Free trial
A free tier with limited API credits is available and is meant for trying the plugin on your own code before upgrading.
Learn moreJetbrains IDE Plugin
AI plugin that explains code in plain English inside JetBrains IDEs
Intermediate
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What is Jetbrains IDE Plugin?
Jetbrains IDE Plugin is a developer tool. TLDR is a JetBrains IDE plugin that sends selected code to an AI service and returns a plain English explanation, with particular strength in regex and SQL. It supports most languages, offers a rate limited free tier, and bills paid plans through the JetBrains Marketplace.
TLDR is a plugin for JetBrains IDEs that uses AI to turn selected code into a plain English explanation. The premise is simple: developers spend a large share of their day reading code they did not write, and TLDR aims to shorten that comprehension loop by sending the highlighted snippet to a hosted AI service and returning a readable summary. It supports most programming languages, with the homepage calling out regular expressions and SQL queries as examples where the plugin is particularly useful. In practice you install the plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace, select a method, query or expression in your editor, and request an explanation. The code travels to the vendor's servers for processing, so the workflow requires an internet connection and a willingness to send source snippets outside your machine. The plugin is aimed at developers onboarding to unfamiliar codebases, reviewers trying to decode dense expressions, and anyone who regularly encounters regex or SQL that takes longer to parse than it should. The vendor explicitly notes that the AI is in beta and does not always interpret code correctly, so explanations work best as a first pass rather than a substitute for careful reading. Among code explanation tools, TLDR is narrow by design: it does one job inside the IDE rather than bundling chat, refactoring or test generation. That focus keeps the surface small, but it also means teams looking for a broader AI coding assistant will need other tools alongside it. Pricing is handled through the JetBrains Marketplace, which simplifies billing for organizations already paying for IDE licenses.
How do you use Jetbrains IDE Plugin?
1Install the plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace
Open the JetBrains Marketplace listing for TLDR and install it into your IDE. The free version is available immediately so you can test it before committing to a paid plan.2Select the code you want explained
Highlight a method, a regular expression, a SQL query or any snippet you find hard to follow. The plugin works on the current selection in the editor.3Request a plain English explanation
Trigger the TLDR action from the IDE. The snippet is sent to the vendor's servers, processed by the AI system and returned as a written explanation.4Review the explanation against the code
Read the summary and check it against the actual logic, keeping in mind that the AI is in beta and can misread code. Treat the output as a starting point.5Upgrade through the JetBrains Marketplace
If you hit the free rate limits, choose the Individual or Organization plan from the plugin's pricing page in the marketplace. Billing and cancellation are handled there.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Explains regex and SQL queries, two areas where manual comprehension is slowAI
- Works inside the IDE, so there is no context switch to a separate chat toolAI
- Supports most programming languages according to the vendorAI
- Free tier with limited credits lets you test on your own code before buyingAI
- Billing runs through the JetBrains Marketplace, which keeps accounting simpleAI
Cons
- Selected code is sent to external servers, which may not suit strict source confidentiality policiesAI
- The AI is labelled beta and the vendor admits explanations are not always correctAI
- Only available for JetBrains IDEs; support for other editors is still in progressAI
- The free tier is strictly rate limited, so regular use quickly requires a paid planAI
- No offline mode is described; an internet connection is required for every explanationAI
How much does Jetbrains IDE Plugin cost?
Pricing
Three tiers billed through the JetBrains Marketplace. Free: $0 with strict rate limits. Individual: $4.90 per user monthly or $49 annually, with graceful rate limits and email support. Organization: $9.90 per user monthly or $99 annually, with priority email support.
Learn moreSupport
Email support is included with the Individual plan and priority email support with the Organization plan. The vendor also lists a support email for general questions.
Integrations
Distributed as a JetBrains IDE plugin and installed through the JetBrains Marketplace, which also handles billing. Support for other IDEs is described as in progress.
Features
Explains selected code in plain English using a hosted AI service. Supports most programming languages, with dedicated examples for regular expressions and SQL queries. Useful for onboarding to unfamiliar codebases. Explanations are generated on the vendor's servers and returned inside the IDE.
Frequently asked questions about Jetbrains IDE Plugin
How much does Jetbrains IDE Plugin cost?
Three tiers billed through the JetBrains Marketplace. Free: $0 with strict rate limits. Individual: $4.90 per user monthly or $49 annually, with graceful rate limits and email support. Organization: $9.90 per user monthly or $99 annually, with priority email support.Does Jetbrains IDE Plugin offer a free trial?
A free tier with limited API credits is available and is meant for trying the plugin on your own code before upgrading.How do you use Jetbrains IDE Plugin?
The walkthrough on this page covers 5 steps: 1. Install the plugin from the JetBrains Marketplace 2. Select the code you want explained 3. Request a plain English explanation 4. Review the explanation against the code 5. Upgrade through the JetBrains Marketplace.What platforms does Jetbrains IDE Plugin support?
Jetbrains IDE Plugin is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux.What does Jetbrains IDE Plugin integrate with?
Distributed as a JetBrains IDE plugin and installed through the JetBrains Marketplace, which also handles billing. Support for other IDEs is described as in progress.What are the limitations of Jetbrains IDE Plugin?
Selected code is sent to external servers, which may not suit strict source confidentiality policies. The AI is labelled beta and the vendor admits explanations are not always correct. Only available for JetBrains IDEs; support for other editors is still in progress.
