Windsurf: Devin Local Adds Cascade-Style Plan Mode
WindsurfWindsurf brought Plan Mode to Devin Local, giving the local agent the same structured planning workflow Cascade already offers: the agent researches a task using read-only commands, writes a persistent Markdown plan file, and waits for explicit approval before making any changes. The update also makes Megaplan functional inside Devin Local, automatically switching a session into Plan mode and prompting the agent to think through an approach before touching code. Together, the changes close a capability gap between Devin Local and Cascade for developers who prefer to review an agent's approach before it starts editing.
Key Takeaways
- Plan Mode parity — Devin Local now offers the same structured planning workflow Cascade has had since January, letting developers review an approach before any code changes happen.
- The agent performs a read-only research phase, gathering context via non-destructive commands before drafting a plan.
- Each session's plan is saved as a persistent Markdown file at
~/.devin/plans/plan-<session>.md, giving a durable, reviewable record of the agent's intended approach. - Devin Local now waits for an explicit approval gate before touching any files, reducing the risk of large, unreviewed edits.
- Megaplan is now functional in Devin Local, automatically routing a session into Plan mode for complex or high-stakes tasks.
- The change shipped alongside other Devin Local workflow updates in the same release, including editable command approvals and an @-mention Rules picker.
Plan Mode Reaches Devin Local
Cascade has offered a dedicated planning workflow since January 2026, letting developers see an agent's intended approach before it starts editing files. With v3.6.21, Windsurf brought that same workflow to Devin Local, the Rust-based local agent introduced as a token-efficient alternative to Cascade.
What Changes for Developers
In Plan mode, Devin Local now researches a task using only read-only commands — reading files, running searches, inspecting the repository — before proposing any changes. That research produces a persistent Markdown plan file, stored at ~/.devin/plans/plan-<session>.md, giving developers a durable, reviewable artifact of exactly what the agent intends to do and why. Devin Local then pauses and asks for explicit approval before it starts implementing the plan, rather than moving straight from research to edits.
Megaplan Now Works Too
Alongside Plan mode itself, Windsurf made Megaplan functional inside Devin Local for the first time. Megaplan automatically switches a session into Plan mode and prompts the agent to think through its approach first, giving developers a one-step way to force the more deliberate workflow on complex or high-stakes tasks without manually toggling settings.
Why It Matters
For developers who have grown to trust Cascade's plan-then-approve rhythm, the lack of an equivalent in Devin Local was a real friction point — it meant switching agents just to get a reviewable plan before a large change. With this update, that trade-off disappears: Devin Local users get the same research-first, approval-gated workflow, reducing the risk of an agent running ahead with a large, unreviewed set of edits.