Firebase Studio delivers seamless cloud-based development with Google Cloud integration and one-click deployment capabilities
- All three editors significantly boost productivity by handling routine tasks and enabling developers to focus on creative problem-solving
- These next-generation editors—two forks of VS Code and one cloud-native IDE—represent a fundamental shift in coding paradigms, transforming AI assistance from optional to essential
The rise of AI-assisted coding
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code has long dominated the IDE space, with nearly 74% of developers using it according to Stack Overflow’s 2024 survey. Its open-source architecture and extensibility have made it the perfect foundation for innovation. Enter the VS Code forks: specialized editors that maintain VS Code’s familiar interface while adding AI superpowers.
Cursor: The AI-first code editor
Cursor emerged as one of the first major VS Code forks to integrate AI deeply into the coding experience. Built to make developers “extraordinarily productive,” Cursor offers a comprehensive set of AI-powered features that accelerate coding tasks.
Key features of Cursor
- Tab Completion: Cursor’s intelligent system suggests entire blocks of code rather than just single lines, learning from your coding patterns to make increasingly accurate recommendations.
- Ask, Manual, Agent, and Custom Modes: Cursor provides distinct modes tailored to different workflows—Ask for planning and questions, Manual for direct file edits, Agent for autonomous multi-file refactoring, and Custom for user-defined capabilities.
- Command+K: This quick shortcut brings up AI assistance for quick code edits, refactoring, and generating new code in-line.
Cursor Pricing
Cursor offers a free tier with 2,000 completions per month and 50 slow premium requests. The Pro plan costs $20 per month and includes 500 fast premium requests using models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet, as well as unlimited slow requests and basic completions.
Windsurf: The flow-based development experience
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) has positioned itself as “tomorrow’s editor, today.” With its emphasis on keeping developers in a state of flow, Windsurf offers an elegant, intuitive approach to AI-assisted coding.
Key features of Windsurf
- Cascade technology: The heart of Windsurf is its Cascade feature, which provides deep contextual awareness across your entire codebase, allowing the AI to make more informed suggestions.
- Write mode: This unique feature automatically writes changes to disk before you approve them, enabling you to see the results in real-time, including how changes might affect your running application.
- Clean UI: Many users praise Windsurf’s refined user interface, comparing it favorably to Cursor’s more feature-dense approach.
- Supercomplete: This feature goes beyond simple code completion by anticipating your next moves and suggesting multi-cursor edits and larger code blocks.
Windsurf Pricing
Windsurf offers a free tier with access to its base model. The Pro plan at $15/month provides 500 prompt credits and 1500 flow action credits. An Ultimate plan at $60/month offers unlimited prompts and additional credits.
Firebase Studio: Google’s Cloud-Based Development Environment
Launched in April 2025 as the successor to Project IDX, Firebase Studio represents Google’s entry into the AI-enhanced development space. Unlike the other contenders, Firebase Studio is entirely cloud-based, accessible directly from your browser.
Key features of Firebase Studio
- App prototyping agent: Firebase Studio lets you create applications using natural language, images, and drawing tools—without writing code.
- Gemini integration: Powered by Google’s Gemini AI models, Firebase Studio provides intelligent code assistance for writing, debugging, and explaining code.
- One-click deployment: Build and deploy applications directly to Firebase App Hosting with a single click, streamlining the path from development to production.
- Collaborative workspace: Firebase Studio enables real-time collaboration, allowing teams to work together in the same environment simultaneously.
Firebase Studio Pricing
During its preview period, Firebase Studio offers three free workspaces. Google Developer Program members receive additional workspaces (up to 30 for Premium members).
Choosing the right tool for your workflow
When to choose Cursor
Cursor excels for professional developers who need precise control over their AI assistance. Its comprehensive feature set and more granular options make it ideal for complex projects and production environments. If you’re working on large codebases and need robust AI support for refactoring and debugging, Cursor offers the most powerful toolkit.
When to choose Windsurf
Windsurf shines with its clean, intuitive interface and automatic context management. It’s an excellent choice for beginners or developers who prefer a more streamlined experience. The Write Mode feature that lets you see changes in real-time before accepting them gives Windsurf a unique advantage for visual feedback during development.
When to choose Firebase Studio
If you’re building applications with Firebase or Google Cloud integration, Firebase Studio offers the most seamless experience. Its cloud-based approach means you can develop from any device with a browser, and its one-click deployment to Firebase Hosting streamlines the path to production. The App Prototyping agent makes it especially powerful for quickly turning ideas into working prototypes.
The future of development
As competition intensifies between Cursor, Windsurf, and Firebase Studio, we can expect continued innovation and improvement. The real winners are developers, who now have powerful AI assistants to augment their capabilities and accelerate their productivity.
Whether you choose Cursor for its comprehensive feature set, Windsurf for its elegant flow-based approach, or Firebase Studio for its cloud-based convenience, embracing AI-assisted development is increasingly becoming not just an option, but a necessity for staying competitive in the rapidly evolving world of software development.
FAQs
For beginners, Windsurf is generally considered the most approachable option. Its clean user interface, intuitive Write Mode, and automatic context management make the learning curve less steep. The visual feedback it provides when making changes is particularly helpful for those still developing their coding skills.
It depends. Cursor and Windsurf support many VS Code extensions, but not all will work perfectly. Firebase Studio, being cloud-based, has more limitations on extension compatibility. Microsoft has also begun restricting some official extensions like the C/C++ extension from working on VS Code forks. Always check compatibility for your must-have extensions before switching.
For professional developers, the productivity gains typically justify the subscription costs. Most users report 20-40% increases in coding speed and efficiency. All three platforms offer free tiers that allow you to test their capabilities before committing to a paid plan. Consider starting with the free tier and tracking your productivity improvements to determine the ROI for your specific workflow.
