AI Assistants for Java Developers: Overview of the Best Tools

Artificial Intelligence for Java Developers: Overview of Current Tools

Modern Java development is increasingly integrating the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Neural network assistants are no longer exotic and have become indispensable helpers: they automate routine tasks, speed up code writing, assist with refactoring and debugging. In this article, we have gathered five of the most effective AI tools that every Java developer should try in 2024.

1. GitHub Copilot — Universal Autocomplete

The most popular AI assistant from GitHub and OpenAI. Copilot works on the Codex model and understands the context of a Java project well. It suggests entire code blocks, generates tests (JUnit), writes method implementations, and even documentation in JavaDoc format.

• Pros: high accuracy, framework support (Spring, Hibernate), integration with VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse.
• Cons: requires a subscription ($10/month), sometimes suggests outdated or unsafe patterns.

2. Tabnine (formerly Codota) — Private AI for Corporations

Tabnine focuses on code security and confidentiality. The model can be fine-tuned on the company's own repositories, and all data remains on the local server. It handles autocompletion of complex Java constructs, including lambdas and streams, very well.

• Pros: on-premise deployment, support for Java 21+, works with Maven/Gradle.
• Cons: the basic version is weaker than Copilot, full functionality from $12/month.

3. JetBrains AI Assistant — Native Assistant for IntelliJ IDEA

Integrated directly into the JetBrains ecosystem. It helps not only with writing code but also with analyzing compilation errors, refactoring code, generating SQL queries for JPA, and rewriting code from outdated Java versions to modern ones (e.g., from Java 8 to Java 17).

• Pros: deep integration with IDE, understanding of project structure, support for Spring, Micronaut, Quarkus.
• Cons: only available in paid Ultimate versions ($24.90/month).

4. CodeGemma by Google — Lightweight Open-Source Model

A specialized model for generating Java code, available via Ollama or locally. It stands out for its small size (2B and 7B parameters) and the ability to work without an internet connection. Ideal for quickly writing boilerplate code, DAO layers, and simple REST controllers.

• Pros: free, works offline, open source.
• Cons: inferior to Copilot in complex scenarios, requires setup.

5. Amazon CodeWhisperer — Free AI for the AWS Ecosystem

A free tool from Amazon that is particularly strong in integration with AWS SDK. It automatically generates code for working with S3, DynamoDB, Lambda functions, and also identifies vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injections). Supports