JetBrains IDE New Features Review: Comparing Traditional X11 and New Support for Wayland
JetBrains IDE New Features Review: Comparing Traditional X11 and New Support for Wayland
As JetBrains gradually introduces new features in its IDEs, especially with the release of version 2026.1, many developers are beginning to pay attention to how these changes affect their workflows and development environments. This article will provide a detailed review of the smooth cursor movement feature in JetBrains IDE and the native support for Wayland, along with practical application scenarios, enabling developers to better utilize these new features.
1. Background Introduction
JetBrains is a well-known development tools company, and its IntelliJ IDEA series IDEs are very popular among developers. With the increasing popularity of Linux environments, JetBrains decided to default to Wayland support in version 2026.1, aiming to enhance the user experience for Linux users.
2. New Feature One: Smooth Cursor Movement
2.1 Feature Introduction
In the early preview version of 2026.1, JetBrains introduced the smooth cursor movement feature for the IDE. The main purpose of this feature is to make cursor movement during text editing smoother, enhancing the user's experience during code writing.
2.2 How to Enable Smooth Cursor Movement?
- Open IntelliJ IDEA or update to version 2026.1 EAP.
- Go to the preferences menu, path: Preferences → Editor → Appearance.
- Find the option "Use smooth caret movement" and check to enable it.
# Example: Quickly start IntelliJ IDEA in the terminal
idea
2.3 Practical Application Scenarios
- Smooth Experience While Programming: For developers who need to write code for extended periods, smooth cursor movement can reduce visual fatigue.
- Convenience During Debugging: The efficiency of quickly moving the cursor to find errors during debugging is greatly improved.
3. New Feature Two: Default Support for Wayland
3.1 Feature Introduction
Wayland, as a new display protocol, aims to replace the traditional X11. JetBrains decided to make Wayland the default support for its IDE in version 2026.1, enhancing compatibility for major Linux distributions.
3.2 How to Test Wayland Support?
- Ensure you are using a Linux system with a desktop environment that supports Wayland (e.g., GNOME).
- Confirm whether Wayland is enabled in the terminal:
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE
If the output is "wayland", it indicates that it has been successfully enabled.
- Run JetBrains IDE and observe its performance under Wayland.
3.3 Practical Application Scenarios
- Better Performance: The Wayland display protocol can provide lower latency and higher frame rates, suitable for applications that require fine graphic rendering.
- Reduced Resource Usage: Optimizations for system resources allow developers to program more smoothly when working on large projects.
4. Comparison: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using X11 vs. Wayland
| Feature | X11 | Wayland |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Widely used, mature | Emerging, may have compatibility issues |
| Performance | Lower, with latency | Superior, low latency |
| Resource Usage | Higher | Lower |
| User Interface Support | Some features missing | Good, supports new features |
5. Summary
The new features brought by JetBrains in version 2026.1, especially smooth cursor movement and Wayland support, provide great convenience for developers in the Linux environment. Whether for enhancing coding experience or optimizing runtime performance, JetBrains' decision will bring more benefits to its users. For developers, timely updating the IDE and adapting to these new features will greatly enhance development efficiency.
I hope this article helps you better understand the latest features of JetBrains IDE and utilize these new features to improve work efficiency!
