Windsurf

Windsurf (Cascade) supports both Skills (ZIP install) and MCP via the Cascade MCP config. Skills drive the gen-ai CLI on your machine. MCP connects Cascade to the hosted Picsart MCP server at https://api.picsart.com/gen-ai/mcp, with nothing to install locally.

Windsurf is now called Devin Desktop, and Cascade is its legacy agent. The steps below apply to both names.

Prerequisites

1. A Picsart account with credits for generations.
2. A recent version of Windsurf (Devin Desktop).

That is all for MCP: the server is hosted by Picsart and you sign in from Windsurf. You do not need the gen-ai CLI or gen-ai login. Those are needed only for the Skills method.

Method 1: Skills (recommended)

Skills need the gen-ai CLI

Skills run the gen-ai CLI on your machine. Before adding a skill, install the CLI and run gen-ai login once. Check with gen-ai --version and gen-ai credits. The MCP method does not need this.

Install

1. Download the skill ZIP from picsart.com/gen-ai-skills.
2. In Windsurf, locate the rules or skills import in Settings.
3. Place the unzipped skill folder in the designated directory.
4. Restart Windsurf.

Use it

In the Cascade agent panel:

• "Generate a 16:9 product image with a gradient background using Ideogram 4."
• "Animate this still into a 5-second clip with subtle parallax."
• "Generate a voiceover for this script using an ElevenLabs voice."

Cascade picks the appropriate model and runs the gen-ai command.

Method 2: MCP

Configure

1. In the Cascade panel, open the ... (Actions) menu in the top right and click Open MCP config file in the MCPs section.
2. Add the Picsart server. Remote servers use the serverUrl key:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "picsart-gen-ai": {
      "serverUrl": "https://api.picsart.com/gen-ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}

3. Save the file. No API key or headers are needed.

The file is mcp_config.json. Current versions keep it at ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json (%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json on Windows). Older Windsurf versions use ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

Sign in to Picsart

When Cascade connects to the server for the first time, it opens a browser window on the Picsart sign-in page. Sign in with your Picsart account, then return to Windsurf. The Picsart tools appear in the MCPs section of the Actions menu once sign-in completes.

Use it

Once connected, Cascade can call Picsart tools directly:

• "What does a Veo 3.1 video cost at 8 seconds and 1080p?"
• "Generate a batch of 4 hero images for this brief and save to Drive."
• "Remove the background from this URL and return the cleaned image."

See the MCP Quickstart for the full tool catalog.

Troubleshooting

The sign-in window did not open.

Open the MCPs section of the Actions menu, toggle picsart-gen-ai off and on, and let Cascade connect again. If no browser opens, restart Windsurf.

The server is listed but tools do not appear.

Confirm you finished signing in. Check that mcp_config.json is valid JSON and uses serverUrl, not url or command. Then toggle the server off and on, or restart Windsurf. Cascade can use at most 100 tools at a time across all servers, so disable servers you do not need.

Generation fails with "unauthorized".

Your Picsart session has expired or was revoked. Toggle picsart-gen-ai off and on in the MCPs section and sign in again when the browser opens.

Generation fails with "insufficient credits".

Ask Cascade "What's my Picsart credit balance?" (it calls picsart_credits). Top up at picsart.com.

The connection fails on a corporate network.

Windsurf must reach https://api.picsart.com over HTTPS, and your browser must reach the Picsart sign-in page. Ask your network admin to allow both. On Teams plans, an admin may also need to allow the server.

FAQ

Is the Picsart skill the same for Windsurf and Cursor?

Yes. The gen-ai-use skill bundle is agent-agnostic. The only difference is the directory where you place the skill. Check Windsurf's current documentation for the exact path.

Do I need the gen-ai CLI for MCP?

No. The MCP server is hosted by Picsart and you sign in from Windsurf. The CLI is needed only for the Skills method.

Can I use Skills and MCP at the same time?

Yes. They operate independently and do not conflict.

Start creating

The Picsart MCP server is now connected. Visit the documentation for examples, available models, and prompt ideas.

Ready to generate?

View documentation