Visual Studio Code vs IntelliJ IDEA: is it a good Linux alternative?

Visual Studio Code as a Linux alternative to IntelliJ IDEA

Updated October 21, 2026

Our verdict

Visual Studio Code can replace IntelliJ IDEA for developers who mainly work with Java or Kotlin and need a lightweight, fast editor. It provides Java/Kotlin compilation via extensions, a JVM debugger, Git integration, and refactoring tools, but the experience is less integrated than IDEA’s out‑of‑the‑box features. It suits small to medium projects or teams that already use VS Code for other languages, but large enterprise Java projects that rely on IDEA’s advanced refactoring, code analysis, and build‑system integration may find VS Code lacking.

Feature parity70%

License: LicenseRef-proprietary=https://code.visu…
Price: Free
Latest version: 1.139.1 (September 25, 2026)
Rating: —

Install Visual Studio Code Website ↗

Editing TypeScript

What works the same

Both support Java/Kotlin compilation and debugging via extensions
Integrated Git source control
Extensible plugin/extension ecosystems
Cross‑platform UI
Terminal and basic refactoring tools

What is different

IntelliJ IDEA has built‑in advanced refactoring, code inspections, and deep integration with Maven/Gradle; VS Code requires extensions for many of these
IDEA offers a unified project model and project‑wide navigation; VS Code treats each folder independently
IDEA’s performance scales better with very large codebases; VS Code may lag on huge projects
IntelliJ’s UI is more consistent for Java tooling; VS Code’s UI is more generic
IDEA provides advanced JVM profiling and memory analysis tools not available in VS Code

Opening your IntelliJ IDEA files

Opening an IntelliJ IDEA project (.iml, .ipr, .idea folder) in VS Code is possible by using the Java Extension Pack, which can read the project structure. However, VS Code does not natively import IDEA’s project configuration, so build files (pom.xml, build.gradle) must be edited manually and the IDE may not recognize all settings. Exporting from VS Code back to IDEA is not supported; you would need to recreate the project in IDEA.

Switching from IntelliJ IDEA to Visual Studio Code, step by step

1. Install VS Code and the Java Extension Pack (Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat, Debugger for Java, Maven for Java, Gradle for Java).
2. Open the root folder of your IDEA project in VS Code; the extensions will detect pom.xml or build.gradle and import the dependencies.
3. Configure the debugger by creating a launch.json file or using the Java Debug extension’s auto‑configuration.
4. Install any additional extensions needed for Kotlin (Kotlin Language), static analysis (SonarLint), or refactoring support.
5. Verify Git integration by opening the Source Control panel; VS Code will use the existing .git folder.
6. Test building and running the application via the terminal or the Run/Debug buttons; adjust settings if build fails.

Key features of Visual Studio Code

Cross‑platform, same UI on Linux, macOS, Windows
Built‑in Git support and source control
Extensible via a large marketplace
Integrated terminal and debugging
Smart code completion (IntelliSense)
Language‑specific linters and formatters

How to install Visual Studio Code on Linux

Flatpak (Flathub)flatpak install flathub com.visualstudio.code

Frequently asked questions

Does VS Code support Kotlin out of the box?

No, you need the Kotlin Language extension. It provides syntax highlighting, basic code completion, and debugging support via the Java Debug extension.

Can I use IntelliJ IDEA plugins in VS Code?

No. VS Code uses its own marketplace and extension format. Some functionality may be replicated by different extensions, but plugins from IDEA are not compatible.

Will my IntelliJ IDEA project open correctly in VS Code?

VS Code can open the project folder and read Maven/Gradle files, but it will not import IDEA‑specific settings such as run configurations or code style profiles. You’ll need to recreate those manually.