Agent framework
Droid
Droid is Factory's AI software engineering agent, designed to handle production-quality coding tasks end-to-end with strong emphasis on safety, review, and auditable actions.
Droid plugins on BuySkills
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Droid vs Windsurf
A head-to-head look at Droid and Windsurf — two popular AI coding agents — and how BuySkills fits into each workflow.
Standalone IDE
Windsurf
Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is a VS Code-based editor built around Cascade, an agent that can reason over your whole codebase and execute multi-step workflows. It targets teams that want agentic pair programming out of the box.
Windsurf plugins on BuySkillsSide-by-side
| Dimension | Droid | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Agent framework | Standalone IDE |
| In a nutshell | Factory's AI software engineering agent | Codeium's agentic IDE with Cascade |
| BuySkills install command | npx buyskills install <skill> | npx buyskills install <skill> |
| Cross-agent skill sharing | Yes — via BuySkills | Yes — via BuySkills |
Use both with a single skill catalog
You don't have to pick. BuySkills lets you install a skill once and use it across Droid, Windsurf, and every other supported AI coding agent — without repurchasing or reconfiguring.
- One command to install in either agent:
npx buyskills install <skill> - Skills pinned to a version you choose — Droid or Windsurf updates won't break your loop
- Explore plugins by category: testing, refactoring, documentation, git workflows, and more
Droid vs Windsurf — FAQ
Should I pick Droid or Windsurf?
It depends on where you work. Droid is factory's ai software engineering agent, while Windsurf is codeium's agentic ide with cascade. Many developers use both and share skills across them via BuySkills — so the choice is less binary than it used to be.
Can I use the same plugins in Droid and Windsurf?
Yes. BuySkills is designed for cross-agent portability. Install a skill once with the BuySkills CLI and it becomes available in both Droid and Windsurf — and every other supported agent — without a second purchase or install.
How is installing BuySkills skills different between Droid and Windsurf?
It isn't, from your side. You run `npx buyskills install <skill>`, and the CLI writes the skill to the directory each agent reads from. Droid and Windsurf pick up the skill without any extra config.
Do Droid's safety rails apply to BuySkills skills?
Yes. When Droid invokes a BuySkills skill, it runs through the same review, audit, and permission layers that Droid applies to any other tool call. Nothing bypasses Droid's safety guardrails.
Do skills work with Windsurf's Cascade agent?
Yes. BuySkills installs skills into Windsurf's shared skill directory, and Cascade picks them up without restart. Skills are available the moment Cascade decides to use them in a workflow.
Still deciding?
Install BuySkills CLI once and the skills you discover today work in whichever agent you pick tomorrow.
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