What is jetbrains?

JetBrains is a software company that builds tools to help programmers write code. Their most famous products are Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like IntelliJ IDEA for Java, PyCharm for Python, WebStorm for JavaScript, and many others. These tools combine a code editor, debugger, compiler, and many smart features into one application.

Let's break it down

  • Company: Founded in 2000 in the Czech Republic, now a global company with offices worldwide.
  • Core product: IDEs - specialized editors that understand the language you’re using.
  • Language support: Java, Kotlin, Python, JavaScript, C#, PHP, Ruby, Go, and dozens more.
  • Platform: All JetBrains IDEs run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Ecosystem: Plugin marketplace, team collaboration tools (Space, YouTrack), and educational products (Academy).

Why does it matter?

JetBrains IDEs make coding faster and less error‑prone. They automatically suggest completions, spot bugs before you run the program, refactor code safely, and integrate with version control, build tools, and testing frameworks. This boosts developer productivity and helps teams maintain higher code quality.

Where is it used?

  • Software companies of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, use JetBrains IDEs for daily development.
  • Open‑source projects often recommend IntelliJ IDEA or PyCharm for contributors.
  • Educational settings: many coding bootcamps and universities teach with JetBrains Academy or the free Community editions.
  • Freelancers and hobbyists also rely on the free versions for personal projects.

Good things about it

  • Intelligent code analysis and auto‑completion that understand the language deeply.
  • Powerful refactoring tools that safely rename, extract methods, and restructure code.
  • Rich plugin ecosystem to add language support, themes, and extra features.
  • Consistent UI and shortcuts across all JetBrains products, easing the switch between languages.
  • Free Community editions for popular languages, plus discounted licenses for students and startups.

Not-so-good things

  • The full-featured “Ultimate” editions can be pricey for individual developers or small teams.
  • IDEs are heavyweight; they consume more RAM and CPU than lightweight editors like VS Code or Sublime Text.
  • The learning curve can be steep for beginners unfamiliar with advanced IDE features.
  • Some niche languages or frameworks may have limited support compared to more mainstream tools.