Connect Windsurf to NinjaTrader 8
Codeium's AI-native IDE with Cascade Agent. Multi-step task planning + CrossTrade MCP tools.
Windsurf calling CrossTrade MCP tools against a live NinjaTrader 8 account. Run this yourself in 5 minutes →
Why pair Windsurf with CrossTrade MCP
Windsurf's Cascade Agent plans multi-step workflows. Pair with CrossTrade MCP and you can give a single goal ("compile and backtest a working MES EMA cross on Sim101") and let Cascade plan the steps.
~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json with mcpServers, serverUrl (or url) + native OAuth What this combination unlocks
Cascade planning
Single-goal prompts → multi-step execution.
BYOK
Premium models scale with plan tier.
The connection chain
Windsurf │ OAuth-authorized tool call ▼ CrossTrade hosted MCP server (https://app.crosstrade.io/v1/api/mcp) │ ▼ CrossTrade Add-On running inside NT8 on your PC │ ▼ NinjaTrader 8
One URL, one consent screen, one read-only first prompt. The MCP server is hosted by CrossTrade; you don't run anything beyond NT8 + the CrossTrade Add-On.
Ready to set up Windsurf?
The full step-by-step setup lives on a dedicated page. Verified against Codeium's current docs.
Copy-paste prompts that work today
Also consider
Common questions
Is Windsurf a good fit for NinjaScript development?
Yes, especially if you prefer goal-driven prompts. Cascade Agent plans multi-step workflows: "build, compile, and backtest a working MES EMA cross strategy on Sim101" becomes one prompt and Cascade plans the steps. CrossTrade MCP provides the actual tool calls.
Do I need Windsurf, or will Cursor / Claude Code suffice?
All three work. Windsurf's Cascade is most opinionated about planning (less back-and-forth, more single-goal flow). Cursor is most flexible. Claude Code is terminal-first. Try Windsurf if you find yourself re-prompting Cursor a lot.
Pricing?
Free ($0), Pro ($20/mo), Max ($200/mo for heavy users), Teams ($40/user/mo), Enterprise. MCP support is on all tiers. Premium models scale with plan.
Mac, Windows, and Linux?
All three. Windsurf is a standalone IDE (VS Code fork) from windsurf.com. A JetBrains plugin exists for some features but the IDE is the primary surface.
Windsurf vs Cursor?
Same general category (AI-native IDE forks of VS Code). Windsurf leans into Cascade's multi-step planning; Cursor leans into composability and Composer (⌘K). Both run remote MCP via JSON config with native OAuth. Try both — most teams settle on one.
serverUrl or url?
Both accepted in current Windsurf builds, but the official docs example uses serverUrl. Stick with that to avoid surprise breakage if Windsurf ever drops the alias.
OAuth not re-triggering after token expiry?
Restart Windsurf to reset the auth state. This is a known issue across MCP clients in 2026; once you reload, the next tool call kicks off a fresh browser OAuth flow.
What about local-first / privacy?
Windsurf can route to local models (Ollama, LM Studio) for the LLM side while CrossTrade MCP stays hosted. The MCP calls are still hosted (network traffic to app.crosstrade.io), but your code and prompts can stay local.
Connect Windsurf to NinjaTrader 8 in 5 minutes
Free Sim101 walkthrough. Read-only first. Upgrade scope only when a real workflow needs it.
