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Open Source JetBrains Alternatives

A curated collection of the 4 best open source alternatives to JetBrains.

The best open source alternative to JetBrains is Zed. If that doesn't suit you, we've compiled a ranked list of other open source JetBrains alternatives to help you find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to JetBrains are: Roo Code, CodeEdit, and Forgecode.

JetBrains alternatives are mainly AI-Powered Editors but may also be General Purpose Editors or AI Coding Assistants. Browse these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of JetBrains.

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Written by Piotr Kulpinski

A Rust-built code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, combining native performance with multiplayer collaboration and deep AI integration.

Screenshot of Zed website

Zed is a code editor built from scratch in Rust, designed to make full use of multiple CPU cores and your GPU. The result is an editor that feels noticeably faster than most alternatives at startup, during file navigation, and while typing. It comes from the team behind Atom and Tree-sitter, and that experience shows in how carefully each feature is implemented.

The AI integration goes well beyond a chat sidebar. Zed lets you run multiple agents in parallel across different projects, delegate tasks and watch changes happen live, and bring in models from providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, or others via ACP. If you prefer a lighter touch, the inline assistant lets you send selected code directly to a model for transformation without breaking your flow. Edit prediction, powered by Zeta (an open-weight model), anticipates your next edit as you type. Tools like Aider take a similar agentic approach, but Zed does it natively inside the editor itself.

Collaboration is built in at a deep level. You can code with teammates in real time, share your screen and project, and chat without leaving the editor. Remote development is also supported: the UI runs locally while the actual codebase lives on a remote server.

Key capabilities include:

  • Multibuffer editing: compose excerpts from across the codebase into one editable surface
  • Native Git support: stage, commit, diff, pull, and push without plugins
  • Debugger: built on the Debug Adapter Protocol with multi-language support
  • LSP support: full language server integration for diagnostics, completions, and more
  • Vim and Helix modes: first-class modal editing with text objects and marks
  • Built-in REPL: run code interactively through Jupyter kernels
  • Dev Containers: consistent environments across machines
  • Extensions ecosystem: hundreds of extensions for language support, themes, and tooling

Zed targets developers who've felt the sluggishness of Electron-based editors and want something that keeps up with how fast they think. It's a strong alternative to editors like CodeEdit for macOS users who want a native feel, but with broader platform support (macOS, Linux, and Windows) and a more mature feature set. The combination of raw speed, real-time collaboration, and deep AI tooling in a single editor is what makes it stand apart.

Looking for open source alternatives to other popular services? Check out other posts in the alternatives series and openalternative.co, a directory of open source software with filters for tags and alternatives for easy browsing and discovery.

Open-source AI coding assistant with multi-file editing, agentic workflows, and model flexibility. Transform your VS Code into an intelligent development environment.

Screenshot of Roo Code website

Transform your VS Code into an intelligent development environment with AI assistants that understand your entire codebase. Unlike traditional autocomplete tools, Roo Code provides agentic AI capabilities that can plan, write, and fix code across multiple files simultaneously.

Key advantages over closed alternatives:

  • Open-source and model-agnostic - Use any AI model including OpenAI, Anthropic, or local LLMs
  • Deep project-wide context - Reads your entire codebase for intelligent multi-file refactoring
  • Specialized modes - Switch between coding, debugging, and architecture modes on demand
  • Task orchestration - Breaks down complex tasks and delegates to specialized AI modes
  • Guarded execution - Approve or deny commands while maintaining full control

Advanced capabilities include:

  • Multi-file editing with diff-based preservation
  • Automated browser testing and verification
  • Command execution with permission controls
  • Fully customizable modes and behavior rules
  • Enterprise-ready with self-hosted model support

Privacy-focused design ensures your code stays local unless you choose external APIs. Use .rooignore files to exclude sensitive content and run completely offline with local models for maximum security.

Perfect for both enterprise development and casual coding, Roo Code adapts to your workflow while providing the intelligence of an entire development team right in your editor.

A lightweight, natively built editor. Open source and free forever. Develop any project using any language at speeds like never before.

Screenshot of CodeEdit website

CodeEdit is an exciting new code editor written entirely and unapologetically for macOS. Develop any project using any language at speeds like never before with increased efficiency and reliability in an editor that feels right at home on your Mac.

It is not meant to replace Xcode but rather supplement it for projects not intended for Apple platforms. We believe every type of developer deserves a great experience and excellent performance.

Key features:

  • macOS Native: Harness the full power of your Mac, something only possible with our completely native architecture developed in Swift.
  • Lightweight Yet Powerful: Designed to be lean with limitless potential.
  • Completely Open Source: CodeEdit is developed for you by developers like you. Don't like something? Want a new feature? Just create an issue or submit a PR.
  • Extensible & customizable: Make CodeEdit your own, tailored to your needs.
  • Familiar & Intuitive User Interface: Our user interface is designed to be familiar for ease-of-use and productivity.
  • Better tools to get the job done: Feel connected to the code you are writing with tools to keep you on track.

Non-intrusive, lightweight AI coding assistant that integrates seamlessly with your terminal workflow. Get intelligent code suggestions without leaving your command line.

Screenshot of Forgecode website

Transform your terminal into a powerful development environment with AI-powered coding assistance that works exactly where you need it. This lightweight tool integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow without disrupting your development process.

Key advantages:

  • Non-intrusive design - Works quietly in the background without interfering with your coding flow
  • Terminal-native experience - No need to switch between different applications or interfaces
  • Instant setup - Get started in seconds with a simple global installation
  • Lightweight architecture - Minimal resource usage while delivering powerful AI capabilities

Perfect for developers who prefer working in the terminal and want intelligent code suggestions without the overhead of heavy IDEs. The tool provides contextual assistance while maintaining the speed and simplicity that terminal users love.

Whether you're writing scripts, debugging code, or exploring new frameworks, you get AI pair programming capabilities directly in your command line environment. Join thousands of developers who have already enhanced their terminal-based development workflow with this efficient coding assistant.

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