Since this comes up every time there's a Jetbrains sale, here's the rundown on how the products relate to each other.
First, the easy ones. ReSharper, dotTrace and dotCover are all independent products that don't really overlap with the ones I'm about to talk about.
The "Core" doesn't exist as a product, but it's all the things that are product-independent and aren't provided by plugins like the editor, HTML/CSS/JS editing support, debugger, theming, etc. I'm mentioning it because each IDE ends up with a slightly different version of the Core based on when it was released, which means that using IntelliJ with the Python plugin might not have all the features of PyCharm if PyCharm got a major version update more recently than IntelliJ.
WebStorm (JS/HTML/CSS IDE) has the core functionality plus Node.js plugins. You can install other plugins, but only a limited subset.
AppCode (Obj-C IDE) has the core functionality plus product-specific Obj-C plugins that you can't install in any of the other IDEs. AppCode only shares a few plugins with other IDEs, like the Vim emulation.
RubyMine, PhpStorm and PyCharm have the core functionality plus language/platform-specific plugins for Ruby, PHP and Python respectively. You can install other plugins, but nothing that would turn one of these into the other, for example installing the PHP plugin in PyCharm.
IntelliJ IDEA has the core functionality plus a huge variety of Java plugins. It can also use the language-specific plugins from WebStorm, RubyMine, PhpStorm and PyCharm as well as others that are downloadable. It can install almost all of the plugins that are supported on the platform - the only exception I'm aware of is Obj-C support.
Is there a point in buying WebStorm if I purchase IDEA?
I've been using WebStorm lately and have been considering purchasing it but I'm also learning Scala on the side and would also benefit from IDEA. If IDEA can handle NodeJS and TypeScript is there a point to purchasing WebStorm as well?
This is not completely obvious from their website or from your (very helpful) post: if I buy PhpStorm do I get all the features of WebStorm? Their site says "PhpStorm includes all the features of WebStorm related to HTML, CSS and JavaScript." and that "related to" made me think that maybe there's something else missing. Is it?
Before I started using Sublime Text Editor for everything, PHPStorm was my go-to GUI for not only PHP coding but everything else as well, an awesome company and a great cause. I highly recommend their tools, they also have pretty good support and offer free licences to educational institutes and open source projects.
Yeah, I went the opposite too, from SBT to PyCharm (their Python optimized IDE that has everything Web Storm + first class Python support). I work with a lot of JavaScript (specifically Angular.JS) from this setup and can't say enough good things. A nice side-benefit is that you can also work Node.JS in this version after installing the plugin.
EDIT: I still use SBT2 for looking at source code, especially projects cloned from github for learning, etc...but my main work projects are now in PyCharm.
I really like JetBrain's stuff, I use it every day.
That said, one annoyance with it:
When you have a personal license, it does a network check to ensure that the license is only in use on one machine on the LAN and locks out other instances popping up a 'reactivation' dialog in them. The check is fine and reasonable, I just wish it worked a different way as it messes with my workflow on a regular basis.
I work primarily from home and like switching between my laptop and my desktop regularly. I may use my laptop outside when its nice or just sit on the couch for a change in position then sit my desktop for awhile or maybe I need more horsepower or screen space than a macbook air can provide. I generally just like to change things up periodically.
The fact that it completely locks out the other IDE almost instantly can get really annoying. I sync code through github but if I forget to sync something, I then play whack-a-mole with the dialogs to get back to work. Another annoying thing is when I close my laptop then move to my desktop but want to check on something on the laptop completely unrelated and as soon as I open the lid, boom desktop is locked out.
I really wish it had some sort of timeout, read only mode or just allowed 2 instances as I can't imagine my situation is all that unique.
I have the same issue. I reluctantly purchased two personal licenses to get around the issue.
Unfortunately their systems aren't set up to deal with multiple personal licenses and it requires a call to their sales department every time I renew.
Now I am bouncing among 3 machines and getting frustrated again but buying a third license just to get rid of the message is not an option.
I am not 'using' the instances simultaneously but it's incredibly inconvenient to keep opening and closing the IDE as I change from one machine to another.
I understand the need to protect their source of revenue but there really needs to be a better solution than this.
I live in IntelliJ and AppCode. I'm quite certain that no other software has given me the same bang for the buck. My work would be significantly less pleasant if I had to use XCode and Eclipse instead.
PHPStorm is great for php and javascript development, highly recommended! If their corporate licensing prices were more startup friendly, I'd get a copy for everyone on my team.
I keep my personal IntelliJ license up to date. Mostly because I like choice and competition. I would be sad if jetbrains didn't exist.
I use work-provided IntelliJ for the day gig. It's okay.
I use Eclipse for my personal projects. Momentum mostly, been using it since the alphas. But I do greatly prefer the single problem(s) view. And the InstaSearch plugin rocks (Eclipse's stock search blows).
I use SublimeText for most non source code editing.
I switched from Eclipse to PyCharm last year and I am very happy with it.
I was looking into IntelliJ to have a more polyglot environment. Could anyone tell me if I can get all the features found in PyCharm (.e.g wonderful Django support) if I switch to IntelliJ and then install the Python plugin?
the python plugin for intellij adds similar level of code assistance (including django support) as pycharm. the only difference is in releases dates. intellij idea gets all new features with a small delay (and vice versa pycharm gets some new features with a small delay after intellij release).
Bought IDEA during the Doomsday Sale, first time I tried was the 'big' downtime and failed, and then waited several hours and tried again. One of the best purchases I've done!
