Vibe Coding Startup Windsurf Launches New Models Designed for Software Engineering

Windsurf has announced the launch of its first family of AI models, SWE-1, designed to optimise the entire software engineering process, far beyond basic code generation.

According to the startup, AI coding models plateau because software engineering involves more than writing code—it spans terminals, testing, debugging, and long-term problem-solving.

Current models excel at short tasks but struggle with complex, evolving workflows. True progress requires models that handle incomplete states, ambiguity, and full-spectrum engineering—what SWE models are designed to achieve.

The suite includes three models: SWE-1, SWE-1-lite, and SWE-1-mini.

SWE-1 delivers tool-call reasoning comparable to top-tier models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet but at lower operational cost. It will be available to paid users at no cost during a promotional period.

"We set out with an initial goal of proving that we can reach frontier-level performance with this approach, even with a smaller team of engineers and less compute than a research lab. SWE-1 is the initial proof of concept," the startup said.

SWE-1-lite, offering improved quality over Cascade Base, is available free to all users. Meanwhile, SWE-1-mini powers Windsurf Tab’s predictive experience with ultra-low latency.

Built to reflect the complex, multi-surface reality of software development, SWE-1 models address real-world engineering tasks that go well beyond writing code. From terminal interactions to handling incomplete states, these models aim to support full-stack workflows.

Production and offline benchmarks show SWE-1 matching or exceeding open-weight alternatives, and even approaching frontier-level performance.

With flow-awareness as a foundational principle, Windsurf plans to continuously refine the models using real-world user interactions.

SWE-1 is the first step in Windsurf’s vision to cut software development time by 99% and build the industry’s most advanced software engineering AI.