The second "LLM°hard word coding°hard word app" tried was Windsurf°hard word.
And, while it is not°hard word a knockout decision, ZenCoder°hard word has clearly won°hard word on points.
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The biggest°hard word advantage°hard word of Windsurf°hard word over ZenCoder°hard word is the usage°hard word dashboard°hard word. It is much clearer how many queries°hard word I have run, and what they have cost°hard word.
Just because I'm°hard word not°hard word paying during a two-week°hard word trial°hard word doesn't°hard word mean that the queries°hard word didn't°hard word cost something to someone else.
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The coding°hard word skill°hard word of Windsurf°hard word was substantially worse.
Was this because it defaulted°hard word to their own (free) SWE°hard word-1-Lite°hard word model, rather than a more effective°hard word one? Maybe.
Right now, not giving°hard word your°hard word users°hard word a choice of 7 different models, is a feature°hard word.
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Both have a version°hard word of the "accept changes" diff-review°hard word tool. Windsurf°hard word lets you accept part of the change. But, in practice, this is more of an inconvenience than a convenience°hard word. When the change is something like "update°hard word the imports°hard word", there are 8 separate things to accept.
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Vibecoding is still slow enough that I can operate°hard word two sessions°hard word simultaneously°hard word. So, perhaps, having Windsurf°hard word and Zencoder°hard word both running can double°hard word my productivity°hard word.
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Zencoder's°hard word "advanced°hard word workflows°hard word" do seem to have solved°hard word some of the basic°hard word problems. Like figure out which file°hard word the user°hard word is referring°hard word to. The solution is not°hard word "read everything", but "use a subcommand°hard word to grep°hard word the file°hard word titles°hard word".
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Ultimately°hard word, for an experienced°hard word coder°hard word, the key feature°hard word of these tools is to fail°hard word in a way that is easy to detect and correct.