What is the Difference Between Intellij and Eclipse?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚IntelliJ and Eclipse are both popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for Java development, but they have some key differences:
- Licensing and Source: IntelliJ is a commercial product developed by JetBrains, while Eclipse is an open-source project.
- Out-of-the-box Features: IntelliJ offers more out-of-the-box features and is considered more beginner-friendly. Eclipse, on the other hand, requires the Java Development Kit (JDK) to be installed and supports Java only out-of-the-box. However, Eclipse supports more programming languages via plugins than IntelliJ.
- Performance: Eclipse handles large projects faster than IntelliJ, but IntelliJ works faster and smoother when working on existing projects.
- Usability: IntelliJ is considered easier to use and has a faster learning curve compared to Eclipse. Users have reported a more satisfying user experience in IntelliJ, with features like code completion, dropdowns, quick view, and project wizards being more intuitive.
- Debugging: IntelliJ is known to have a better debugger than Eclipse.
- Plugin and Extension Support: IntelliJ has better plugin and extension support than Eclipse.
In summary, IntelliJ is a more feature-rich and beginner-friendly IDE, while Eclipse is a more customizable and open-source option. IntelliJ is faster and smoother for existing projects, while Eclipse handles large projects better. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Comparative Table: Intellij vs Eclipse
Here is a table comparing the key differences between IntelliJ and Eclipse:
| Feature | IntelliJ | Eclipse |
|---|---|---|
| Intended Use | Java IDE for professionals and students | Open-source development with a wide range of optimized IDEs |
| Learning Curve | Easier to use and faster learning curve | Steeper learning curve |
| Memory Management | Better memory management, performs better | Slower performance due to slower indexing |
| Large Projects | Works faster and more efficiently for large projects | Handles large projects faster, but slower for existing projects |
| Usability | More satisfying user experience with code completion, dropdowns, quick view, project wizards | Less satisfying user experience compared to IntelliJ |
| Supported Languages | Out-of-the-box support for Java, Groovy, Kotlin, and XML, with support for other languages via plugins | Out-of-the-box support for Java only, but supports more programming languages than IntelliJ |
| Community Support | Active community for development issues | Large active community for support |
| History | First released in 2001 | First released in 2001 |
| Licensing | Proprietary software licensed under Apache License 2.0 | Open-source software licensed under Eclipse Public License |
| Editions | Community Edition (free and open-source) and Ultimate Edition | No specific editions, but various IDEs for different purposes |
Please note that these differences are based on general observations and may not apply to all users or situations. Both IntelliJ and Eclipse are popular Java development environments with many similarities, but they also have some key differences that may influence your choice between the two.