Thinking of Switching Tools — IDE or Coding Agent?

by YAGAMI

Hey Indie Hackers!

I’ve been using the Pro version of Windsurf for a while now, but I’m starting to feel like it might be time for a change. The landscape of dev tools and AI coding assistants is evolving so fast that I don’t want to miss out on something better.

Here’s where I’m stuck 👇
I’m not super deep into the technical side of IDEs and coding agents, so I’d love some advice from those of you who’ve experimented more widely.

Should I:

Stick with pro-level IDEs like Windsurf, Cursor, Trae, or Kiro,
or

Shift toward AI-powered coding agents like Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, or Factory’s Droid?

Ultimately, I’m trying to figure out the most efficient and optimal setup to take my ideas from concept → code → shipped product as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Would love to hear your experiences —
👉 What’s worked best for you?
👉 Any pitfalls I should avoid?
👉 What combo of tools has made you most productive?

Thanks in advance for your insights! 🙏