Pioneering AI in Tools and IDEs: Insights from TheiaCon 2024

January 28, 2025 | 3 min Read

The Theia ecosystem is at the forefront of innovation in AI-powered tools and IDEs. With Theia AI—a flexible framework for tool builders—and the AI capabilities in the Theia IDE, the platform empowers both tool builders and end users with full control over their AI interactions. Designed for transparency, extensibility, and independence from vendor lock-ins, Theia provides cutting-edge solutions for integrating AI into tools and IDEs.

TheiaCon 2024 brought together experts to discuss the future of AI in tools and IDEs. There were also two talks showcasing how Theia AI and the AI-powered Theia IDE are enabling innovation in this rapidly evolving space. If you missed the live sessions, we’re excited to share the recordings with you!

1. Full Control of AI in Tools and IDEs with Theia AI and the Theia IDE

Proprietary AI-powered coding tools often limit flexibility and transparency, but the AI-powered Theia IDE (built on Theia AI) provides an open and transparent alternative. This talk dives deep into Theia AI’s capabilities and its usage in the Theia IDE, including:

  • AI-driven code completion and terminal assistance.

  • Support for arbitrary large language models (LLMs).

  • Flexible prompt management, data privacy, and user control over AI interactions.

The talk also includes demos showcasing how tool builders can enhance domain-specific tools with Theia AI while maintaining independence from vendor lock-ins.

2. Developing AI Integration in Domain-Specific Tools with Theia AI

As AI becomes a staple in modern IDEs, domain-specific tools often struggle to keep up. This talk explores how Theia AI bridges the gap by simplifying the integration of advanced AI features into custom tools, including:

  • Prompt engineering techniques for building AI-powered tools and IDEs.

  • Multi-turn prompt flows, request classification and context augmentation (e.g. RAG).

  • Interactive and actionable AI responses.

  • Best practices for implementing AI in non-textual editors, such as diagrams.

Through hands-on demos and code examples, this session offers valuable insights for developers building domain-specific tools with unique AI capabilities.

Theia: Empowering AI Innovation

The Theia ecosystem continues to lead the way in enabling modern, AI-powered tools and IDEs. From an open framework like Theia AI to the AI features in the Theia IDE, these talks demonstrate the platform’s commitment to innovation for tool builders and end users alike. Learn more about:

  • Theia AI (the framework to build AI-powered tools and IDEs)

  • AI-powered Theia IDE (The First Open, Transparent AI-Enhanced Development Environment)

If you are interested in building custom (AI-powered) IDEs, tools or migrating existing desktop tools, EclipseSource provides consulting and implementation services. We specifically specialize in AI-powered tools and support for popular platforms like Eclipse Theia and VS Code.

Additionally, we offer consulting and support for hosting web-based tools in the cloud.

Get in contact with us.

Jonas, Maximilian & Philip

Jonas Helming, Maximilian Koegel and Philip Langer co-lead EclipseSource, specializing in consulting and engineering innovative, customized tools and IDEs, with a strong …