Project IDX

Project IDX is a browser-based experience for full-stack, multiplatform app development, built on Google Cloud and powered by Codey, a foundational AI model trained on code and built on PaLM 2. Project IDX aims to make it easier for developers to build, manage, and deploy full-stack web and multiplatform applications using popular languages and frameworks. With Codey, Project IDX has smart code completion, an assistive chatbot, contextual code actions, and the ability to translate code between programming languages and explain code. Google plans to improve IDX AI and add new features.

Each Project IDX workspace has the capabilities of a Linux-based virtual machine along with easy access due to being hosted in the cloud. Users can import existing projects from GitHub or create new projects with templates for popular frameworks. These include Angular, Flutter, Next.js, React, Svelte, and Vue and languages like JavaScript and Dart, with support for Python and Go and plans to support others. Project IDX includes a built-in web preview with plans for a fully-configured Android emulator and an embedded iOS simulator, both directly in the browser. Project IDX integrates with Firebase Hosting to deploy shareable previews of web apps or deploy to production with a global hosting platform.

Google has been developing tools for multiplatform app development for years. A team at Google began working on Project IDX in 2023, and after several months, they released a preview of Project IDX on August 8, 2023. Project IDX is based on Visual Studio Code - Open Source, rather than building a completely new integrated development environment. Google released an early version to receive feedback and iterate on the project. Users can gain access to Project IDX by signing up for the waiting list on the website. The team behind Project IDX is working on new capabilities, including collaboration features, deeper framework integrations, and better personalized/contextual AI.