Melty: Advanced AI Development Tool
Melty is a versatile AI development tool designed to cater to a wide range of platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Developed by Charlie Holtz and Jackson de Campos, Melty offers a robust standalone architecture that supports advanced language models like GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, and o3. A significant feature of Melty is its ability to perform local inference, ensuring that your data remains secure on your machine. With a generous context window of 200k tokens, it provides ample space for complex tasks. Melty supports agentic editing across multiple files and offers full terminal access, making it a powerful tool for developers looking to integrate AI seamlessly into their workflows. The tool also boasts predictive editing capabilities and adheres to a standard privacy policy, backed by SOC2 Type II certification for enterprise users. A free tier is available, with more advanced features accessible through a Pro plan.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple operating systems.
- ✓ Local inference for enhanced privacy.
- ✓ Compatible with latest language models.
- ✓ Agentic editing across multi-file setups.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
Cons
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
- ✕ Limited to specific supported LLMs.
Windsurf: Flexible AI Platform
Windsurf stands out as a flexible AI platform, supporting major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unlike Melty, it allows the use of user-provided models in addition to its custom model, SWE-1.5, offering developers greater flexibility in model selection. Although Windsurf does not support local inference, it compensates with seamless migration capabilities, making it easy to switch between different setups. The tool supports agentic editing and provides full terminal access, similar to Melty. With a standard privacy policy and SOC2 Type II certification, Windsurf ensures that user data is handled securely. The pricing structure is straightforward, ranging from a free tier to a $30/month plan, making it accessible for both individual developers and enterprises.
Pros
- ✓ Supports user-provided models.
- ✓ Seamless migration process.
- ✓ Multi-file agentic editing.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Affordable pricing options.
Cons
- ✕ Does not support local inference.
- ✕ Limited to SWE-1.5 for custom models.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Melty | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | Charlie Holtz, Jackson de Campos | Windsurf |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3.0, o3 | SWE-1.5, User-provided models |
| Custom Model | – | SWE-1.5 |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free/Pro | Free – $30/mo |
| Config File | .meltyrc | .windsurfrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Seamless |
Conclusion
Both Melty and Windsurf offer robust solutions for AI development, each with unique strengths. Melty excels in local inference and compatibility with leading LLMs, while Windsurf offers flexibility with user-provided models and an easy migration process. Choosing between them depends on specific project needs and preferences.