IntelliJ IDEA's Java and Kotlin Support Now Available in VS Code
JetBrains brings IntelliJ IDEA's smart language features to VS Code and other editors.
1Transforming Developer Experience
Agentic development is fundamentally changing how programmers write code. Developers now spend less time on manual editing while using Language Server Protocol (LSP) for basic IDE features. JetBrains adapts to this shift by offering IntelliJ IDEA's advanced Java and Kotlin language features in LSP format. This move particularly benefits teams working in popular editors like VS Code and its forks, significantly streamlining their workflow.
2Powerful VS Code Integration
JetBrains' new extension brings IntelliJ IDEA's Java and Kotlin language technology to VS Code environment. Alongside core features like mixed-language project support, smart code completion, and navigation, it offers Maven, Gradle, and Bazel integration. Performance tests show it runs fast and stable even on large projects and monorepos. The extension is currently available for download from Visual Studio Marketplace and Open VSX registry.
3Installation and Compatibility
After installing the extension, simply open your Java/Kotlin projects in VS Code or Cursor. The system automatically analyzes projects and recognizes Maven, Gradle or Bazel build files. However, to avoid feature conflicts, JetBrains recommends temporarily disabling Red Hat's and Oracle's Java extensions. The company actively collects user feedback to refine the experience before the stable release.
4Licensing Model
Free during the preview phase, the extension updates every 2 weeks with each build having a 30-day evaluation period. Post-stable release, it will require an IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate license. Notably, the same license will work both in IntelliJ IDEA desktop IDE and supported environments like VS Code. This flexibility allows teams to maintain tooling choices without compromising on features.
5Terminal-Based Workflow Support
JetBrains plans to extend beyond GUI-based editors to support terminal-based agentic workflows. Internal trials with tools like Claude Code and Codex showed LSP functionality significantly reduces token consumption. The company plans to share these results soon and offer testing opportunities for new agent plugins. This development could revolutionize how developers interact with AI coding assistants.
6Industry Implications
This move could trigger significant competition in the developer tools market. JetBrains bringing its expertise to popular editors provides major advantages for multi-environment teams. It also contributes to maturing agent-based development tools. Industry analysts predict such integrations will become standard within 5 years, potentially reshaping IDE market dynamics and developer workflows.
7Feedback Process
JetBrains places great emphasis on user feedback during the preview phase. The company will prioritize features for the 1.0 release based on user input. Developers can share opinions through blog comments or direct feature requests. This participatory approach ensures the final product better addresses real-world development needs and pain points.
8Ecosystem Impact
This development marks a new era in IDE selection. Developers can now enjoy JetBrains-quality language support without leaving their favorite editors. For teams managing large-scale Java/Kotlin projects, this promises significant productivity gains. JetBrains' strategic move has potential to set new standards in the developer tools market, possibly influencing how other IDE providers approach editor integration.
Original article: The JetBrains Blog — IntelliJ IDEA Java ve Kotlin Desteği Artık VS Code'ta