{"slug": "show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code", "title": "Show HN: I forked JetBrains' new agent IDE to host Claude Code", "summary": "A developer released a fork of ThinkRail, JetBrains' open-source IDE shell for AI coding agents, that adds a plugin API so the environment can host agents beyond the built-in Pi. The fork makes Claude Code a first-class builtin plugin with config, IDE bridge, and terminal status wired into the same worktree-scoped UI, and splits out seven other builtin plugins including blueprint interactive specs, PDF preview, branch graph, a live drawing/visualize surface, and file-type icons. Nightly builds are distributed via a Homebrew tap.", "body_md": "ThinkRail is JetBrains' open-source IDE shell for AI coding agents: worktree-per-tab, chat + file tree + terminal, but hardwired to one agent (Pi).\n\nMy fork adds a plugin API so it can host others too, starting with Claude Code running in the same UI.\n\nWhat's new over upstream:\n\n- A prototype of real plugin system - Claude Code as a first-class citizen — config, IDE bridge, and terminal status all wired in as a builtin plugin, so you get Claude Code sessions in the same worktree-scoped UI as `pi`. - Seven other builtin plugins split out the same way: blueprint (interactive specs), PDF preview, branch graph, a live drawing/visualize surface, and file-type icons\n\nNightly builds via a Homebrew tap are provided.\n\nComments URL: [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49741832](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49741832)\n\nPoints: 2\n\n# Comments: 0", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code", "canonical_source": "https://github.com/CommanderTvis/thinkrail", "published_at": "2026-09-17 15:00:32+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-17 15:26:39.162935+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-agents", "ai-tools", "developer-tools", "ai-products"], "entities": ["JetBrains", "ThinkRail", "Claude Code", "Pi", "Homebrew"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/show-hn-i-forked-jetbrains-new-agent-ide-to-host-claude-code.jsonld"}}