Quick Reference
Workspace and Project Structure
Each project is a clone of the starter kit, renamed and set up independently:
moma-collection/ ← cloned from GitHub, renamed to your project
.windsurf/ ← workflows (/setup, /brief)
.venv/ ← Python environment (created by /setup)
data/ ← raw source data (NEVER modify)
outputs/ ← generated files, charts, reports
scripts/ ← code Cascade writes for you
AGENTS.md ← your filled-in project brief
.windsurfrules ← analysis style guidelines
.gitignore
To start a new project, clone the starter kit again with a different name.
Windsurf Essentials
| Action | How |
|---|---|
| Open a folder | File → Open Folder |
| Open the terminal | View → Terminal (or Ctrl+`) |
| Open Cascade | Click the Cascade icon, or Cmd+L / Ctrl+L |
| View files side by side | Right-click a tab → Split Right |
| See git history | Source Control panel → clock icon, or git log --oneline in terminal |
| Undo all changes since last commit | git checkout . in the terminal |
Workflow Commands (type in Cascade)
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/setup |
Create dirs, set up venv + polars, reset git, make first commit |
/brief |
Add data, collect research questions, and fill in AGENTS.md |
Saving Your Work
Use the Source Control panel to commit at any time:
- Click the Source Control icon in the left sidebar (or
Cmd+Shift+G/Ctrl+Shift+G) - Type a short description of what you did
- Click Commit All
AGENTS.md Template
# [Project Name]
## About This Data
- Source: [where the data came from]
- Files: [list your data files and what they contain]
- Known issues: [any quirks or problems you know about]
## Goals
- [What you're trying to accomplish]
## Rules
- Never modify files in data/
- Write all outputs to outputs/
- Write all scripts to scripts/
- Use Python with Polars for data work unless asked otherwise
Terminal Git Commands
If you prefer the command line:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
git init |
Start tracking a folder |
git add -A |
Stage all changes |
git commit -m "message" |
Save a snapshot |
git log --oneline |
See your save history |
git diff |
See what changed since last save |