Windsurf: Devin's PR Review Tab Gets a File Tree and Checks Tab
WindsurfWindsurf redesigned the PR tab in Devin, Cognition's AI software engineer, adding a file tree alongside the diff that highlights the current file as a developer scrolls, a Smart diffs toggle that groups related edits together instead of listing files alphabetically, and an "Open in editor" button. A new Checks tab now shows CI status next to the existing Changes, Description, Discussion, and Commits tabs, and diffs render faster while scrolling large pull requests. Windsurf also matched the embedded editor's fonts and colors to the diff viewer and added a "file tree on left" layout option.
Key Takeaways
- Devin's PR tab now shows a file tree next to the diff that tracks scroll position, making it easier to orient inside large, multi-file pull requests.
- A new Smart Diffs toggle reorders files by logical relationship (for example, pairing a handler with its test) instead of a flat alphabetical list.
- A dedicated Checks tab surfaces CI status directly in the PR view, next to Changes, Description, Discussion, and Commits.
- Diff rendering and scrolling are noticeably faster on large pull requests, addressing a common pain point when reviewing bigger AI-generated changes.
- The embedded code editor now visually matches the diff viewer's fonts and colors, and a new "Open in editor" button shortens the path from diff to code.
- The redesign lands the same week as Microsoft 365 integrations and follows recent expansions of Devin's review-heavy workflows like Code Scans and Fusion, reinforcing PR review as a core focus area for Cognition.
A Redesigned PR Tab
Windsurf gave Devin's PR tab, the screen developers use to review every pull request Devin opens, a significant redesign focused on making large, multi-file changes easier to navigate. The update targets one of the most common friction points in reviewing AI-generated code: understanding the shape of a big diff at a glance before diving into individual files.
File Tree and Smart Diffs
The PR tab now shows a file tree next to the diff, and it tracks scroll position so the currently visible file stays highlighted as a developer moves through a pull request. Alongside it, a new Smart Diffs toggle changes how files are ordered: instead of a flat alphabetical list, Smart Diffs groups logically related edits together, so a backend handler and its matching test file, for example, show up next to each other rather than scattered across the tree. Developers can also flip a "file tree on left" setting to move the tree to the opposite side of the diff panel, and a new "Open in editor" button jumps straight from a diff into the code editor.
Checks Tab and Faster Rendering
Windsurf added a dedicated Checks tab to the PR view, sitting alongside Changes, Description, Discussion, and Commits, so CI status is visible without leaving the review screen. Diffs also render noticeably faster, and scrolling through large pull requests is smoother than before. As a smaller visual touch, the embedded code editor's fonts and colors now match the diff viewer, so the two views feel like one consistent surface rather than two separately styled panels bolted together.
Why It Matters
As Devin increasingly handles larger, multi-file changes (helped along by recent additions like Fusion and Code Scans), the PR review screen has become one of the tool's most heavily used surfaces. A file tree, smarter file ordering, and a CI-status tab are the kind of changes that scale well as diffs get bigger, and they bring Devin's review experience closer in spirit to what developers already expect from GitHub's own PR interface.