IntelliJ IDEA Overview
IntelliJ IDEA is a standalone integrated development environment (IDE) developed by JetBrains, renowned for its robust features tailored for developers across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It extends support for advanced language models such as GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise, and JetBrains’ own SLMs. With a generous context window of 200k tokens, it facilitates efficient coding assistance with local inference capabilities. The platform supports agentic editing with multi-file capabilities and offers full terminal access, ensuring an integrated development experience. IntelliJ IDEA also includes predictive edits, enhancing its utility in code development. It adheres to a Standard Privacy Policy and holds SOC2 Type II certification, emphasizing security and privacy. The tool is available in both free and pro versions, with customizable settings stored in a .intellij-ai-config file, though migration requires setup.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple advanced language models.
- ✓ Large context window of 200k tokens.
- ✓ Full terminal access and agentic editing.
- ✓ Predictive edits enhance coding efficiency.
- ✓ Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Cons
- ✕ Migration requires setup.
- ✕ Complexity may be overwhelming for beginners.
JetBrains Fleet Overview
JetBrains Fleet, another offering from JetBrains, is a versatile standalone IDE that supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chromebook platforms. It emphasizes lightweight operations and swift performance, suitable for developers seeking a streamlined coding environment. While it does not specify support for advanced language models, it supports local inference and provides agentic editing capabilities for multi-file projects. Its context window is limited to 128k tokens, which is adequate for most development purposes. Fleet offers full terminal access and predictive edits, facilitating a smooth coding workflow. Adhering to JetBrains’ Standard Privacy Policy and certified with SOC2 Type II, it ensures robust security. Like IntelliJ IDEA, it is available in both free and pro versions, with configurations managed through a .fleetrc file and requires setup for migration.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a wide range of operating systems including Chromebook.
- ✓ Local inference with agentic editing.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Predictive edits for streamlined coding.
- ✓ Lightweight and fast performance.
Cons
- ✕ Limited context window of 128k tokens.
- ✕ No specification on supported language models.
Comparison Table
| Feature | IntelliJ IDEA | JetBrains Fleet |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook |
| Developer | JetBrains | JetBrains |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise, JetBrains SLMs | – |
| Custom Model | JetBrains SLMs | – |
| Context Window | 200k tokens | 128k 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/Pro |
| Config File | .intellij-ai-config | .fleetrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both IntelliJ IDEA and JetBrains Fleet offer robust development environments tailored for different needs. IntelliJ IDEA stands out with its support for advanced language models and a larger context window, making it ideal for complex projects. Meanwhile, JetBrains Fleet offers a more lightweight solution, suitable for developers prioritizing speed and versatility across more operating systems, including Chromebook. Choosing between the two depends largely on the specific requirements and preferences of the developer.