Is VSCode Good for Large Java Projects Compared to IntelliJ?

If you're working with Spring or Spring Boot, IntelliJ Ultimate shines with dedicated support for those frameworks, making development a lot easier. While you can set up VSCode with plugins, it will likely be a lot more cumbersome than just using IntelliJ, which integrates everything much more seamlessly.

Honestly, if you’re really comfortable with VSCode, give it a shot for your project! It can handle a lot with the right set of plugins. However, it’s fair to acknowledge that it doesn’t quite reach the same level of support and features as IntelliJ for complex tasks, especially when dealing with extensive Java codebases. So, consider your project’s needs and maybe explore both options to see what fits you best.

Using VSCode for a larger Java project can work, especially if you're just coding smaller modules, but you'll encounter limitations as the project grows. IntelliJ provides built-in features like comprehensive debugging tools, easy Git integration, and quick access to documentation which drastically improve productivity on bigger projects. If IntelliJ feels too rigid, maybe give Eclipse a shot as it has a lot to offer as well.

IntelliJ is built for Java right from the get-go and knows how to handle the nuances of the language. Yes, VSCode is a great general-purpose IDE, but for a big Java project, IntelliJ makes refactoring and code navigation much smoother due to its advanced static analysis and built-in tools. If you can afford it, the Ultimate version is particularly good for enterprise-level projects.

I wouldn't recommend using VSCode for larger Java projects. IntelliJ IDEA is specifically designed for Java development and offers a powerful feature set that VSCode simply can’t match, especially when it comes to refactoring and integration with frameworks like Spring. Eclipse could be an alternative if you're looking for something different, but I'd stick with IntelliJ for serious work.