For years, Anypoint Studio has been the primary integrated development environment (IDE) for MuleSoft developers, offering a comprehensive set of tools for designing, implementing, and deploying APIs and integrations. However, its resource-intensive nature and somewhat overwhelming UI have led to the introduction of Anypoint Code Builder (ACB) – a lightweight, modern alternative. But is ACB mature enough to replace Anypoint Studio entirely? Let’s explore ‘Anypoint Code Builder vs. Anypoint Studio’.
What is Anypoint Code Builder?
Anypoint Code Builder is a next-generation IDE designed to streamline the development process for MuleSoft developers.
ACB offers flexibility by allowing developers to work either in their browser via the Anypoint Platform or locally using Visual Studio Code (VS Code). This dual approach enables users to choose their preferred setup without sacrificing functionality.
Key features of ACB
- