Windsurf

Configure Windsurf, Codeium's AI-native IDE, to route through Cheapa API for model flexibility and unified billing.

What This Does

Windsurf is an AI-native code editor built by Codeium. It features deep AI integration including Cascade, an agent that can understand your entire codebase. By connecting Windsurf to Cheapa API, you can use any model in the Cheapa API catalog while managing costs through a single unified balance.

Setup

Step 1: Open Windsurf Settings

Launch Windsurf
Click the gear icon in the sidebar or press Cmd+, (macOS) / Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux)
Navigate to AI Providers or Cascade Settings

Step 2: Add a New Provider

Click Add Provider or + Add AI Provider
Select OpenAI Compatible from the provider list

Step 3: Configure Cheapa API

Enter the following configuration:

Field	Value
Provider Name	`Cheapa API` (or any name you prefer)
Base URL	`https://api.cheapaapi.com/v1`
API Key	Your Cheapa API API key
Model ID	`kimi-k2.6` or `deepseek-v4-pro`

Get your API key from cheapaapi.com/keys.

Step 4: Save and Activate

Save the provider configuration
Select Cheapa API as your active provider
Choose your preferred model from the model picker

Step 5: Alternative — Settings JSON

For advanced configuration, edit the settings file directly:

Open command palette: Cmd+Shift+P
Search for Open User Settings (JSON)
Add the configuration:

{
  "windsurf.aiProvider": "openai-compatible",
  "windsurf.openaiCompatibleBaseUrl": "https://api.cheapaapi.com/v1",
  "windsurf.openaiCompatibleApiKey": "YOUR_Cheapa API_API_KEY",
  "windsurf.openaiCompatibleModel": "kimi-k2.6"
}

Recommended Models for Windsurf

Feature	Model	Why
Cascade (agent mode)	`kimi-k2.6`	Best for complex multi-step tasks
Code generation	`deepseek-v4-pro`	Optimized for programming
Large codebase analysis	`minimax-m3`	Extended context window
Quick chat responses	`glm-5.1`	Fast and cost-effective

Troubleshooting

Provider not appearing in list

Ensure you selected OpenAI Compatible, not plain OpenAI
Save settings and restart Windsurf

Authentication errors

Verify your API key is correct at cheapaapi.com/keys
Re-paste the key without any extra spaces or newlines

Cascade doesn't work with Cheapa API

Cascade requires models with strong agentic capabilities — use kimi-k2.6 for best results
Some Cascade features may require specific model capabilities

Slow responses

Use glm-5.1 for faster responses
Check your remaining balance at cheapaapi.com/billing

Notes

Windsurf's UI evolves frequently — exact menu paths may differ between versions
Cascade is Windsurf's flagship feature — it works best with capable models like Kimi K2.6
Token usage is logged to your Cheapa API dashboard in real-time
For tab completions, consider configuring a faster model separately if Windsurf supports it

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