Building a magical AI code editor used by over 1 million developers in four months: The untold story of Windsurf | Varun Mohan (co-founder & CEO)

Overview

This episode dives into the story behind Windsurf, an AI-powered IDE that has rapidly gained traction among developers, reaching over 1 million users in just four months. Varun Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Windsurf, shares insights into the evolution of the company, their bold pivots, the future of software engineering, and how AI is reshaping the way products are built. The conversation also explores Windsurf’s unique features, hiring philosophy, and the transformative potential of AI tools for engineers and product managers alike.

Notable Quotes

- Every six to 12 months, it should make our existing product look silly. It should almost make the form factor of our existing product look dumb. — Varun Mohan, on the importance of continuous innovation.

- If we don't innovate and do crazy things, we're gonna die. — Varun Mohan, on the urgency of staying ahead in the competitive AI space.

- Get your hands dirty with all of these products. You could be a force multiplier to your organization in ways they never even anticipated. — Varun Mohan, encouraging listeners to embrace AI tools.

🚀 The Evolution of Windsurf

- Windsurf began as a GPU virtualization company but pivoted to focus on AI coding tools after recognizing the transformative potential of generative AI.

- Early adoption of GitHub Copilot inspired the creation of Codium, which later evolved into Windsurf, an IDE tailored for agentic capabilities.

- Windsurf’s ability to deeply understand large codebases (e.g., 100M+ lines of code) and provide secure, enterprise-grade solutions has been a key differentiator.

🛠️ The Future of Software Engineering

- Varun Mohan predicts that AI will write over 90% of code, shifting engineers’ roles toward reviewing, debugging, and prioritizing business problems.

- Despite AI’s growing capabilities, foundational computer science skills remain valuable for understanding trade-offs and optimizing systems.

- Agency—the ability to independently build and innovate—is becoming a critical skill for engineers and product builders.

💡 Windsurf’s Unique Features

- Windsurf enables developers to modify existing codebases and preview changes in real-time, bridging the gap between app-building and code-editing.

- A live demo showcased Windsurf’s ability to transform a boilerplate React project into a functional “Airbnb for dogs” website using simple commands and visual inputs.

- The IDE supports inline refactoring, AI-assisted code reviews, and seamless integration with existing workflows, making it a powerful tool for both developers and non-technical users.

👩‍💻 Hiring Philosophy and Team Structure

- Windsurf operates with a lean team, hiring only when functions are underwater to maintain focus and avoid unnecessary complexity.

- Teams are structured as “two-pizza teams” to ensure leaders stay deeply involved in the technology.

- Engineers at Windsurf double as product managers for developer-focused features, leveraging their firsthand understanding of user needs.

🌐 The Role of AI in Enterprise Sales

- Windsurf invested early in enterprise sales, building a go-to-market team of over 80 people to cater to Fortune 500 companies.

- Secure environments, FedRAMP compliance, and hybrid deployment options have made Windsurf a trusted partner for large enterprises.

- The company’s ability to deeply integrate with enterprise codebases has been a major competitive advantage.