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Windsurf with Xata

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What Windsurf is good for with Xata

• Turning repeated database setup into a Flow.
• Making multi-file application and schema changes in one IDE session.
• Running terminal commands while preserving project context.
• Debugging application behavior against a realistic branch.

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Quick start

1. Create a branch for the Windsurf task.

xata branch create --name windsurf-task --parent-branch `xata branch get id`

2. Store the branch URL where the app reads local environment variables.

echo "DATABASE_URL=$(xata branch url windsurf-task)" >> .env.local

3. Open the project in Windsurf.
4. Ask Cascade to use the local branch for all database commands.

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Recommended Xata setup

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Example prompts

• “Create a Flow that prepares a Xata branch, runs migrations, runs tests, and reports results.”
• “Use the Xata branch URL in .env.local; do not use production credentials.”
• “Apply this schema change to the branch and explain the SQL.”
• “Debug the failing test by inspecting the branch schema and application logs.”
• “Add cleanup instructions for the temporary branch.”

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Common workflows

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Flow-based branch setup

1. Create a Flow with Xata CLI setup commands.
2. Add project migration and test commands.
3. Ask Cascade to run the Flow before implementation.
4. Review the Flow output before merging changes.

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Migration testing

1. Create a branch from the current parent.
2. Ask Cascade to apply the migration.
3. Run application tests against the branch.
4. Ask Cascade to summarize changed tables and columns.

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Tips

• Keep the branch name visible in the Flow output.
• Ask Cascade to pause before deleting branches or changing credentials.
• Use anonymized clones for flows that need production-like data.
• Keep .env.local uncommitted.

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Troubleshooting

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Related Xata docs

• Instant Branching
• Data Anonymization
• Schema Changes
• Branch commands