1lck/Lithe-IDEA

Lithe

A low-memory IntelliJ IDEA alternative for Java development and AI collaboration

简体中文 · Core features · Product tour · Download · Decision board · Develop Lithe

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/17e2325b-afed-4bbb-9926-a962f777269b

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Welcome to join the Lithe community, share your experience, ask questions, and follow the latest updates.

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Why Lithe

Codex, Claude Code, and other AI coding tools can now handle much of the implementation work. Developers still need an IDE to understand the generated code, follow symbols, run and debug the project, and review every diff. Keeping a heavyweight development environment open for those tasks can mean several gigabytes of resident memory.

Meet Lithe

Lithe is a lightweight IntelliJ IDEA alternative built first for Java and Spring Boot developers. It keeps the core workflows for browsing, editing, navigation, search, Maven, run and debug, Git diff review, local history, and databases.

The Lithe application 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. Actual usage varies with the project and active services.

AI writes the code. Lithe helps you understand it, run it, and review it.

If macOS says it cannot open Lithe.app

If macOS says that Apple cannot verify whether Lithe.app contains malware, the manually downloaded package may not yet be notarized by Apple. First confirm that the app came from the trusted GitHub Releases, then use one of these methods:

1. In Applications, Control-click Lithe.app, choose Open, and choose Open again in the confirmation dialog. 2. If macOS still blocks it, open System Settings > Privacy & Security, click Open Anyway next to the security warning, and launch the app again. 3. You can also remove the quarantine attribute in Terminal:

   sudo xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/Lithe.app
   

Only use these steps for an app whose source you trust. Homebrew installations usually do not require manual quarantine removal.

Core features

Product tour

Download and install

• macOS 13+: Download the arm64 DMG for Apple silicon or the x86_64 DMG for Intel Macs from GitHub Releases.
• Windows x64: Download the Windows .exe installer from GitHub Releases.

brew tap lithe-idea/lithe https://github.com/Lithe-IDEA/Lithe-IDEA.git
brew install --cask lithe-idea/lithe/lithe
brew upgrade --cask lithe

Architecture Overview

macOS is the current reference product. Windows is an independent React/Tauri implementation. Both products share deterministic commands and contracts through Rust Core while keeping native UI and platform integrations separate.

flowchart LR
    subgraph macOS["macOS"]
        MacViews["SwiftUI / AppKit Views"] --> MacModel["AppModel and UI models"]
        MacModel --> MacFeatures["Application feature models"]
        MacFeatures --> MacServices["AppServices and Swift services"]
        MacServices --> MacRust["Typed Rust operations"]
        MacServices --> MacPorts["Platform ports"]
        MacPorts --> MacAdapters["macOS adapters"]
    end
subgraph Shared["Shared behavior"]
        Editor["Shared Monaco editor"]
        Contracts["JSON contracts and fixtures"] --> Core["Rust lithe-core"]
    end
subgraph Windows["Windows"]
        WinUI["React workbench and feature state"] --> WinBoundary["src/platform/tauri-core.ts"]
        WinBoundary --> Tauri["Tauri composition root and Windows adapters"]
    end
Editor -.-> MacViews
    Editor -.-> WinUI
    MacRust -->|"JSON C ABI"| Core
    Tauri -->|"Rust crate"| Core

./scripts/preview.sh

swift run --disable-sandbox Lithe

./scripts/package-app.sh
open dist/Lithe.app

./scripts/test-macos.sh
./scripts/test-git-performance-baseline.sh
./scripts/verify-core.sh
./scripts/verify-git-graph.sh
./scripts/verify-service-boundaries.sh
./scripts/verify-shared-contracts.sh
./scripts/verify-windows-boundaries.sh
./scripts/verify-rust-core.sh

Project support

❤️ Sponsors

FastAI
FastAI provides convenient relay access to a range of leading large language models, making it easier to connect AI capabilities to everyday development workflows. Its support helps Lithe continue improving its AI-assisted experience. Thank you to FastAI for supporting this project! Scan the QR code above to join the FastAI Token community chat group #2 (group ID: 1073874006).

Special thanks to PatewayAI for sponsoring this project!
PatewayAI focuses on premium official-source API relay, supporting Claude, GPT, and leading Chinese models with transparent billing and enterprise-level services.
Economy mode rates are as low as 5% of official pricing. Sign up for trial credits, earn free credits in periodic campaigns, and receive mutual referral bonuses of up to $150 USD.

Want to be featured below?

	PatewayAI provides official-source API relay for Claude, GPT, and leading Chinese models, with transparent billing and enterprise-level services. Sign up for trial credits and take part in periodic free-credit campaigns. Thank you to PatewayAI for supporting Lithe!
	PackyCode provides API relay access to leading models through one key, with intelligent failover and dedicated Codex and Claude Code channels. Top up in RMB at a 1:1 rate with no transaction fees. New users receive a first-top-up discount and $1 in trial credit.
	TorchAI provides large language model relay services for developers who need convenient API access across coding, content, and automation scenarios. Its support helps sustain Lithe's development and exploration of practical AI-powered tools. Thank you to TorchAI for supporting this project!
	CCSub provides access to Claude, GPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek through one API key, with support for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, and other AI coding tools. New users receive $5 in trial credit. Thank you to CCSub for supporting Lithe!
	Clidex builds AI infrastructure for creators, with API access for native AI command-line tools at just 0.8% of official API pricing. Bring AI into your daily development workflow with Clidex. Thank you to Clidex for supporting Lithe and its continued development!
	Atlas Cloud provides AI model relay services with access to over 400 models. Its broad model selection gives developers more options to explore, compare, and choose models for their applications through one platform. Thank you to Atlas Cloud for supporting Lithe and the continued improvement of its AI-assisted development experience!
	CodeZ focuses on stable relay access to GPT-family models, offering developers a straightforward way to integrate model APIs into their tools and projects. Its sponsorship contributes to the ongoing development and maintenance of Lithe. Thank you to CodeZ for supporting this project!
	RainYun offers cloud servers for deploying applications, hosting websites, and running development and test environments. Thank you to RainYun for supporting Lithe and its continued development!

☕ Support Lithe

If Lithe is useful to you, you are welcome to buy the project a cup of coffee. Every contribution will be put back into Lithe's continued development and maintenance.

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⭐ Special thanks

For all things AI, head to LINUX DO. Wishing the community ever greater success.

Contributors

Thank you to everyone who contributes to and improves Lithe.

License

Lithe is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

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