OpenIDEA is an open-source desktop IDE that keeps IntelliJ IDEA-style keymaps, tool windows, and Search Everywhere on a Rust + Tauri core. The project lives at github.com/l0ng-ai/openidea under Apache 2.0. It is not affiliated with JetBrains. Checked November 2, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles).
What OpenIDEA is
The README describes editor, code insight, debugger, Git, terminal, database and HTTP clients, with language coverage advertised for 60+ languages. Builds exist for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Latest release checked for this article: v0.1.34.
UI habits called out by the project: double-Shift Search Everywhere, Goto File / Symbol / Action, IntelliJ-like tool-window chrome, and macOS / Windows keymap presets. Under the hood the repo mixes a Rust crate set with a TypeScript / CodeMirror front end wired through Tauri.
Status is early (v0.1.x). Daily edit, completion, navigation, debug, and commit workflows are the stated focus. Deep JetBrains-style analysis and refactor polish are explicitly not claimed as parity.
How to install OpenIDEA
Prebuilt (recommended for trying it):
- Open the Releases page.
- Download the package for your OS from the latest tag (example assets on v0.1.34 include Windows
.msi/ setup.exe, macOS.dmgfor Apple Silicon and Intel, and Linux.deb,.rpm, and AppImage). - Install with your OS normal path, then open a project folder.
From source (README build):
- Needs Rust, Node 22, pnpm, and Tauri prerequisites (README cites Rust 1.96 on the build blurb we opened).
pnpm installthenpnpm tauri devfor a development run.
Remote-development server archives (openidea-server-*.gz) also appear on the release page for Linux and macOS architectures.
Performance numbers the project publishes
Opening freqtrade (Python, ~770 files) with warm caches, median of 5 runs, on the author's Windows 11 machine (32-core AMD, 62 GB RAM):
| Metric | OpenIDEA | IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Window with the project | 0.9 s | 3.1 s |
| Ready (CPU settled) | 1.1 s | 13.2 s |
| Memory (USS, all processes) | 169 MB | 2011 MB |
| CPU time until ready | 2.4 s | 47.9 s |
| Idle CPU | 4% of a core | 7% of a core |
| Quit | 0.3 s | 5.9 s |
The README states IDEA analyses Python more deeply, so "ready" is not the same workload on both sides. The harness lives in perf/compare for re-runs on your own machine. Treat the table as the author's published benchmark, not a universal guarantee.
OpenIDEA vs IntelliJ IDEA
Closer to IDEA habits
- Keymap and Search Everywhere workflow
- Tool windows, Git, debugger, terminal, DB and HTTP tools in one window
- Multi-language LSP-oriented insight rather than a JVM-only stack
Not the same product
- No JetBrains license, plugin marketplace parity, or "IntelliJ IDEA rebuilt line-for-line" claim
- Analysis depth differs; the project's own benchmark disclaimer says so
- Early 0.1.x quality bar: expect missing polish and open issues
- Apache 2.0 open source vs JetBrains commercial / community IDEA distribution
If you want JetBrains inspections, licensed plugins, and deep language tooling, stay on IDEA or another JetBrains IDE. If startup time and RAM on mid-size projects are the pain point, OpenIDEA is the experiment to try.
FAQ
Is OpenIDEA free?
Yes for the open-source project under Apache 2.0. Download builds from GitHub Releases.
Is OpenIDEA made by JetBrains?
No. The README states it is not affiliated with JetBrains. IntelliJ IDEA is a JetBrains trademark.
Which platforms get installers?
macOS, Windows, and Linux packages are published on Releases (dmg, msi/exe, deb/rpm/AppImage among the v0.1.34 assets).
Can OpenIDEA replace IntelliJ for Java enterprise work today?
The project does not claim full IDEA parity. Evaluate on your own repos; keep IDEA when you need JetBrains-depth analysis or marketplace plugins OpenIDEA does not provide.
Sources
- GitHub: l0ng-ai/openidea (README: features, benchmark table, Apache 2.0, disclaimer)
- GitHub Releases: v0.1.34 (platform installers)
- Developer write-up (Chinese): 掘金 post by l0ngai (same benchmark framing; early v0.1.x status)
Not affiliated with JetBrains or the OpenIDEA maintainers. Benchmarks and release assets change; re-check the repo before you install.