JetBrains provides a variety of integrated development environments (IDEs) for software developers working with different programming languages. In the past, JetBrains only offered limited "community editions" of certain IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA for Java and Kotlin, and PyCharm for Python, while other IDEs required purchase after a 30-day trial period.
New Free Options for Developers
Now, WebStorm, which focuses on JavaScript and TypeScript, along with Rider, touted as "the world's most popular .NET and game development IDE," can be utilized at no cost for non-commercial purposes. This change is aimed at making it easier for students, hobbyists and those involved in open-source projects to access these tools. While the community versions of IntelliJ and PyCharm can also be used for commercial work, they come with a more limited set of features compared to WebStorm and Rider.
Supporting Developers' Growth
JetBrains mentions that various surveys, including Stack Overflow, reveal that 68% of developers engage in coding activities outside of their jobs for fun, and nearly 40% do so for professional development or self-learning. This percentage increases notably in game and web development. For instance, many game developers kick off their careers by making games as a hobby, often using free game engines. This insight influenced JetBrains' decision to introduce this new licensing model for WebStorm and Rider, as explained in a blog post (buy JavaScript: The Definitive Guide on Amazon).
JetBrains Blog
