IntelliJ IDEA vs. Eclipse
1. History
IDEA is mainly used for Java programming. It was introduced by the private company JetBrains in 2000.
ECLIPSE is also used for Java development; it was an IBM project released in 2001.
2. Usability
Usability is the most important and impactful way to grab a user’s attention. The user interface should be simple, repeatable, and non-distracting to the user (e.g., auto-completion using IntelliSense increases the usability of an IDE).
When it comes to usability, the code-completion assistance is much faster and easier in IDEA. The IDE has a gradual learning curve with a very simple and comfortable UI.
It has the ability to add plugins, like checkstyle, but it lacks a default assistance feature. Eclipse has a steeper learning curve.
3. Debugger
The Debugging tool is a key feature of every IDE, so it’s important to compare it. Debuggers help programmers to identify errors in the target program.
The debugging feature is very convenient in IDEA – just place the cursor inside the expression that needs to be evaluated.
In Eclipse, the debugging feature is a bit outdated because the complete expression must be selected for it to be evaluated.
4. Plugins
The number of plugins is another good way to compare these IDEs. Plugins extend core functionality, provide integration with application servers, add support for new frameworks, and boost productivity with new features.
IDEA offers 727 plugins and is difficult to extend.
Eclipse offers 1,276 plugins and is much easier to extend.
5. Multiple projects
In IDEA the user can open a single project with multiple modules, but multiple projects cannot be opened in a single window.
In Eclipse, multiple projects can be opened in a single window.
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