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IDEs

IDEs

These guides apply the practice sequence to specific AI coding environments. Each tool has different defaults for models, context attachment, and usage dashboards — the optimization order is the same; the controls are not.

Start with Where to start for the general technique stack, then open the guide for your editor.

Evaluating a switch? See Alternatives for “alternative to X” comparisons ranked by token economics.

Tool landscape

ToolTypePriceOpen sourceBest for
CursorFull IDE$20/mo✓Primary driver IDE — Composer UX
WindsurfFull IDEFree*✓Cascade agent work with SWE model routing
DevinFull IDE + cloud agentFree*✓Local agents and autonomous cloud sessions
ZedFull IDEFree*✓Speed-focused dev — GPU-rendered UI
TraeFull IDEFree*✕Hobbyist experimentation
ClineVS Code extensionFree*✓Task-driven agentic work
GitHub CopilotVS Code extension$10/mo✕Corporate standard
Claude CodeTerminal agentFree*✓Automated testing and PRs
OpenCodeTerminal agentFree*✓TUI agent with Plan/Build routing
AiderTerminal agentFree*✓Terminal-heavy users — git-native edits
OpenRouterLLM gateway (BYOK)Pay per use✕One API key across Cline, Aider, and custom agents

*Free tier or BYOK — you still pay upstream model providers (or quota allowances) unless the tool includes bundled inference.

Strengths and tradeoffs

ToolStrengthsTradeoffs
CursorBest-in-class UX, ComposerSubscription cost
WindsurfSWE models free on quota plans, strong CascadeCognition ecosystem overlap with Devin
DevinAdaptive routing, cloud + local surfacesMultiple meters (ACUs, credits, quota)
ZedHigh performance, GPU-renderedFewer extensions than VS Code
TraeAdaptive learning, free tierData privacy concerns — verify retention settings
ClineOpen source, high agencyRequires setup (API keys, MCP)
GitHub CopilotDeep ecosystem integrationClosed models, premium request caps
Claude CodeCLI native, direct OS accessNo GUI
OpenCodePlan/Build split, compactionTerminal-only workflow
AiderExcellent git integrationSteep learning curve
OpenRouter500+ models, one key, routing fallbacksGateway fee on top of provider rates

Many terminal agents and extensions route through OpenRouter for BYOK — read that guide alongside your editor guide if you share one API key across tools.

Guides

Each guide follows the same sequence: measure → model routing → trim context → tighten prompts → set guardrails.

Full IDEs

IDEGuideDominant waste
CursorTokenminning in CursorUnbounded agent loops, rules/MCP bloat, long chat cache growth
WindsurfTokenminning in WindsurfLong Cascade threads, frontier models on routine work, pinned context
DevinTokenminning in DevinCloud session sprawl, always_on rules, MCP tool cap, Arena parallel runs
ZedTokenminning in ZedLong assistant threads, default model tier, broad @-style context
TraeTokenminning in TraeBuilder session sprawl, adaptive context growth, default frontier models

VS Code extensions

ToolGuideDominant waste
ClineTokenminning in ClineAuto-approved tool loops, oversized MCP schemas, marathon task threads
GitHub CopilotTokenminning in GitHub CopilotAgent mode context, premium request burn, chat vs inline misuse

Terminal agents

ToolGuideDominant waste
Claude CodeTokenminning in Claude CodeBash/tool output in context, CLAUDE.md bloat, headless session sprawl
OpenCodeTokenminning in OpenCodeLong TUI sessions, MCP schema bloat, Build loops without step caps
AiderTokenminning in AiderRepo-map bloat, architect/edit cycles, conventions file duplication

Gateways

ToolGuideDominant waste
OpenRouterTokenminning with OpenRouterFrontier defaults, missing fallbacks, no per-key caps, cache-unaware routing
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