In my case it is simple: I think IntelliJ is great but I much prefer VSCode and NetBeans.
Why? Two main reasons:
- On the projects I tend to work on, IntelliJ has a habit of breaking its internal configuration a few times a year—not just for me, but for my colleagues as well. When it does, it can take the better part of a day to sort out. Often I end up getting frustrated, deleting anything not under version control, reimporting the project, and end up having to reconfigure all the database connections and other bits manually.
- I also just prefer the more straightforward feel of NetBeans and VSCode. It’s a bit like my old car: less automation, fewer clever electronics. Sure, the new one is objectively better in many ways—but the old one was easier to get out of the snow, and it rarely surprised me.
I haven’t had much chance to use NetBeans in recent years, as every role I’ve taken on has involved Kotlin to some extent. But back when I did use it, it felt like the Toyota Hilux of IDEs—sturdy, no-nonsense, and reliably got the job done. That was a big part of why I loved it.
Unfortunately, I’m a bit concerned it may have gone downhill since. It used to have dedicated full-time staff behind it, but now that it’s been handed over to the Apache Foundation, I suspect the budgets are tighter than they were under Oracle.
Why? Two main reasons:
- On the projects I tend to work on, IntelliJ has a habit of breaking its internal configuration a few times a year—not just for me, but for my colleagues as well. When it does, it can take the better part of a day to sort out. Often I end up getting frustrated, deleting anything not under version control, reimporting the project, and end up having to reconfigure all the database connections and other bits manually.
- I also just prefer the more straightforward feel of NetBeans and VSCode. It’s a bit like my old car: less automation, fewer clever electronics. Sure, the new one is objectively better in many ways—but the old one was easier to get out of the snow, and it rarely surprised me.