I also picked up IntelliJ this time around. Even though I mostly do .Net development, it's too good an offer to pass up. This gives me an excuse to translate some of my libraries to Java.
If you toss their sales department ([email protected]) an email, they'll probably help you out. I've never had to do it myself, but they have a reputation for being very accommodating regarding buying just before sales.
Edit: Just to be clear, I don't work for them, have no affiliation, etc.
[+] [-] tomku|13 years ago|reply
First, the easy ones. ReSharper, dotTrace and dotCover are all independent products that don't really overlap with the ones I'm about to talk about.
The "Core" doesn't exist as a product, but it's all the things that are product-independent and aren't provided by plugins like the editor, HTML/CSS/JS editing support, debugger, theming, etc. I'm mentioning it because each IDE ends up with a slightly different version of the Core based on when it was released, which means that using IntelliJ with the Python plugin might not have all the features of PyCharm if PyCharm got a major version update more recently than IntelliJ.
WebStorm (JS/HTML/CSS IDE) has the core functionality plus Node.js plugins. You can install other plugins, but only a limited subset.
AppCode (Obj-C IDE) has the core functionality plus product-specific Obj-C plugins that you can't install in any of the other IDEs. AppCode only shares a few plugins with other IDEs, like the Vim emulation.
RubyMine, PhpStorm and PyCharm have the core functionality plus language/platform-specific plugins for Ruby, PHP and Python respectively. You can install other plugins, but nothing that would turn one of these into the other, for example installing the PHP plugin in PyCharm.
IntelliJ IDEA has the core functionality plus a huge variety of Java plugins. It can also use the language-specific plugins from WebStorm, RubyMine, PhpStorm and PyCharm as well as others that are downloadable. It can install almost all of the plugins that are supported on the platform - the only exception I'm aware of is Obj-C support.
Hope that answers some questions.
[+] [-] xtrumanx|13 years ago|reply
I've been using WebStorm lately and have been considering purchasing it but I'm also learning Scala on the side and would also benefit from IDEA. If IDEA can handle NodeJS and TypeScript is there a point to purchasing WebStorm as well?
[+] [-] iaskwhy|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] DigitalSea|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] taude|13 years ago|reply
EDIT: I still use SBT2 for looking at source code, especially projects cloned from github for learning, etc...but my main work projects are now in PyCharm.
[+] [-] LordIllidan|13 years ago|reply
I do miss some of sublime text's features but the integrated debugger tools and other awesome features... I can't go back
[+] [-] argonaut|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mbell|13 years ago|reply
That said, one annoyance with it:
When you have a personal license, it does a network check to ensure that the license is only in use on one machine on the LAN and locks out other instances popping up a 'reactivation' dialog in them. The check is fine and reasonable, I just wish it worked a different way as it messes with my workflow on a regular basis.
I work primarily from home and like switching between my laptop and my desktop regularly. I may use my laptop outside when its nice or just sit on the couch for a change in position then sit my desktop for awhile or maybe I need more horsepower or screen space than a macbook air can provide. I generally just like to change things up periodically.
The fact that it completely locks out the other IDE almost instantly can get really annoying. I sync code through github but if I forget to sync something, I then play whack-a-mole with the dialogs to get back to work. Another annoying thing is when I close my laptop then move to my desktop but want to check on something on the laptop completely unrelated and as soon as I open the lid, boom desktop is locked out.
I really wish it had some sort of timeout, read only mode or just allowed 2 instances as I can't imagine my situation is all that unique.
[+] [-] _JamesA_|13 years ago|reply
Unfortunately their systems aren't set up to deal with multiple personal licenses and it requires a call to their sales department every time I renew.
Now I am bouncing among 3 machines and getting frustrated again but buying a third license just to get rid of the message is not an option.
I am not 'using' the instances simultaneously but it's incredibly inconvenient to keep opening and closing the IDE as I change from one machine to another.
I understand the need to protect their source of revenue but there really needs to be a better solution than this.
[+] [-] easytiger|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidjgraph|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rplnt|13 years ago|reply
I bought a PyCharm license, just hoping I will use it. So far I've played with it for about 2 hours total. But there's still hope...
[+] [-] rdemmer|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cageface|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ttflee|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wanderr|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hhariri|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chii|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] specialist|13 years ago|reply
I use work-provided IntelliJ for the day gig. It's okay.
I use Eclipse for my personal projects. Momentum mostly, been using it since the alphas. But I do greatly prefer the single problem(s) view. And the InstaSearch plugin rocks (Eclipse's stock search blows).
I use SublimeText for most non source code editing.
[+] [-] zedr|13 years ago|reply
I was looking into IntelliJ to have a more polyglot environment. Could anyone tell me if I can get all the features found in PyCharm (.e.g wonderful Django support) if I switch to IntelliJ and then install the Python plugin?
[+] [-] justafucker|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 1nvader|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Stranger2013|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 1nvader|13 years ago|reply
Anyway, not cool since only new customers get an discount.
[+] [-] socialist_coder|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Stranger2013|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jamespo|13 years ago|reply
Have always been a customized emacs user before now (using JEDI etc) but intellij does have some nice features - if not quite so snappy.
[+] [-] highace|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] moondowner|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] scottlilly|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hackerboos|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gmark80|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tomku|13 years ago|reply
Edit: Just to be clear, I don't work for them, have no affiliation, etc.