How do I deploy a Windsurf app to share with a client?

Type 'deploy my app' in Cascade's chat panel. It builds and publishes to Netlify by default — you get a public URL in about a minute without leaving Windsurf. Vercel and Cloudflare are also supported. Confirm the URL works end-to-end before sharing; Cascade deploys the code but won't seed test data or set secrets you haven't configured.

Does Netlify have a built-in way to collect feedback?

Yes — Netlify Deploy Previews include a Drawer tool that lets stakeholders leave annotated comments and screenshots directly on the site. The catch: reviewers need a Netlify account to comment. For clients who aren't developers, that friction often kills the review before it starts. Tools like Drafty, Markup.io, or Ruttl accept guest comments with no account.

How do I get specific feedback instead of vague responses?

Give clients a way to point at what they mean rather than describe it. A review link where they click the exact button and leave a pinned note produces 'this label says Continue but nothing happens' instead of 'something on the second screen feels off.' Pair it with one concrete question per section — 'on the pricing screen, is the plan difference clear?' — rather than an open 'what do you think?'

Can I get feedback on a Windsurf app before it's fully finished?

Yes — and you should. Share the deployed URL after each meaningful chunk of work, not just at the end. Windsurf's redeploy via Cascade takes seconds; there's no reason to wait until the whole app is done. Early feedback on flow and structure is cheaper to act on than feedback on visual polish you'd have to redo anyway. Lock the core interaction before you start on copy and color.

How do I handle feedback from multiple clients on the same Windsurf app?

Share one review link, not separate URLs per person. All comments land on the same artifact, pinned to the same elements — you're not reconciling four people's WhatsApp screenshots. Reply to each comment, resolve it when fixed in the next deploy, and everyone sees the current state on the same link. The worst pattern is asking each client separately and trying to merge their feedback manually.

Do I need a custom domain before asking for client feedback?

No. A Netlify subdomain (something like your-app.netlify.app) is fine for feedback rounds. Save the custom domain for launch. Clients in early review cycles are evaluating the product, not the URL — and a Netlify URL is shorter to explain than 'I sent you the preview link but you need to log in first.'

drafty

How to get feedback on an app built with Windsurf

Quick answer

To get feedback on a Windsurf-built app, ask Cascade to deploy to Netlify or Vercel, then share that URL through a review tool where clients pin notes on the exact element — no account required. Windsurf makes deployment the easy part; the gap is giving reviewers a way to annotate the live app rather than sending vague screenshots you have to decode.

Step 1

Let Cascade deploy it first

Windsurf apps run locally until you push them to a public URL. The fastest path is to ask Cascade directly: type 'deploy my app' in the chat panel and it builds and publishes to Netlify — no terminal command, no separate CLI setup. You get a production-ready URL in about a minute. If you're already on Vercel or Cloudflare, Windsurf supports those too. One thing to check before sharing: if your app reads from a database or uses environment variables, confirm the deployed version actually works end-to-end — Cascade deploys the code correctly but won't seed your test data. Open the URL yourself, click through the main flow, and make sure there are no blank screens before you send it to a client. A broken deploy produces bug reports, not product feedback.

Step 2

Share a review link, not the raw URL

Once the app is live, the common mistake is sharing the Netlify URL directly and asking 'what do you think?' in iMessage. What comes back: a blurry screenshot with a red circle, a voice note that says 'the button near the top,' and a WhatsApp message two days later. That's not feedback you can act on in Windsurf. Instead, paste the URL into a review tool and share the resulting link. Your client opens it in a browser — on their phone or laptop — clicks the specific button, text, or section they mean, and leaves a pinned note right there. 'The CTA on the pricing section says Start Free but the next screen asks for a card' is actionable. Netlify has a built-in Drawer for this, but it requires the reviewer to have a Netlify account. Tools like Drafty, Markup.io, or Ruttl let clients comment with no account and no extension to install — lower friction for anyone who isn't a developer.

