JetBrains Junie: A Comprehensive Plugin Solution
JetBrains Junie is a versatile plugin architecture tool developed by JetBrains, designed to enhance productivity for developers on Linux and macOS platforms. It supports a wide range of large language models (LLMs) including GPT-4 5.2, Claude Sonnet, Claude Opus 4.5, Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 3 Flash, and Grok 4.1. With a robust context window of 200k tokens, Junie facilitates extensive multi-file agentic editing and offers full terminal access. Though it lacks local inference, Junie’s predictive edits and standard privacy policy ensure a secure and efficient user experience. While it does not offer a free tier, its pricing is competitive, ranging from $0 to $20 per month.
Pros
- ✓ Supports a wide range of LLMs.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Multi-file agentic editing.
- ✓ Predictive edits available.
Cons
- ✕ No local inference.
- ✕ No support for Windows OS.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
- ✕ No free tier available.
Windsurf (Cascade Agent): Cloud-Based Efficiency
Windsurf, known as the Cascade Agent, is a cloud-based tool developed by Windsurf, offering support for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It features custom model SWE-1.5 and supports other LLMs like SWE-1 and GPT-5. With an impressive context window of 200k tokens, Windsurf allows multi-file agentic editing and provides full terminal access. Its Zero Data Retention (ZDR) privacy mode ensures maximum data security. Windsurf comes with a free tier option and offers scalable pricing starting from free to over $60 per user per month, making it accessible for diverse user needs.
Pros
- ✓ Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- ✓ Comes with a free tier option.
- ✓ Zero Data Retention (ZDR) privacy mode.
- ✓ Custom model SWE-1.5.
Cons
- ✕ Higher maximum price point.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
- ✕ No local inference.
Comparison Table
| Feature | JetBrains Junie | Windsurf (Cascade Agent) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | plugin | cloud |
| Supported Os | Linux, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | JetBrains | Windsurf |
| Supported Llms | GPT-4 5.2, Claude Sonnet, Claude Opus 4.5, Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 3 Flash, Grok 4.1 | SWE-1.5, SWE-1, GPT-5 |
| 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 | Zero Data Retention (ZDR) |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | $0 – $20/mo | Free – $60+/user/mo |
| Config File | .junierc | .windsurfrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both JetBrains Junie and Windsurf (Cascade Agent) offer robust solutions for developers, with distinct advantages tailored to specific needs. Junie excels in plugin-based integration for Linux and macOS users, while Windsurf provides a cloud-based approach with broader OS support and strong data privacy features. Users can choose based on their operational environment and budget preferences.