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How to Create a GitHub Repository and Upload Windsurf Projects

If you're using Windsurf — the AI-powered IDE from Codeium — and want to back up your work, collaborate with others, or simply keep your projects version-controlled, GitHub is the natural destination. The process involves a few moving parts: setting up a repository on GitHub, connecting it to your local project, and pushing your Windsurf files up. Here's how it all works.

What Is a GitHub Repository?

A GitHub repository (or "repo") is a remote storage location for your code and project files, hosted on GitHub's servers. It tracks every change you make using Git — a version control system that records a full history of your project. Think of it as a smart cloud folder that remembers every saved state of your work.

When you push a Windsurf project to GitHub, you're not just uploading files — you're creating a living record of your development process.

What You'll Need Before You Start

  • A free GitHub account (github.com)
  • Git installed on your machine (check by running git --version in your terminal)
  • Your Windsurf project saved locally
  • Basic familiarity with the terminal or command line

Windsurf itself doesn't require any special configuration to work with GitHub — it's an IDE, and your project files are standard code files that Git handles just like any other.

Step 1: Create a New Repository on GitHub

  1. Log in to your GitHub account
  2. Click the "+" icon in the top-right corner and select "New repository"
  3. Give your repo a name (ideally matching your project folder name for clarity)
  4. Choose Public or Private depending on whether you want others to see it
  5. Decide whether to initialize with a README — if your local project already has files, it's often cleaner to skip this to avoid merge conflicts on first push
  6. Click "Create repository"

GitHub will then show you a page with setup instructions. Keep this open — you'll need the repo URL.

Step 2: Initialize Git in Your Windsurf Project Folder

Open your terminal and navigate to your Windsurf project directory: