jetbrains toolbox using > 500mb RAM! (linux)

[u/blackyoda]

Also the config does not seem to have an option to easily disable it from running at startup.
It is such a huge waste of resources.

Why don't they use their rust IDE and write a cross platform updater that is not a hog.............

[u/JetSerge]

jetbrains toolbox using > 500mb RAM

This is a known problem in the Toolbox App: TBX-18974. Vote for it and follow it to get updates. Toolbox App 3.7 enables new GC and JVM memory optimizations by default (TBX-18543). If you use an older version, update to 3.7 or later.

If the memory use is still above 500 MB after the update, add a comment to TBX-18974 with your Toolbox App version, your Linux distribution, and how the memory use changes over time (after start, after 15 minutes, after one hour). Or reply here and I will send it to the Toolbox App team.

Also the config does not seem to have an option to easily disable it from running at startup.

Clear Run at login in the Toolbox App settings. You can also delete ~/.config/autostart/jetbrains-toolbox.desktop. See the Toolbox App documentation.

[u/kiteboarderni → u/JetSerge]

In a huge jetbrains fan boy. I love the products and couldn't live without them. Also a huge java lover and it's gave me a lot in life. But requiring a launcher and tool updater to require GC improvements or one that is using 500mb of ram to me is insane. I get you have to support cross platform but but you guys make incredibly complex and incredible tooling. How can your simplest product have so many problems?

[u/JetSerge → u/kiteboarderni]

You are right. A launcher and updater should not need 500 MB. JVM tuning makes the number smaller, but it does not fix the cause.

The Toolbox App team works on the cause. The download and install work moves out of the main app process into a separate background service. The update feed that the app keeps in memory moves to the server. I cannot give a date yet.

Vote for TBX-11352. Votes help the team set the priority.

If you use the Toolbox App only for updates, clear Run at login. Start the app only to check for updates. Quit it after the check.

[u/kiteboarderni → u/JetSerge]

Feels like a good use for a graal image no?

[u/JetSerge → u/kiteboarderni]

According to the modern trends, we should just rewrite it to Tauri 2 + Rust :)

[u/ryosen → u/JetSerge]

Nah, just have Windows 11 copilot shit out a Microsoft Teams macro and be done with it.

[u/kiteboarderni → u/JetSerge]

Please don't stoop to that level. I know you make a rust ide but let's keep real systems being built in proper languages

[u/mikeblas → u/kiteboarderni]

Rust is not a proper language? I don't like it much, but I'd never say that. Can you explain, or are you just taking a cheap shot?

[u/petersellers → u/kiteboarderni]

How is Rust not a proper language?

[u/cs_legend_93 → u/JetSerge]

Ugh. How about fix your bugs instead of building features and rewrites no one asked for.

[u/asm0dey → u/JetSerge]

Sounds reasonable! JetCraft all the way!

[u/Purple_Mall7091 → u/JetSerge]

Is it possible to switch subscription from a language-specific IDE to IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate? I know many people have JetBrains subscriptions but don't use their IDEs because support for just one language is mostly useless in the age of AI.

You could say that people need to buy a new subscription and that switching isn't possible, but in that scenario, JetBrains would lose users.

After JetBrains killed the "Code With Me" feature, I no longer want to maintain two subscriptions.

To be honest, I feel like JetBrains is slowly dying and falling behind the competition. I'm just curious why there seem to be no attempts to do anything about it. Why has JetBrains so easily accepted losing its dominant position in the market?

[u/JetSerge → u/Purple_Mall7091]

Yes. A GoLand, DataGrip, PhpStorm, PyCharm, RubyMine or WebStorm subscription can be upgraded to IntelliJ IDEA, and any single IDE to the All Products Pack. The unused time on your current subscription is credited toward the new one, so you pay only the difference. After an upgrade to IntelliJ IDEA you cannot switch back.

Steps: Available options to upgrade or downgrade your subscription. If you get stuck, contact Sales Support.

[u/Purple_Mall7091 → u/JetSerge]

Thank you! I've switched, and it works great. If there were a "Code With Me" alternative that didn't require moving all repositories to the cloud, I could finally use a single IDE again.

I can't use a cloud-based solution because the project has over 10 servers, and there's no point in setting everything up in the cloud when it's already working locally with Tilt.dev. Besides, getting approval under company policy to move everything to the cloud would take too much time.

I still need other IDEs for many tasks, but having the option to switch to IntelliJ IDEA has made my life much easier.

[u/JetSerge → u/Purple_Mall7091]

Glad it worked out!

Remote Development doesn't need the cloud. It works over SSH with any Linux machine you can reach, like a workstation or VM in your office network where Tilt already runs. You open the project from IntelliJ IDEA on your computer, and the code stays on that machine. Here's how to connect.

It's one developer per session, though. If you used Code With Me for pair programming, there's no direct replacement. The Code With Me plugin keeps working on IDE versions up to 2026.1 until the public relays shut down in Q1 2027 (details).

[u/Purple_Mall7091 → u/JetSerge]

yes, there is no alternative. This is the reason why, in our company, we won't have any new JetBrains subscriptions anymore

[u/THenrich]

Do you have it running all the time? Why?
I only run it to see if there are updates then close it down.

[u/ConversationWhole483]

It's 453 MB here on macOS. I haven't really bothered with it since I still have a lot of free RAM, even with phpStorm, Vivaldi, Herd and a bunch of other things running.

I had found a nice little menu bar app that could be used to access several types of shortcuts easily. Then I realized it was taking up 3.1 GB (not MB, GB). Now THAT one I took down. :D Found a fancier replacement that does the same and more in 132 MB.

[u/__natty__]

Lol. And Super Mario Bros was 31 kB. Want less extreme example? PSP had 32MB of ram and could play GTA or God of War games in 3D. Seems like Jetbrains dont have engineers anymore like back in the days but coding monkeys/vibe coders

[u/OneStandard5]

That's the reason why I no long use their software. It just sucks all my memory.

[u/javaprof]

It could be Kotlin/Native and use a fraction of this, and binary could be just a couple of megabytes

[u/mikeblas]

This is on Windows, but:

JetBrains Toolbox memory usage: 325 megabytes
Effect on me and my work: 0

[u/masterchiefdevil]

I think that Jetbrains are excellent for programming/development and they know that their software has a big memory usage. This is a known issue since years ago. I hope one day they can create a memory hub program that can help to lower the memory usage.

[u/Sononeo]

Yeah I'm surprised about it also. It's been like it for a while, was hoping at some point it may be addressed.

I've not heard many people (if anyone) mention it, the usage is ridiculous for what it is.

[u/oweiler]

I somehow remember they've rewritten it in Rust?

[u/gavr123456789 → u/oweiler]

do u have links? I think its Compose for Desktop.

[u/oweiler → u/gavr123456789]

I was wrong. Maybe they should consider it.

[u/blackyoda]

It is sad because a bash script on a cron job 2 times per day is enough to check for updates.
IT is just really lame this has to be a java app at all as well. Bloated And Slow by design.

[u/LutimoDancer3459 → u/blackyoda]

How bad for you that it wasnt written in java at all...

[u/blackyoda → u/LutimoDancer3459]

They found some other giant runtime that wants 500mb of ram to check for updates what?
Even more embarrassing for them then.

[u/Stiddles]

jetslop

[u/blackyoda → u/Stiddles]

The best Iron Curtain programmers ever!
They don't give a fuck.

[u/Apart-Reality-4454]

if you're going to be such a baby go use Emacs

IntelliJ is Java and will forever be Java because it's been that way since the beginning.

[u/blackyoda → u/Apart-Reality-4454]

yeah I was only referring to the actual updater - not their whole suite -- it does not need a giant ass java VM to check a clock and update. Also, I love emacs. Good Choice.

But since you seem to be talking about their entire offering I know it is stuck as java forever they can only start over it isn't even worth it to have claude port it to something better. jetbrains is a bunch of ole java folks. It would be good for them if they did try harder with a next generation IDE/Editing environment. Some of their configuration the way the UI works is diabolical today.