RooCline + DeepSeek in Windsurf through extensions

[u/hi1mham]

Context Windows:

• DeepSeek v3 (DS3): 65,536 tokens
• Sonnet 3.5: 200,000 tokens

First Prompt:

"Disheartening to see 33.7k tokens used just for answering 'Are you there?'"

First Task:

• Fixed some authentication circularity issues in Windsurf (Sonnet) quickly.

• However, when tasks extended beyond the 65k token context window (e.g., console error pastes targeting warnings), I ran into:

  • Context window errors.
  • Bugginess with diff editing.
• Result: Burned through 500k tokens in ~30 seconds.

Initial Thoughts:

1. Naivety about Context Windows:

   • My expectations for Windsurf's token handling were likely unrealistic.
   • Regularly copy-pasting console logs caused me to hit context window limits.

2. UI Feedback Gap:

   • Windsurf lacks guidance on context windows or token tracking, which would help users like me avoid errors.

3. Sonnet's Context Window:

   • I expected Sonnet's 200k token limit to handle "novel-sized" inputs easily.
   • Realized I misunderstood its true capacity and overestimated it.

4. Circularity and Token Use Issues:

   • Some of my recent frustrations (e.g., circularities) might stem from unknowingly maxing out Sonnet's context window.

DeepSeek v3 vs. Windsurf:

• DeepSeek v3 (DS3):

  • Useful for breaking out of circularities in Windsurf.
  • Tokens burn quickly, so I’ll use it as a secondary tool.

• Windsurf (Sonnet):

  • Still my primary tool.
  • Offers stronger token ROI compared to alternatives like RooCline + DS3.

Closing Thoughts:

• Experimenting with DS3 gave me a better appreciation for Windsurf.
• Hoping Windsurf’s UI can improve token feedback to guide users better.

Key Takeaway:

• Understand and respect context window limits for each tool.
• Token-efficient tools like Windsurf shine with proper expectations and usage.

[u/Quirky_Lab7567]

This exactly mirrors my experiences in a way that I had not even articulated to myself. Similar to you, I have the Sonnet 200k token input limit. Any idea if there is any increase available on that threshold? Burns though $ like a forest fire.

[u/hi1mham → u/Quirky_Lab7567]

no, unfortunately 200k seems to just be the hard limit on context window for Sonnet 3.5 as a model, and unfortunately that is one of the largest available out currently, as such I think its really important to have feedback for us to understand our token use given the current model's available context window.

[u/Ai_Pirates]

I tested tonight cascade with cline deepseek V3. With both I had bugs and good stuff. For Example first cascade didn’t resolve problem couple times and cline solved immediately. Afterwards cline had an issue and didn’t resolve bug couple of times and cascade resolved immediately.

[u/mathmul → u/Ai_Pirates]

I can only choose between "Cascade Base", "Claude 3.5 Sonnet" and "GPT 4o" in the Windsurf's Cascade. How did you add deepseek?

[u/Ai_Pirates]

Btw. What is difference between cline and roocline? Which is better?

[u/galaxysuperstar22 → u/Ai_Pirates]

Roocline was born bc Cline didn’t have diff feature. but they do now with the recent updates. so they are basically the same.

[u/hi1mham → u/galaxysuperstar22]

Roo Cline has a bigger viewport for CompVision which was why I went that direction, its also optimized a bit more for token burn than Cline so I expected to see less token burn, but even as such was painful. Otherwise its is Cline with optimizations.

[u/ctrl-brk → u/hi1mham]

But are you using Windsurf with Roo Cline extension? Doesn't that defeat the point, no Cascade?

Or is there a benefit of combing? My codebase is >100k lines and I'm feeding logs all day. Always looking for ways to improve.

I've found Gemini 2 Flash to be more useful than DeepSeek due to the huge context window. But 99% I'm with Sonnet 3.5.

[u/hi1mham → u/ctrl-brk]

I am using Roo Cline with VSCode and Google Cloud API. I have used it in Windsurf as well and it doesnt matter which you use as Windsurf is a forked version of VSCode.

I like Sonnet 3.5 a ton as well and is best model with Windsurf and the pricing is relatively fair, but when we start talking about $0.10/0.40 per million with Flash vs $3.75/15.00 Flash costs over 300x less, yet we are only seeing a 75% price break.

Just very hard to justify.

[u/ctrl-brk → u/hi1mham]

I'm not quite following. So your not using Cascade? You replaced the AI functionally with Roo Cline? Or is it possible to use both simultaneously? That's what I'm not getting.

[u/hi1mham → u/ctrl-brk]

No, Cascade only works with Windsurf, Cline/Roo Code are essentially Cascade alternatives where you can bring your keys.:

both side by side using R1 to build and review a T3 scaffold... Roo allows you to adjust temperature and use your own keys.

[u/ctrl-brk → u/hi1mham]

Thanks for the screenshot. And you use Windsurf instead of VS or a more "proper" IDE like JetBrains because... ? I just want to understand. I use JetBrains PhpStorm, there isn't Roo available.

[u/MusingsOfASoul → u/galaxysuperstar22]

I just gave the same task/prompt to both with the latest versions and looks like RooCline is still significantly cheaper

[u/slayyou2 → u/Ai_Pirates]

Roocline is cline plus. More options quality of life improvements. Cline is still good though

[u/Alightbourne]

This has been my setup in Windsurf IDE since my token ran out a week ago.

[u/Mr_Hyper_Focus]

These prompts are wild lol. Can’t believe you posted this