Windsurf Exporter
Your AI conversations contain solutions, insights, and hours of problem-solving. This Node.js tool preserves them when Windsurf can't, with real-time monitoring and powerful search.
Live Demo: See It In Action
Live Backup Process
Press "Start Backup" to see the live backup process...
Conversation Search Engine
Export Structure Visualization
The Problem Every Windsurf User Knows
Conversations Disappear
Common scenarios:
- Clear browser cache
- Switch devices
- Restart application
- Connectivity issues
Impact: That breakthrough solution you spent 3 hours developing? Gone.
No Search Capability
Common scenarios:
- Can't find previous solutions
- No conversation history
- Lost context from earlier sessions
Impact: Constantly re-solving the same problems instead of building on previous work.
Unreliable Persistence
Common scenarios:
- Local storage limitations
- Session-based conversations
- No backup mechanisms
Impact: Critical development insights lost when you need them most.
How It Actually Works
1. Connect
Establish Chrome DevTools Protocol connection to running Windsurf instance
Technical Details
Uses debug port 9222 with Playwright automation for reliable browser communication
Status
Stable implementation2. Locate
Find Cascade panel iframe within Windsurf's complex application structure
Technical Details
Smart iframe detection with multiple fallback strategies for UI variations
Status
Handles UI changes3. Extract
Pull conversation content using multiple selector strategies for reliability
Technical Details
Primary selectors with automatic fallback when Windsurf updates break extraction
Status
Self-healing extraction4. Process
Deduplicate, format, and structure conversation data for analysis and search
Technical Details
Speaker identification, message threading, and conversation flow reconstruction
Status
Data integrity focused5. Store
Save locally with search indexing and export to multiple formats
Technical Details
Local-first storage with fuse.js indexing for instant search across conversations
Status
Privacy-first approachFeatures & Implementation
Chrome DevTools Protocol Connection
ShippedConnects to Windsurf's debug port (9222) to extract conversation data in real-time
CDP automation with Playwright browser integration
Smart DOM Selector Fallbacks
WorkingMultiple extraction strategies that adapt when Windsurf UI changes break primary selectors
Auto-discovery system for UI changes with graceful degradation
Advanced Search Engine
ShippedBuilt on fuse.js for fuzzy matching with regex support for precise queries across all conversations
Indexed search with conversation analytics and word frequency analysis
Multiple Export Formats
ShippedJSON, Markdown, HTML, and CSV exports with conversation statistics and metadata
Structured data export with speaker analysis and timing patterns
Real-Time Monitoring
WorkingWatch mode polls DOM changes every 15 seconds for incremental backups without data loss
Configurable polling intervals with health monitoring validation
Health Monitoring
ShippedSystem state validation, selector verification, and error recovery with comprehensive diagnostics
Automated health checks with selector auto-discovery when extraction breaks
Available Commands
Command
npm run backupPurpose
Create manual backup of current conversations
When to Use
One-time extraction when you want to save current state
Command
npm run watchPurpose
Monitor for changes and create incremental backups
When to Use
Continuous monitoring during development sessions
Command
npm run searchPurpose
Search conversations with fuzzy matching and regex
When to Use
Find previous solutions or specific conversation topics
Command
npm run consolidatePurpose
Merge multiple backup files into unified dataset
When to Use
Combine backups from different sessions or devices
Command
npm run statsPurpose
Generate analytics on conversation patterns and usage
When to Use
Understand your development conversation patterns
Command
npm run health-checkPurpose
Verify system health and selector functionality
When to Use
Diagnose issues before important development sessions
Beta User Feedback (47 Active Users)
Frontend Developer
"Finally! My debugging sessions with Windsurf are preserved. The search functionality is incredibly useful."
Full-Stack Engineer
"The watch mode is perfect - runs in background and captures everything automatically."
DevOps Engineer
"Export formats are great for documentation. Can share solutions with team easily."
Quick Start Guide
Installation
git clone https://github.com/entro314-labs/windsurf-exporter.git
cd windsurf-exporter
npm installnpm run health-checkStart Windsurf with Debug Port
macOS:
/Applications/Windsurf\ -\ Next.app/Contents/MacOS/Electron --remote-debugging-port=9222npm run backup
npm run search
npm run watchCurrent Status & Limitations
What Works Now
- • 47 active beta users with positive feedback
- • Automated extraction with multiple fallback methods
- • Real-time monitoring and incremental backups
- • Advanced search with fuzzy matching and regex
- • Multiple export formats with conversation analytics
- • Health monitoring and automatic error recovery
Known Limitations
- • Requires Windsurf to run with debug port enabled
- • Depends on DOM structure that changes with updates
- • No automatic cloud sync (local-first by design)
- • Search is text-based, not semantic
- • Requires manual setup for debug port configuration
Don't Lose Your Breakthrough Moments
An experimental tool solving a real problem for Windsurf users. Built by developers who got tired of losing hours of debugging insights.