Best IDE Software for GitHub Copilot

Visual Studio Code is a highly extensible AI-powered code editor built for developers who demand flexibility and performance. It combines intelligent coding assistance, modern debugging tools, and collaboration features in one lightweight package. With Agent Mode, VS Code reads your codebase, runs terminal commands, and edits across files automatically until tasks are complete. Its Next Edit Suggestions feature predicts and completes your next move as you type, enhancing speed and code accuracy. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables developers to connect their favorite AI models—from OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure, or Google—and extend functionality through custom servers. Developers can work in any language, from JavaScript and Python to C#, Java, and Go, while leveraging over 75,000 extensions for added productivity. Seamless integration with GitHub Codespaces, cloud storage, and CI/CD tools allows teams to code, collaborate, and deploy anywhere. Open-source at its core, VS Code empowers both individuals and enterprises to innovate without limits.

IntelliJ IDEA is a powerful and versatile IDE tailored for professional Java and Kotlin developers who want to maximize their productivity and code quality. It provides comprehensive support across the entire development process, including design, coding, debugging, testing, and deployment. With smart code analysis, safe refactoring, and error detection, IntelliJ IDEA minimizes bugs and technical debt so developers can focus on innovation. The latest version adds full support for Java 24 features and enables Kotlin’s K2 mode by default, improving performance and memory efficiency. New interactive Kotlin notebooks allow real-time prototyping and data visualization within the IDE. IntelliJ IDEA also includes advanced debugging tools like the Spring Debugger for managing dynamic database connections. JetBrains prioritizes developer comfort with an intuitive interface and customizable settings. The IDE adheres to strict privacy and security standards, ensuring developers’ data remains protected.

Xcode is a comprehensive development platform designed specifically for Apple ecosystem applications. It enables developers to build apps for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS efficiently. Intelligent code completion adapts to your project and coding style. Xcode integrates powerful debugging and profiling tools to uncover performance bottlenecks. Live previews allow developers to visualize UI changes instantly while coding. Built-in simulators replicate real-device behavior for testing across multiple configurations. Automated testing frameworks help catch bugs early in development. Xcode Cloud adds continuous integration and delivery directly into the workflow. Developers can analyze real-world performance data from users. Xcode accelerates app development while maintaining high quality and reliability.

Visual Studio by Microsoft is a complete ecosystem for professional developers, combining robust coding environments, integrated AI capabilities, and advanced collaboration tools. The flagship Visual Studio 2022 IDE delivers an all-in-one workspace with compilers, debuggers, designers, and performance profilers for .NET, C++, C#, and Azure development. Meanwhile, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) offers a lightweight yet powerful editor that runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ideal for web, JavaScript, Python, and container-based workflows. With GitHub Copilot integration, developers receive intelligent code completions, automated refactoring, and natural language explanations of complex logic. Agent Mode introduces an AI-driven assistant that can edit across files, execute builds, and resolve compile or test errors autonomously. Built-in tools like unit test generators, CI-aware policy enforcement, and style validation help ensure clean, testable, and secure code. Thousands of extensions from the Visual Studio Marketplace expand functionality for database, cloud, and DevOps workflows. Together, these platforms redefine productivity, helping teams code smarter and deliver innovation faster.

Cursor is an AI-native integrated development environment (IDE) engineered to transform how software is written, reviewed, and deployed. Trusted by millions of professional developers, it merges human creativity with machine intelligence through features like Agent, a fully autonomous collaborator that turns ideas into executable code, and Tab, an adaptive autocompletion system that predicts your next move with precision. Cursor’s deep codebase indexing allows it to instantly understand large and complex repositories, enabling smart search, refactoring, and context-aware suggestions across files. With multi-model flexibility, developers can choose from leading AI models—OpenAI’s GPT-5, Anthropic’s Claude 4.5, Google’s Gemini 2.5, or xAI’s Grok Code—to match specific performance and reasoning needs. Cursor integrates effortlessly into existing workflows, acting as a teammate in GitHub, Slack, and other key tools. Its interface balances autonomy and control, letting users decide whether to perform quick edits, plan-mode changes, or let the agent operate end-to-end. Designed for individual creators and large enterprises alike, Cursor improves velocity, reduces cognitive load, and enhances collaboration across distributed teams. It’s more than an editor—it’s the next frontier in developer productivity.

Ona, the evolution of Gitpod, is built to help teams move beyond traditional IDEs by serving as a central hub for modern software engineering. Its sandboxed environments run with full OS-level isolation, giving developers secure and consistent setups whether hosted in the cloud or on private infrastructure. With Ona Agents, teams can automate repetitive tasks, accelerate handoffs, parallelize work, and receive real-time support across scoping, coding, reviewing, and documentation. The platform ensures that developers can seamlessly switch between agent conversations, browser-based VS Code Web, or desktop IDEs without losing productivity. Enterprise-level guardrails reinforce compliance by offering detailed audit trails, network controls, and fine-grained organizational policies. Ona is already trusted by global enterprises in industries like banking and pharmaceuticals, highlighting its reliability at scale. Integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Redis, MongoDB, and AWS make it easy to connect existing workflows without disruption. With SOC 2 certification, GDPR compliance, and WCAGAA accessibility standards, Ona sets the standard for secure and inclusive developer productivity.