Developed by Eclipse Foundation on the basis of the Theia code editor and the plugins developed for it, the project code is written in Typescript and is distributed under the EPLV2 license (Eclipse Public License). The product of Theia IDE supplies as a self-sufficient desktop application, designed for installation on local systems, as well as in the form of an online version for working from a browser. To expand the online version, a ready-made Docker image is provided on its server.
The project is being developed with the participation of IBM, Red Hat, Google, ARM, Broadcom, Huawei, Samsung, Ericsson, SAP, and Arduino on a neutral platform supported by Eclipse Foundation, not dependent on specific manufacturers. Initially, the development environment evolved under the name Theia Blueprint and was utilized as a set of examples and templates to build custom solutions based on the Theia platform. It has now evolved into a standalone product, known for its modular organization and flexible customization options for setting up the environment according to individual preferences.
The Theia platform is built on a front-end architecture/backend structure involving the launch of two processes – one responsible for interface rendering, and the other for internal logic. These processes interact using HTTP via JSON-RPC through WebSockets or REST API. This separation facilitates work on the web, with the backend using the Node.js platform running on an external server, while the frontend with the interface is loaded in the browser. In Theia IDE application, both processes are launched locally, utilizing the Electron platform to create a self-sufficient application.
Theia IDE offers features such as a customizable dynamic toolbar, separate windows for code editing panels, a tab system, support for remote work organization, and collaborative editing and project management. The project prioritizes user confidentiality and does not include telemetry data collection by default.
