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1lck/Lithe-IDEA

A lightweight, low-memory IntelliJ IDEA alternative for Java and Spring Boot development, with built-in AI collaboration features.

Open-source alternative to:IntelliJ IDEA

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What is it?

Lithe is an IDE built first for Java and Spring Boot developers who want the core workflows of IntelliJ IDEA without keeping a heavyweight environment resident. It covers browsing, editing, navigation, project-wide search, Maven, run and debug, Git diff review, local snapshot history, and database work.

The app typically uses about 300–400 MB of baseline memory after opening a regular project. Language servers, terminals, build tools, debuggers, and database helpers start on demand, and each language's service can be switched on or off to match the machine's resources.

The IDE also includes AI-assisted features such as generated commit messages with customizable formats, and automatic detection of project entry points for one-click run across Spring Boot, Maven, Gradle, npm, Cargo, Go, Python, Docker Compose, and other project types. It is available for macOS 13+ and Windows x64.

Key features

  • 01Spring Boot and Java project support with Maven management and breakpoint debugging.
  • 02Double-Shift search and project-wide search, plus side-by-side Git diff review.
  • 03Process-free lightweight completion, with on-demand language servers for richer features.
  • 04Local snapshot history and multiple projects open in one app.
  • 05AI-generated commit messages with customizable formats.
  • 06Database connection workspace with SQL history and table browsing.

Use cases

  • Java or Spring Boot developers who want a lighter alternative to IntelliJ IDEA on macOS or Windows.
  • Reviewing and debugging code produced by AI coding tools such as Codex or Claude Code.
  • Working on machines with limited memory where a full IDE is too heavy to keep open.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install with Homebrew (tap the repository)

    brew tap lithe-idea/lithe https://github.com/Lithe-IDEA/Lithe-IDEA.git
  2. 2

    Install the Lithe cask

    brew install --cask lithe-idea/lithe/lithe
  3. 3

    Or download the macOS DMG or Windows installer from GitHub Releases

Things to know

  • Officially supports only macOS 13+ and Windows x64; Linux is not mentioned.
  • Windows is described as an independent implementation, and macOS is the current reference product.
  • Manually downloaded macOS builds may not be notarized and can require extra steps to open.

Topics

#ide#java#spring-boot#macos#windows#git#ai-coding#low-memory

FAQ

What is Lithe-IDEA?
A lightweight, low-memory IntelliJ IDEA alternative for Java and Spring Boot development, with built-in AI collaboration features. Lithe is an IDE built first for Java and Spring Boot developers who want the core workflows of IntelliJ IDEA without keeping a heavyweight environment resident. It covers browsing, editing, navigation, project-wide search, Maven, run and debug, Git diff review, local snapshot history, and database work.
Is Lithe-IDEA free to use? What license does it have?
Lithe-IDEA is open source under the Apache-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is Lithe-IDEA still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to Lithe-IDEA was on Oct 19, 2026.
What can I use Lithe-IDEA for?
Java or Spring Boot developers who want a lighter alternative to IntelliJ IDEA on macOS or Windows. Reviewing and debugging code produced by AI coding tools such as Codex or Claude Code. Working on machines with limited memory where a full IDE is too heavy to keep open.
How do I install Lithe-IDEA?
Install with Homebrew (tap the repository): brew tap lithe-idea/lithe https://github.com/Lithe-IDEA/Lithe-IDEA.git Install the Lithe cask: brew install --cask lithe-idea/lithe/lithe Or download the macOS DMG or Windows installer from GitHub Releases
Where can I get Lithe-IDEA?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/1lck/Lithe-IDEA

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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