Step 3

Run a 20-minute screen share before async review

For any app where the flow isn't obvious — onboarding, checkout, multi-step forms — do a short screen share before you open async comments. Let the client drive. Share your screen, open the deployed URL, hand them control or narrate 'tap wherever you'd tap first,' and say nothing until they've formed an impression. The thing Windsurf builders most often get wrong: they explain the app before the client uses it. That turns the review into confirming your explanation, not discovering what's confusing. Watch what they hesitate on; that's where the UX breaks. Take notes in a doc; send the written summary after the call. Do the screen share in round one, collect async pinned comments in round two — reviewers leave sharper notes after they've already navigated the full flow once.

Step 4

Fix in Windsurf, redeploy to the same URL, close the loop

The feedback cycle breaks when you fix a comment in Windsurf and share a new URL. Your client has lost the thread — they don't know which of their notes are fixed and which aren't. The better pattern: ask Cascade to redeploy in place (the Netlify or Vercel URL stays the same), then reply to each pinned comment with 'fixed in the latest deploy.' Your client reopens the same browser tab, sees the change, and confirms. If you're using a review tool, the comment stays anchored on the same link — nothing to re-share. Most Windsurf apps need two rounds: one for flow and whether the product makes sense, one for copy and polish. Don't mix them in the same session or you'll end up making visual tweaks while the core flow is still broken.

The faster way

Sharing your Netlify or Vercel URL directly produces vague feedback — 'the button near the top' from a screenshot you can't act on. Drop the URL into Drafty instead: paste it, share the review link, and your client pins a note on the exact element they mean. No Netlify account required, no extension. When you fix it in Windsurf and Cascade redeploys to the same URL, the client sees the change on the same link. Works on any public URL Cascade produces.

Open a live demo

Questions

How do I deploy a Windsurf app to share with a client?: Type 'deploy my app' in Cascade's chat panel. It builds and publishes to Netlify by default — you get a public URL in about a minute without leaving Windsurf. Vercel and Cloudflare are also supported. Confirm the URL works end-to-end before sharing; Cascade deploys the code but won't seed test data or set secrets you haven't configured.
Does Netlify have a built-in way to collect feedback?: Yes — Netlify Deploy Previews include a Drawer tool that lets stakeholders leave annotated comments and screenshots directly on the site. The catch: reviewers need a Netlify account to comment. For clients who aren't developers, that friction often kills the review before it starts. Tools like Drafty, Markup.io, or Ruttl accept guest comments with no account.
How do I get specific feedback instead of vague responses?: Give clients a way to point at what they mean rather than describe it. A review link where they click the exact button and leave a pinned note produces 'this label says Continue but nothing happens' instead of 'something on the second screen feels off.' Pair it with one concrete question per section — 'on the pricing screen, is the plan difference clear?' — rather than an open 'what do you think?'
Can I get feedback on a Windsurf app before it's fully finished?: Yes — and you should. Share the deployed URL after each meaningful chunk of work, not just at the end. Windsurf's redeploy via Cascade takes seconds; there's no reason to wait until the whole app is done. Early feedback on flow and structure is cheaper to act on than feedback on visual polish you'd have to redo anyway. Lock the core interaction before you start on copy and color.
How do I handle feedback from multiple clients on the same Windsurf app?: Share one review link, not separate URLs per person. All comments land on the same artifact, pinned to the same elements — you're not reconciling four people's WhatsApp screenshots. Reply to each comment, resolve it when fixed in the next deploy, and everyone sees the current state on the same link. The worst pattern is asking each client separately and trying to merge their feedback manually.
Do I need a custom domain before asking for client feedback?: No. A Netlify subdomain (something like your-app.netlify.app) is fine for feedback rounds. Save the custom domain for launch. Clients in early review cycles are evaluating the product, not the URL — and a Netlify URL is shorter to explain than 'I sent you the preview link but you need to log in first.'

Keep exploring

How to get feedback on a Cursor build How to get feedback on an app How to get feedback on a website How to get feedback on a landing page

Stop emailing files back and forth.

Share one link. They comment on the exact spot — no account, always the current version.

Open a live demo