Skip to main content

Windsurf + Soul Spec

Windsurf (by Codeium) is an AI-powered code editor. It supports custom instructions via a .windsurfrules file in your project root or global rules in settings.

Soul Spec gives Windsurf a real persona. Install a soul, export it to .windsurfrules, and your AI assistant gets a consistent identity.

Quick Start (2 minutes)​

Step 1: Install the CLI​

npm install -g clawsouls

Step 2: Install a soul​

clawsouls install TomLeeLive/brad

Step 3: Export to Windsurf format​

clawsouls export windsurfrules --dir ~/.openclaw/souls/TomLeeLive/brad -o ./my-project/.windsurfrules

Step 4: Open in Windsurf​

windsurf ./my-project

Windsurf reads .windsurfrules automatically and adopts the persona.

Global vs Per-Project Rules​

Per-project (.windsurfrules): Best for project-specific personas.

Global rules: Best for a default persona across all projects. Set in Windsurf Settings → search "Rules".

Per-project .windsurfrules takes precedence over global rules.

Use the MCP Server​

Windsurf supports MCP servers. Add to Windsurf's MCP configuration:

{
  "soul-spec": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y", "soul-spec-mcp"]
  }
}

Then ask Windsurf: "Apply the surgical-coder persona"

Tips​

  • Project-specific personas. Each project gets its own .windsurfrules.
  • Git-friendly. Commit .windsurfrules to share with your team.
  • Combine with technical rules. Add project-specific coding conventions in the same file.
  • Update easily. clawsouls install <name> -f && clawsouls export windsurfrules --dir ...