Show HN: I forked JetBrains' new agent IDE to host Claude Code

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.

ThinkRail is JetBrains' open-source IDE shell for AI coding agents: worktree-per-tab, chat + file tree + terminal, but hardwired to one agent Pi . My fork adds a plugin API so it can host others too, starting with Claude Code running in the same UI. What's new over upstream: - 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 Nightly builds via a Homebrew tap are provided. Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49741832 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49741832 Points: 2 Comments: 0