Comment by 7steps2much | Hacker News Reader

Comment by 7steps2much | Hacker News Reader

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In my case it is really simple.

If I need a Java program I install IDEA. It has support for all the java frameworks, supports all the build tools, can connect to a database and show me the data inside of it.

If I code C/C++ i install CLion and do the same, with an amazing debugger etc.

When I install VSCode I got nothing. I got a glorified text editor and that's it. I first need to install what feels like thousands of plugins, only for half of those to not work, then install fifty more because I forgot I even needed those until I did.

Or to put it more simply: I don't want a text editor, I want an IDE.

If someday someone can give me a download link for a VSCode release that has all the necessary plugins for a certain language already preinstalled and does not require me to install anymore or care about how/why this stuff works then I will give it a try.

But for now I will switch with my IDE. It might not be as FOSS as other stuff, but it is more comfortable to use, enables me to be productive and it just works. That's what matters to me

As a Python/Typescript developer I switched to IDEA from VS Code and never looked back. Debugging, code sense, full GUIs for test coverage - everything works right out of the box without tweaks or addons. Is IDEA's RAM usage massively higher, and if you starve it of RAM, does it lag obnoxiously? Of course. But I'm lucky to have a workstation that can handle it. If you do too, it's worth trying out.

Did you even try VSCode or are you just making things up? The official docs link you to a build of VSCode with Java extensions preinstalled, exactly what you’re asking for, calling the Coding Pack for Java: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/java/java-tutorial

The OBE is much much nicer in IDEA - it figured out what I was doing (when I didn’t even know) and worked fine out of the box with Java8.

VSCode got into some loop where it demands Java 11 for highlighting code but then explodes on a Java 8 project and I’ll be arsed if I’m going to spend time debugging what’s wrong

I do use vscode for config files and other “quick load” things - it’s beating BBEdit there.

I'm the same way about jvm languages, but for ruby I use RubyMine as a text editor. The navigation is a bit more powerful than text search but could also get by with only the fast searching. The main reason for the choice is familiarity.

Oh and as mentioned in another comment the git conflict resolution is stellar.

I'm the same way about jvm languages, but for ruby I use RubyMine as a text editor. The navigation is a bit more powerful than text search but could also get by with only the fast searching. The main reason for the choice is familiarity.

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