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Eclipse vs IntelliJ IDEA vs Visual Studio Code: What are the differences?
Introduction
In the world of software development, choosing the right Integrated Development Environment (IDE) can greatly impact efficiency and productivity. Three popular IDEs widely used by developers are Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code. Each IDE has its own unique features and capabilities that set it apart from the others. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code.
Code Assistance and Refactoring: Eclipse offers a comprehensive set of features for code assistance and refactoring. It provides quick-fixes, templates, and auto-completion to assist developers in writing code more efficiently. IntelliJ IDEA takes code assistance a step further with advanced analysis and suggestions, intelligent code completion, and powerful refactoring tools. Visual Studio Code, while being a lightweight code editor, also offers code completion and refactoring capabilities, but they are not as robust as those provided by Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA.
Plugin Ecosystem: Eclipse has a vast plugin ecosystem, allowing developers to customize their IDE with a wide range of plugins for different languages and frameworks. IntelliJ IDEA also has a rich plugin marketplace, offering a variety of plugins and extensions to enhance the development experience. Visual Studio Code, on the other hand, boasts a large and active extension marketplace that offers a plethora of plugins and extensions, making it highly customizable for different development needs.
Language Support: Eclipse supports a wide range of programming languages, including Java, C/C++, Python, PHP, and more. IntelliJ IDEA, being primarily designed for Java development, offers excellent support for Java, but also provides support for other languages like Kotlin, Groovy, and Scala. Visual Studio Code, while being a general-purpose code editor, supports an even wider range of programming languages and offers extensive language services like syntax highlighting, code snippets, and language-specific extensions.
User Interface and UX: Eclipse has a traditional desktop IDE interface with multiple views and perspectives, which can sometimes be overwhelming for newcomers. IntelliJ IDEA, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined and user-friendly interface, with an intuitive layout and intelligent navigation. Visual Studio Code follows a lightweight and minimalist design approach, providing a clean and modern interface that focuses on simplicity and ease of use.
Debugging Capabilities: Eclipse provides comprehensive debugging features, including breakpoints, step-through debugging, variable inspection, and remote debugging. IntelliJ IDEA offers a similarly advanced set of debugging tools, with additional features like smart step into, expression evaluation, and inline debuggers. Visual Studio Code provides basic debugging capabilities, allowing developers to set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables, but it lacks some of the more advanced debugging features offered by Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA.
Integrations and Ecosystems: Eclipse has a strong ecosystem with integration support for various version control systems like Git, SVN, and CVS. It also supports integration with build tools like Ant and Maven. IntelliJ IDEA has similar integration capabilities, along with built-in support for popular build tools like Gradle. Visual Studio Code, being a lightweight editor, has a vast ecosystem of extensions that provide integration with various tools and services, making it highly adaptable to different development workflows.
In summary, Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code offer unique features and capabilities that cater to different developer needs. IntelliJ IDEA stands out with its advanced code assistance and refactoring tools, while Visual Studio Code shines with its lightweight design and extensive plugin ecosystem. Eclipse, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive set of features and a vast plugin marketplace. Ultimately, the choice between these IDEs depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the developer.
UPDATE: Thanks for the great response. I am going to start with VSCode based on the open source and free version that will allow me to grow into other languages, but not cost me a license ..yet.
I have been working with software development for 12 years, but I am just beginning my journey to learn to code. I am starting with Python following the suggestion of some of my coworkers. They are split between Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA for IDEs that they use and PyCharm is new to me. Which IDE would you suggest for a beginner that will allow expansion to Java, JavaScript, and eventually AngularJS and possibly mobile applications?
Pycharm is great for python development, but can feel sometimes slow and community version has Somme very annoying restrictions (like they disabled jupyter notebooks plugin and made it premium feature). I personally started looking into VS Code as an alternative, and it has some very good potential. I suggest you take it into account.
The Community version of PyCharm is free and should give you what you need to get started with Python. Both PyCharm and IntelliJ are made by JetBrains. IntelliJ is initially focused on Java but you can get plugins for lots of other things. I subscribe to JetBrains' Toolbox: https://www.jetbrains.com/toolbox-app/ and have access to all of their great tools.
Hi, I will give my opinion based on my experience. I have used PyCharm, both community and Professional version. The community has limited functions, like you can't use a Jupyter notebook whereas it's available in the Professional version. PyCharm is slower compared to Visual Studio Code. Also Visual Studio Code is an editor which supports various languages. I myself have used both Visual Studio Code and PyCharm. I feel Visual Studio Code would be better choice. You may as well decide based upon your requirements.
