IntelliJ IDEA vs JetBrains Space: What are the differences?

Key Differences between IntelliJ IDEA and JetBrains Space

IntelliJ IDEA and JetBrains Space are two popular products developed by JetBrains. While IntelliJ IDEA is an integrated development environment (IDE) used for software development, JetBrains Space is a comprehensive team collaboration platform. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Scope of Functionality: IntelliJ IDEA primarily focuses on providing a feature-rich IDE for coding, debugging, and testing while supporting various programming languages. On the other hand, JetBrains Space is designed to facilitate project management, team communication, and collaboration. It offers a wide range of tools and features like issue tracking, version control, continuous integration, and more, to empower teams in their software development lifecycle.

2. Usage: IntelliJ IDEA is mainly used by individual developers or development teams to write and manage code. It provides various features to enhance productivity, such as code completion, code inspections, and advanced refactorings. In contrast, JetBrains Space is utilized by organizations to streamline their entire development process. It enables teams to collaborate, share knowledge, and coordinate work within a unified platform.

3. Project Management: While IntelliJ IDEA has some project management capabilities, it primarily focuses on providing an excellent coding experience. It offers features like project navigation, version control integration, and task management within the IDE. On the other hand, JetBrains Space has a dedicated project management module that includes features like Kanban boards, custom workflows, project templates, and advanced permissions management.

4. Team Collaboration: IntelliJ IDEA provides limited collaboration features, such as code reviews and integration with external collaboration tools. However, JetBrains Space excels in this aspect by offering seamless team collaboration capabilities. It includes features like team chat, video calls, document collaboration, and built-in code reviews, allowing teams to work together efficiently without the need for multiple external tools.

5. Cloud-based vs. Desktop Application: IntelliJ IDEA is primarily a desktop-based IDE that needs to be installed on individual developer's machines. It supports cross-platform development and provides local development environment setups. Conversely, JetBrains Space is a cloud-based platform that can be accessed from anywhere using a web browser or native applications. It eliminates the need for local installations and allows teams to work together remotely.

6. Pricing Model: IntelliJ IDEA follows a traditional commercial license model. It offers a free Community Edition with limited features and a paid Ultimate Edition with additional advanced features. JetBrains Space, on the other hand, adopts a subscription-based pricing model. It offers different pricing tiers based on the number of users, providing organizations with flexibility in scaling their collaboration needs.

In summary, IntelliJ IDEA is primarily an IDE aimed at individual developers or development teams, focusing on coding features and productivity enhancements, while JetBrains Space is a comprehensive team collaboration platform designed to streamline the entire software development process, offering project management, team communication, and collaboration tools in a cloud-based environment.