Building a magical AI code editor used by over 1 million developers in four months: The untold story of Windsurf | Varun Mohan (co-founder & CEO) | Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career | Podwise
This episode explores the evolution of Codium, an AI coding tool company, and its flagship product, Windsurf, against the backdrop of the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Initially focused on GPU infrastructure, Codium pivoted twice, first into AI-powered code completion tools and then into developing its own IDE, Windsurf, to overcome limitations imposed by existing platforms. More significantly, the conversation delves into Codium's unique approach to hiring, emphasizing a lean structure where new hires are only brought on when existing teams are demonstrably "underwater," fostering ruthless prioritization and high agency among employees. For instance, the company's go-to-market team now builds internal tools instead of purchasing SaaS products, showcasing the transformative potential of Windsurf. As the discussion pivoted to the future of coding, Varun Mohan, Codium's CEO, predicted that AI will write over 90% of code, shifting the role of engineers towards higher-level problem-solving and strategic decision-making. This means for the engineering profession, a focus on problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of computer systems will remain crucial, while the ability to leverage AI tools effectively will become increasingly important. Emerging industry patterns reflected in this conversation highlight the rapid pace of innovation in the AI coding space and the potential for AI to significantly alter the way software is built and teams operate.
