JetBrain AI Assistant :: In Depth
Science & Technology
Introduction
The JetBrains AI coding assistant sets itself apart from other coding assistants like GitHub's Copilot, Amazon's CodeWhisperer, and OpenAI's ChatGPT, by operating as a meta AI. Unlike traditional assistants that rely solely on one model, this AI assistant intelligently determines which language model (LLM) is best suited for various coding tasks and farms out requests accordingly. Additionally, it's tightly integrated with your IDE, blurring the lines between coding and assistance, so much so that you may not even realize you're using an AI.
Key Features in Action
Let's examine how the JetBrains AI coding assistant operates through a practical demonstration. After hitting Alt/Option + Enter, you can select options that include suggest refactoring from the AI actions context menu. Here, the AI assistant suggests refactorings tailored to your code, providing explanations for the necessity of these changes. If you agree with a suggestion, you can easily implement it as a diff in your original file.
You can interact with the AI chat by typing a prompt, and the assistant takes your project's context into account, ensuring you receive accurate and relevant responses. Moreover, any generated code can be directly inserted into your file. For documentation, simply select a piece of code, access the AI actions context menu, and choose to write documentation; the AI then analyzes your code to produce rich, formatted documentation.
As a paid feature, this AI assistant is available only to users with an active JetBrains IDE subscription, such as IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate. A free 7-day trial is offered, but it requires a paid license. Pricing details include an annual fee of $ 100 in the U.S. or £79 in the U.K., or a monthly fee of $ 10/£7.90. Organizations will incur higher costs, with enterprise pricing available upon request.
What Can the AI Assistant Do?
The JetBrains AI coding assistant can carry out a range of coding tasks:
- Generate single and multi-line code suggestions
- Create documentation
- Generate Git commit messages
- Suggest intelligent renaming refactorings
- Engage in dialogues in an AI chat window for more help
How to Invoke the AI Assistant
To access the AI assistant, you can click on the AI chat window or use the Command + Backslash shortcut for quick prompts. You can right-click anywhere to access AI actions, or hover over your selected code to get additional options.
Here’s a quick rundown of how it interacts with your project. For example, if you require assistance with your codebase, you could ask the AI to explain what a project is about. However, early experiences showed mixed results, with the assistant occasionally misinterpreting the context.
Generating Code and Documentation
You can create code like a function that calculates the required number of rolls for a 12-sided die to achieve a specific probability. The AI quickly generates this code and includes explanation comments. You can also request unit tests, which initially may not be satisfactory, but with repeated prompts, the AI improves its output.
Refactoring options provide suggestions for code enhancements and better naming conventions. Although it doesn't always generate ideal code, when properly guided, the AI assistant can enhance the overall quality of your project.
AI Language Translation
The AI assistant also boasts language conversion features, swiftly converting code from one programming language to another, such as Java to C++ or Rust. You can select the code and let the AI handle the translation, although some limitations exist, such as overwriting existing files.
User Experience and Customization
The assistant allows users to build a library of custom prompts to streamline frequently used commands, enhancing the efficiency of the coding process.
Data Privacy and Limitations
As per JetBrains' policies, user data is collected but is not used for training models. This can provide some peace of mind for organizations concerned about data security.
In summary, the JetBrains AI coding assistant offers a promising and integrated experience for developers, combining advanced machine learning capabilities with robust IDE functionality, making it one of the best tools available for coding assistance.
Keywords
- JetBrains AI Assistant
- IDE Integration
- Language Model
- Code Suggestions
- Refactoring
- Documentation Generation
- Custom Prompts
- Data Privacy
FAQ
Q1: What is the JetBrains AI Assistant?
A1: The JetBrains AI Assistant is a meta AI tool integrated into JetBrains IDEs that provides assistance by leveraging multiple LLMs for various coding tasks.
Q2: How can I access the JetBrains AI Assistant?
A2: The AI assistant is accessible through an active JetBrains IDE subscription, with a 7-day free trial available for new users.
Q3: What kinds of tasks can the AI Assistant perform?
A3: The assistant can generate code, provide documentation, suggest refactorings, create commit messages, and engage in project-specific discussions.
Q4: Are there any limitations to the AI Assistant?
A4: The AI Assistant may occasionally misinterpret project context, and users should be aware of privacy concerns as JetBrains collects usage data.
Q5: Can the JetBrains AI Assistant convert code to other programming languages?
A5: Yes, the assistant can convert code snippets from one programming language to another, enabling easy language transitions within your project.
