Getting started with Devin (Cognition)

Devin is Cognition’s autonomous AI software engineer that can write, run and test code. Unlike the terminal agents you drive step by step, you delegate a task to Devin and it works asynchronously in the cloud. Access runs through several surfaces, documented in the official docs.

1. Sign in to the web app

Sign up and sign in at app.devin.ai. Individual and Teams plans exist; if your company already uses Cognition, ask your admin for access instead of making a new account.

2. Create your first session

Open a session and describe one concrete task with explicit completion criteria, such as “fix the failing auth test and open a PR.” Devin’s Workspace gives it a Shell, an embedded IDE and a Browser, and you watch or take over as it works.

3. Install Devin Desktop, the IDE

Devin Desktop is Cognition’s local AI IDE: the former Windsurf editor, renamed in June 2026. Download it for macOS, Windows or Linux from the install page, then log in with your Devin account. It runs a local agent, supports MCP servers and hands longer work off to cloud Devin. See Windsurf first steps for the editor itself.

4. Delegate from Slack, the CLI or the API

Tag @Devin in Slack or Microsoft Teams on a bug thread. For the terminal, install the Devin CLI and hand off long tasks with /handoff:

curl -fsSL https://cli.devin.ai/install.sh | bash

Devin is also available through its API for scripted runs.

5. How it fits vs terminal agents

Terminal agents like Codex CLI and OpenCode run locally under your constant review; Devin leans autonomous and cloud-first, so it suits delegated, easy-to-verify tasks. For the full landscape, see coding agents compared.

Verify it worked

• @Devin stays silent in Slack Your Slack email differs from your Devin account; link the matching email in settings.
• Old Windsurf folder or windsurf command It was renamed to Devin Desktop; relaunch the updated app.
• “You lack permission” in the web app Ask your admin or Cognition to grant access before starting a session.

Source: Devin docs.