Although it’s technically possible to code without an IDE, doing so would be like painting a mural with school pencils. These tools not only boost productivity but also shape the development experience. That’s why every professional has a favorite: from widely adopted ones like Visual Studio Code, NetBeans, or Eclipse, to more specialized options like IntelliJ IDEA.
IDEs, AI, and the Future of Development
In a context driven by the acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI), we are witnessing a significant transformation in how we interact with IDEs. Projects like Cursor—a fork of VS Code focused on human-AI collaboration—and Windsurf, introduce what is already known as vibe coding.
These environments offer more than classic plugins or assistants. They incorporate generative models that act as creative copilots, suggesting solutions, completing functions, or even writing entire blocks of code based on natural language instructions.
Moreover, cloud-based IDEs are gaining traction, especially in corporate environments with installation restrictions. Their portability and ease of access make them highly attractive.
Standardization and Customization: A Delicate Balance
In collaborative work teams—especially within large organizations—it is common to choose a single IDE to facilitate the standardization of best practices, shared configurations, and efficient technical support. However, each developer tends to personalize their environment to match their individual working style: from keyboard shortcuts to specific extensions and visual settings.
This balance between standardization and customization is key to maintaining productivity without sacrificing flexibility.
Where Are We Heading?
The race for the IDE of the future has already begun. Traditional tools like VS Code are incorporating functionalities such as Agent Mode, in response to advancements like Cursor. The goal: not to fall behind this new generation of intelligent environments.
In this dynamic landscape, choosing a tool—or even a specific version—can be a challenge. Innovation cycles are so fast, as seen with language models like GPT or Claude, that it’s hard to predict which option will be the most suitable just a few months down the line.
Adapt or Fall Behind: The Challenge of Choosing Ever-Evolving Tools
The development ecosystem is changing, driven by a combination of creativity, automation, and artificial intelligence. While this opens up unprecedented opportunities, it also raises questions for teams seeking stability, compatibility, and cost control.
The key will be to adapt, test new options, and make conscious decisions according to the context of each project. Because one thing is certain: the IDE of the future will be as flexible and intelligent as the team that uses it.
By Julian Haeberli, Software Developer at Baufest.