Shoaku
Shoaku is an IntelliJ AI coding assistant plugin powered by Codex CLI.
You keep thinking and coding while an agent quietly explores another approach.
AI can write the code.
You still have to
live with it.
Useful software lasts longer than the prompt that created it. To maintain it with confidence, someone needs to understand the choices inside.
Shoaku keeps that understanding with the team.
Stay close to the problem, test your instincts, and enjoy making the decisions that matter—without turning the whole task over to an agent.
Work through the why behind the code. Questions and comparison help turn each task into durable knowledge you can carry forward.
Shoaku supports your understanding while an agent explores,
then brings both perspectives together at the end.
Shoaku breaks the task into smaller steps, so you can work through each one at your own pace. Each loop of asking, trying, and reflecting builds the understanding that carries you toward completion.
You and the agent code in separate workspaces, so its exploration never interrupts your pace. At the end, compare both implementations to find gaps, challenge assumptions, and strengthen the result.
Shoaku is designed for developers who want AI assistance without losing ownership of their code.
Shoaku is an open-source plugin for IntelliJ IDEA. It uses Codex CLI to investigate and implement a goal in a separate workspace while you work in your own.
At the end of a task, Shoaku lets you compare your implementation with the agent's work. The comparison helps reveal trade-offs, gaps, and useful alternatives before you merge or ship.
Install Shoaku from JetBrains Marketplace, then configure Codex CLI and Node.js 22 or later in your development environment.
From a shared goal to the final comparison, see how Shoaku fits into real development work.
Bring Shoaku into your IntelliJ workflow and stay close to every decision.
Install for IntelliJ ↗ Requires Codex CLI & Node.js 22+