TRAE

TRAE is an adaptive AI IDE that revolutionizes software development by collaborating with you like a 10x AI engineer. It seamlessly integrates into your workflow to understand, execute, and deliver solutions faster than traditional code editors.

Key Features

TRAE stands out with its comprehensive AI-powered development capabilities:

• Smart Code Completion: Real-time code extension with intuitive prediction of your intended edits, automatically applying changes as you type
• Builder Mode: Powerful agent system that automatically breaks down tasks, executes them independently, and lets you preview and control the entire process
• Full Context Understanding: Analyzes your entire codebase, editor insights, and terminal activity to generate precise, tailored code modifications
• Multimodal Support: Advanced image understanding capabilities that allow you to upload screenshots and mockups to clarify requirements
• Natural Language Collaboration: Chat-based interface for Human-AI collaboration - just describe what you need and watch TRAE build it
• Custom AI Agents: Fully configurable agent system where you can create your own AI team by customizing tools, skills, and logic
• External Tool Integration: Supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) for accessing external resources and enhancing agent capabilities
• Multi-IDE Support: Available as a standalone IDE and as plugins for VSCode and JetBrains IDEs
• 100+ Languages: Proficient in Python, Go, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Java, Kotlin, C, Rust, and over 100 programming languages

Use Cases

Who Should Use TRAE?

• Solo Developers: Build complete applications faster with an AI partner that handles implementation details
• Engineering Teams: Accelerate development cycles with intelligent code generation and automated task breakdown
• Startup Founders: Ship MVPs and products rapidly without compromising on code quality
• Enterprise Developers: Integrate AI assistance into existing workflows across multiple IDEs and codebases
• Open Source Contributors: Quickly understand large codebases and implement features efficiently

Problems It Solves

1. Slow Development Cycles: Builder mode automatically executes complex multi-step tasks, eliminating repetitive manual work
2. Context Switching Overhead: Full codebase analysis means TRAE understands your entire project, not just isolated files
3. Code Quality Inconsistency: AI-powered bug detection and smart optimization recommendations keep code clean
4. Onboarding Friction: Precise code explanation helps new developers understand projects faster
5. Manual Testing Burden: Automated test generation and API testing capabilities reduce QA overhead

Pricing

Advantages & Unique Selling Points

Compared to Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Windsurf:

1. True Autonomous Execution: While competitors focus on code suggestions, TRAE's Builder mode actually executes tasks independently like a real engineer
2. Superior UI/UX: Users consistently praise TRAE's beautiful, intuitive interface as the best among AI IDEs
3. Deeper Context Awareness: Analyzes editor, terminal, and entire codebase - not just the current file
4. Multimodal Intelligence: Upload mockups and screenshots directly to clarify requirements visually
5. Completely Free: Powerful features available at no cost while competitors charge $10-20/month

What Makes It Stand Out:

• "10x Engineer" Philosophy: Designed to work as a collaborative team member, not just a code completion tool
• Builder Mode Innovation: Automatically breaks down complex tasks and executes them step-by-step
• Local-First Privacy: Adheres to "minimal data collection" principles with local codebase storage
• Plugin + Standalone Options: Use as desktop app or integrate into your existing IDE
• Exceptional Performance: Fast, responsive, and stable even with large codebases

User Reviews

"TRAE, the real AI partner! It's been such a huge help in getting my tasks done—no stress coding at all. Plus, this is the best code editor UI I've ever used!" — Developer on Twitter

"I just built a RAG app in under 30min using https://trae.ai and I did not write a single character of code." — Early Adopter

"I am impressed with @Trae_ai. I've used competitors for a while now, I can confidently say Trae is my new favorite daily driver. Not only is it quick, it's stylish!" — Software Engineer

"TRAE is hands down my favorite AI IDE—smarter, sleeker, and outpacing Cursor and Windsurf every time." — Full-Stack Developer

"I've been using @Trae_ai code edit since they launched. The productivity gain from the Builder mode really making me a 10x engineer." — Engineering Manager

Getting Started

Quick Start Guide

Option 1: Standalone Desktop App

1. Download: Visit trae.ai/download and download for macOS or Windows
2. Install: Open the installer and follow the setup wizard
3. Login: Create a free account to unlock AI features
4. Start Coding: Open a project and experience Builder mode

Option 2: VSCode Plugin

1. Install Extension: Search for "Trae" in VSCode Extensions marketplace
2. Quick Installation: Click install and restart VSCode
3. Login: Sign in to your Trae account
4. Activate: Find Trae in the left sidebar and start using AI assistance

Option 3: JetBrains IDEs

1. Open Settings: Go to Settings → Plugins in IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.
2. Search: Find "Trae" plugin
3. Install: Click install and restart IDE
4. Configure: Login and customize AI behavior to your workflow

Integration

TRAE integrates seamlessly with:

• Version Control: Git workflows with intelligent commit message generation
• External Tools: Model Context Protocol (MCP) for custom tool integration
• Cloud Services: Deploy to various cloud platforms
• Testing Frameworks: Automatic test generation for popular testing libraries

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Builder mode work?

Builder mode acts as an autonomous AI engineer. Describe a task in natural language, and TRAE automatically breaks it down into steps, executes each one, and lets you preview/approve changes before applying them.

Is my code data secure?

Yes. TRAE follows a "local-first" approach where codebase files are stored locally on your device. Files may be temporarily uploaded for embedding/indexing, but all plaintext is deleted after processing.

What languages are supported?

TRAE supports 100+ programming languages with particular proficiency in Python, Go, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Java, Kotlin, C, and Rust.

Can I use TRAE with my existing IDE?

Absolutely! TRAE offers plugins for VSCode and all JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.), so you can keep your familiar workflow.

How does it compare to GitHub Copilot?

While Copilot focuses on code suggestions, TRAE provides full-context awareness across your entire codebase and can autonomously execute multi-step tasks through Builder mode. Plus, TRAE is currently free.

Does TRAE train on my code?

No. TRAE adheres to strict privacy principles and will not use your code for training AI models.

Is there a free trial?

TRAE is currently completely free to use with access to core features including Builder mode, code completion, and AI assistance.

Alternatives

If TRAE isn't the right fit, consider these alternatives:

• Cursor: AI-first code editor with strong code completion, $20/month
• GitHub Copilot: Microsoft's AI pair programmer, $10/month
• Windsurf: AI IDE with flow state focus, free tier available
• Codeium: Free AI code acceleration toolkit
• Tabnine: Privacy-focused AI code completion

Tips & Best Practices

1. Use Builder Mode for Complex Tasks: Instead of manually implementing multi-step features, describe the requirements and let Builder mode handle the execution
2. Upload Mockups: Take advantage of multimodal capabilities by uploading UI screenshots when building interfaces
3. Customize AI Rules: Configure rules to tailor AI behavior to your team's coding standards and preferences
4. Leverage Full Context: TRAE works best when it can analyze your entire codebase - open projects fully for optimal suggestions
5. Iterate with Chat: Use the natural language chat to refine implementations rather than manually editing
6. Trust the Automation: Builder mode is designed to work autonomously - let it execute tasks and review results rather than micromanaging

Conclusion

TRAE represents the next evolution of AI-powered development tools - moving beyond simple code completion to true collaborative AI engineering. With Builder mode's autonomous task execution, beautiful UI/UX, and completely free access, it's worth trying for any developer looking to ship faster and code smarter. Whether you're building MVPs, contributing to open source, or scaling enterprise applications, TRAE adapts to your workflow and multiplies your productivity.