Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Writerside

jetbrains.com

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxBrowser extension
Visit jetbrains.com
Spec score 7.4 #21 of 27 in Developer Documentation Software

What it is

Writerside is a tool for authoring, building, testing, and publishing technical documentation. It is now a plugin for JetBrains IDEs, not a standalone IDE; the plugin retains the standalone product's features and adds editor support and validation for supported code samples. Its components include an authoring plugin, a documentation builder, and a frontend for rendering help websites. Writerside supports Markdown and semantic markup, with single sourcing that lets teams reuse topics, sections, markup elements, filters, and variables across outputs. Built-in Git integration can automate builds, testing, and deployment with GitHub or GitLab hosting. A Docker builder can also support CI/CD pipelines, with instructions for GitHub, GitLab, and TeamCity. Writerside can generate PDFs with a table of contents and optional cover, header, and footer, and create API entity references from OpenAPI specifications. Local previews include search; published documentation uses an external search service by default. AI writing actions require the Grazie Pro plugin. The free plugin supports Linux, macOS, and Windows through JetBrains IDEs.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Writerside is used to author, build, test, and publish technical documentation.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Security
JetBrains says its security controls are described in its Information & Physical Security Standards and refers users to its privacy measures for protecting personal information.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Support
JetBrains directs Writerside users to its Slack community for feedback and support.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
AI writing
AI writing actions such as rephrasing, review, translation, and summaries require the Grazie Pro plugin.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
API documentation
Writerside can generate API entity references from OpenAPI specifications.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
CI builds
The Writerside Docker builder can be used for automated builds and CI/CD pipelines, with instructions for GitHub, GitLab, and TeamCity.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Components
The plugin includes an authoring IDE plugin, a documentation builder, and a frontend for rendering help websites.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Content reuse
Writerside supports single sourcing and reusing topics, sections, markup elements, filters, and variables across documentation outputs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Feature parity
The plugin has the same features as the standalone version and adds editor support and validation for supported code samples.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Known limitation
Rider and DataGrip have a known issue that prevents creating a new Writerside project, although existing projects can be edited.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Markup
Writerside supports Markdown and semantic markup.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
PDF export
Writerside can generate PDFs with a table of contents and optional cover, header, and footer content.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Product format
Writerside is available as a plugin for JetBrains IDEs and is no longer available as a standalone IDE.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Search limitation
Local preview has built-in search, while published documentation requires an external search service by default.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com
Version control
Writerside has built-in Git integration and can automate builds, testing, and deployment with GitHub or GitLab hosting.Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com

Plans and prices

Free plugin Free JetBrains IDE plugin · all standalone-version functionality Read 30 Sep 2026 · jetbrains.com

Every Writerside plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plugin with standalone-version functionality
  • Reuses topics, sections, markup, filters, and variables
  • Automates builds and deployment with GitHub or GitLab
  • Generates API references from OpenAPI specifications
  • Exports PDFs with a table of contents

Limits

  • No longer available as a standalone IDE
  • Published documentation requires external search by default
  • AI writing actions require the Grazie Pro plugin
  • Rider and DataGrip cannot create new Writerside projects

Who it suits

Writerside suits technical writers and software teams creating and maintaining documentation, especially when they use Git-hosted workflows or need reusable content. Teams using Rider or DataGrip should note the issue creating new projects in those IDEs.

Verdict

Writerside combines documentation authoring with build and publishing workflows, and its free JetBrains plugin includes the standalone version's features. Account for the external search requirement for published docs and the Grazie Pro dependency for AI writing actions.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to WritersideAll alternatives →