According to the Stack Overflow’s survey, in 2023 the most popular IDE among professional developers was Visual Studio Code, with 74.09% of respondents claiming to be using it in their work. Other tools were named, such as Visual Studio (28.74%), IntelliJ IDEA (28.06%), and Notepad++ (24.49%). Does being popular mean that these are the best IDEs the market has to offer? This article will try to answer that question.
We will take a closer look at 3 IDEs, that we believe to be the best in their own right, and a few others that are worth taking a closer look at. This selection of IDEs is based on 10+ years of experience in IDE-based projects. We will explain their unique features and the types of projects that they are best suited for. But first, a quick reminder of what an IDE is.
IDE, also known as integrated development environment, is a piece of software used for writing code. Typically, it includes a code editor, debugger, and build automation tools. IDE can be as basic as a text editor with additional features for coding (such as Notepad++), or as advanced and full of useful plugins as you need (IntelliJ). The benefits of using an IDE include:
- User-friendly, especially for beginners.
- IDEs reduce manual typing.
- Built-in code formatting, such as renaming variables.
- Speeds up coding and reduces errors.
- More effective debugging.
Which type of IDE is best?
There are two types of IDEs: local and cloud. The main difference is that software engineers have to install local IDEs on their laptops, while the cloud IDE can be accessed remotely. Each type comes with its unique benefits and advantages.
Local IDE
Installing and running IDE from a laptop gives software engineers the freedom to customize their development environment. It also allows them to work without an Internet connection. Local IDE requires each software engineer to use equipment with substantial computing power, which also translates to increased power consumption. Many local IDEs are available as open-source, which is great news from a budget perspective.
Cloud IDE
Cloud IDE is hosted on a remotely accessed machine. It’s a managed environment, meaning that the configuration for the project is in the hands of a dedicated team. Software engineers can start writing the code immediately, with an optimal setup available “right out of the box”.
From a budgetary perspective, cloud IDEs require less expensive equipment to work with since most of the computing is done on their hosting machine. A basic laptop with an internet connection is often enough to work on a code without freezing or prolonged compilation times.
To summarize, here’s the comparison between local and cloud IDEs:
| Feature | Local IDE | Cloud IDE |
| Customization | High customization of the development environment. | Configuration is managed by a dedicated team. |
| Internet Dependence | No need for an Internet connection to work. | Requires a stable internet connection for access. |
| Computing Power | Requires powerful hardware for each software engineer. | Only basic hardware is needed. |
| Power Consumption | Higher power consumption due to demanding equipment. | Lower power consumption; requires fewer resources. |
| Cost | It can be budget-friendly with open-source options. | Reduced equipment costs due to lower hardware requirements. Requires subscription payments. |
| Setup | Requires individual setup and configuration. | Optimal setup available immediately; no individual setup needed. |
| Security | Potential security risks with code stored locally. | Minimized risk of data breaches with remote code storage. |
Local IDE vs. Cloud IDE: which is best?
Choosing the best IDE is a matter of finding a configuration that fits your project’s specific needs. However, when discussing local vs. cloud IDE, we believe the remote option offers more advantages.
Local IDE requires each software engineer to use equipment with substantial computing power, which also translates to increased power consumption and cost of equipment. Also, there is a matter of security; with cloud IDEs, the risk of data breaches is minimized since code isn't stored on personal laptops.
Our engineers have been delivering IDE solutions since 2013. We put our expertise together and picked 3 best IDEs that in our experience offer the best variety of functionalities. These are IntelliJ, CLion, and Visual Studio Code. The list is in no particular order, as each one of these IDEs is best for different projects.
It is worth adding, that both IntelliJ and CLion started off as local IDEs, however, the JetBrains Gateway application turns them into remotely accessed cloud IDEs. Similarly, Visual Studio Code can be run both locally and from the cloud.
Developed and maintained by JetBrains, IntelliJ is “the leading Java and Kotlin IDE”. It has coding assistance tools (code completion, refactoring, and debugging), supports multiple languages, and offers a large ecosystem of tools and plugins.
In our experience, IntelliJ is the best IDE for projects written in Java and Kotlin. It enhances the developer’s user experience, with seamless navigation and cross-language integration. Other notable features are:
- Intelligent code completion
- Integrated version control (Git, SVN, Mercurial)
- Rich refactoring tools
- Enterprise frameworks support
- Database and HTTP tools
- Advanced debugger
IntelliJ is the best IDE for:
- Projects written in Java and Kotlin
- Code refactoring
- Projects using multiple languages
- Projects using enterprise frameworks
Users familiar with IntelliJ will find that CLion provides a familiar feel as it’s another creation by JetBrains. It’s a cross-platform IDE that supports C++ and C development, as well as:
- GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and Clang compilers
- GDB and LLDB debugger
- Build systems like CMake and Bazel
- Test frameworks like Google Test, Catch and Boost
CLion is one the best IDEs to work with C++ and C language, however, it also supports projects written in Python and Assembly.
CLion is the best IDE for:
- Coding in C++
- CMake projects
- Small to medium size C++ projects
VS Code is the most popular IDE right now, with 74.09% of professional developers using it in their work. In its base form, it’s a code editor capable of debugging, task running, and version control, but after installing a few plugins it turns into a fully-fledged IDE.
There are separate plugins (called extensions) for a variety of languages and functions. For example, there are dedicated plugins for different Python code formatters (Black, isort, Autopep8, etc). This means that users need to set up and configure their own selection of plugins, which takes time but also makes VS Code highly customizable.
In our experience, there are multiple factors contributing to VS Codes' popularity. It’s free to use and works with almost any programming language. It’s also a great tool for writing in JavaScript (TypeScript), the most popular language for the frontend right now.
But most of all, VS Code is fast and lightweight. It starts instantly on any machine, which is very helpful in reading the code.
Visual Studio Code is the best IDE for:
- Large projects
- Reading code
- Writing in TypeScript
In this section, we spotlight IDEs that, while not leading the pack, stand out on their own. Each possesses unique capabilities that make them worth considering for your next project.
Visual Studio
Visual Studio is a “close relative” to VS Code as they were both developed by Microsoft. It is an interesting alternative for projects relying on C++ and C#. It comes with source control, compilers, code completion tools, and plenty of plugins (aka extensions). It integrates with GitHub Copilot and IntelliCode and has its own AI assistant.
Eclipse
Despite a drop in its popularity, Eclipse is a solid choice when it comes to projects that require Java and C++ simultaneously.
PyCharm: the best IDE for Python
Pycharm, from JetBrains, is a code editor dedicated to writing Python projects. It can be used for any kind of project, even though it’s advertised as a solution for data science and web development. In our experience, Pycharm is the best IDE for Python, especially for beginners.
The global market for IDEs is growing. It is due to modern IDEs becoming better at supporting software engineers in their work.
With so many great options available it’s impossible to choose a single, the best IDE for everyone. Some prefer the simplicity of VS Code, some are used to the UI of IntelliJ. Some are happy with paying for additional features, while others prefer to keep a tight budget.
The IDEs that we presented here, are only suggestions, based on our experience with different clients. Your choice will mostly depend on the project’s requirements and the personal preferences of your software engineers.