I couldn't imagine using a development tool other than the IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate All Products Pack. A single license allows me to work directly on my server running Ubuntu and/or my workstation running Windows 10 Pro simultaneously. My current project uses HTML, W3CSS, JavaScript, Java, Groovy, Grails, C, GO, Python, Flask, and Rust. For me it's worth every penny of the $150 license fee. And you can try it for free.
Visual Studio code is easy to use, has a good UI, and a large community. Python works great with it, but unlike some other editors, it works with most languages either by default or by downloading a plugin. VS Code has built in linting, syntax coloring, autocompletes (IntelliSense), and an api for plugins to do there own tooling.
I'd personally recommend Visual Studio Code as it gives you the flexibility of working in any language, so long as there are extensions to support it. It gives you the flexibility to learn Python, venture into Java, Javascript, and eventually AngularJS, and potentially mobile applications. It's also free and you can install it on your personal computer. I think Visual Studio Code would serve your intended use case best.
If you starting with Python then PyCharm is better. For Java I would suggest to go with IntelliJ IDEA but people also prefer eclipse so I would say try both and then decide. For JS/Angular/React I would suggest go with VSCode. I personally use it and prefer as its light weight and have good integration with chrome for frontend development.
PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA are both products of JetBrains. They have a free (limited feature) and paid edition. Eclipse is free. VSCode is also free.
IntelliJ really is the best for Java, I switched from eclipse years ago and never looked back. As for javascript, python and angular either using the standalone products from jetbrains (pycharm for python, webstorm for js) or installing the relevant plugins for InteliJ will be your best bet. Pycharm etc. are really just InteliJ with some additional plugins installed.
All three are great, however, I believe that IntelliJ IDEA's multiple IDE's are slightly more straight-forward and more up-to date than Eclipse. If I had to choose one specifically for Python projects I would go with PyCharm.
Easy to learn and everything you need
Pycharm is all you need to get start coding in python or any of its framework. Its an awesome tool you should give it a try :)
This is a very easy to use tool and gives you the opportunity to start coding right after the installation with almost everything setup automatically by the tool.
Visual Studio Code became famous over the past 3+ years I believe. The clean UI, easy to use UX and the plethora of integrations made it a very easy decision for us. Our gripe with Sublime was probably only the UX side. VSCode has not failed us till now, and still is able to support our development env without any significant effort.
Goland being paid, as well as built only for Go seemed like a significant limitation to not consider it.
Comparison points:
- Free advanced tools vs Unaffordable pro license
- Simplicity vs Complexity (ie, indexing backgound tasks)
- Lightweight vs Heavyweight UX
- Extensibility vs Too many bundled features
- Intuitive keyboard shortcuts vs Keymap reference
- Full-stack user base vs Backend-oriented user base
IntelliJ code suggestions and superb Kotlin support are some features still missing in VSCode, but for everything else it's a simpler choice of IDE, and #vscodecandothat too.
I originally chose IntelliJ over Eclipse, as it was close enough to the look and feel of Visual Studio and we do go back and forth between the two. We really begin to love IntelliJ and their suite of IDEs so we are now using AppCode for the IOS development because the workflow is identical with the IntelliJ. IntelliJ is super complex and intimidating at first but it does afford a lot of nice utilities to get us produce clean code.
I decided to choose VSCode over Sublime text for my Systems Programming class in C. What I love about VSCode is its awesome ability to add extensions. Intellisense is a beautiful debugger, and Remote SSH allows me to login and make real-time changes in VSCode to files on my university server. This is an awesome alternative to going back and forth on pushing/pulling code and logging into servers in the terminal. Great choice for anyone interested in C programming!
Pros of Eclipse
- Does it all131
- Integrates with most of tools76
- Easy to use64
- Java IDE63
- Best Java IDE32
- Open source9
- Hard for newbews3
- Great gdb integration2
- Professional2
- Good Git client allowing direct stage area edit2
- True open source with huge contribution2
- Great code suggestions2
- Extensible2
- Lightweight2
- Works with php0
Pros of IntelliJ IDEA
- Fantastically intelligent301
- Best-in-class ide242
- Many languages support190
- Java158
- Fast121
- Code analysis82
- Reliable79
- Out of the box integration with maven, git, svn76
- Plugin architecture64
- Integrated version control61
- Code refactoring support12
- Best java IDE11
- Local history7
- Built-in terminal/run tools6
- Kotlin6
- Integrated Database Navigator6
- Code Completion6
- All5
- Free for open-source development, students and teacher5
- Base for Android Studio5
- Free If you're a Student5
- IDE4
- Database/Code integration4
- Free4
- Cross platform4
- ERD Diagrams4
- Android Integration3
- Column Selection Mode3
- Server and client-side debugger3
- More than enough languages for any developer3
- Typescript support3
- Multicursor support3
- Reformating Code3
- Intuitive3
- Command-line tools3
- Out Of The Box features3
- Vim support3
- Special icons for most filetypes in project list3
- Supports many frameworks3
- Built-in web server3
- Live Templates3
- Scala support3
- So modernised2
- Works fine with mac os catalina2
- A lot of plugin2
- Just works2
- Integrated Ssh/Ftp Managers2
- Full support2
- Task managers2
- Diff tools2
- Efficient, one Stop solution2
- File Watchers2
- Support for various package managers2
- Integrated Code Linting2
- Clean UI2
- Open source2
- Great Spring Integration1
Pros of Visual Studio Code
- Powerful multilanguage IDE340
- Fast309
- Front-end develop out of the box193
- Support TypeScript IntelliSense158
- Very basic but free142
- Git integration126
- Intellisense106
- Faster than Atom78
- Better ui, easy plugins, and nice git integration53
- Great Refactoring Tools45
- Good Plugins44
- Terminal42
- Superb markdown support38
- Open Source36
- Extensions35
- Awesome UI26
- Large & up-to-date extension community26
- Powerful and fast24
- Portable22
- Best code editor18
- Best editor18
- Easy to get started with17
- Lots of extensions15
- Good for begginers15
- Crossplatform15
- Built on Electron15
- Extensions for everything14
- Open, cross-platform, fast, monthly updates14
- All Languages Support14
- Easy to use and learn13
- "fast, stable & easy to use"12
- Extensible12
- Ui design is great11
- Totally customizable11
- Git out of the box11
- Useful for begginer11
- Faster edit for slow computer11
- SSH support10
- Great community10
- Fast Startup10
- Works With Almost EveryThing You Need9
- Great language support9
- Powerful Debugger9
- It has terminal and there are lots of shortcuts in it9
- Can compile and run .py files8
- Python extension is fast8
- Features rich7
- Great document formater7
- He is not Michael6
- Extension Echosystem6
- She is not Rachel6
- Awesome multi cursor support6
- VSCode.pro Course makes it easy to learn5
- Language server client5
- SFTP Workspace5
- Very proffesional5
- Easy azure5
- Has better support and more extentions for debugging4
- Supports lots of operating systems4
- Excellent as git difftool and mergetool4
- Virtualenv integration4
- Better autocompletes than Atom3
- Has more than enough languages for any developer3
- 'batteries included'3
- More tools to integrate with vs3
- Emmet preinstalled3
- VS Code Server: Browser version of VS Code2
- CMake support with autocomplete2
- Microsoft2
- Customizable2
- Light2
- Big extension marketplace2
- Fast and ruby is built right in2
- File:///C:/Users/ydemi/Downloads/yuksel_demirkaya_webpa1
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Cons of Eclipse
- 2000 Design14
- Bad performance9
- Hard to use4
Cons of IntelliJ IDEA
- Large footprint required to really enjoy (mem/disc)20
- Very slow16
- Bad for beginners8
- UI is not intuitive7
- Not nearly as many tools to integrate as vs code5
- Constant reindexing5
- Needs a lot of CPU and RAM power4
- Built in terminal is slow3
- Doesn't work that well with windows 10 edu3
- Ruby is a plug in1
- Pesky warnings increase with every release1
- AAD0
Cons of Visual Studio Code
- Slow startup46
- Resource hog at times29
- Poor refactoring20
- Poor UI Designer13
- Weak Ui design tools11
- Poor autocomplete10
- Super Slow8
- Huge cpu usage with few installed extension8
- Microsoft sends telemetry data8
- Poor in PHP7
- It's MicroSoft6
- Poor in Python3
- No Built in Browser Preview3
- No color Intergrator3
- Very basic for java development and buggy at times3
- No built in live Preview3
- Electron3
- Bad Plugin Architecture2
- Powered by Electron2
- Terminal does not identify path vars sometimes1
- Slow C++ Language Server1
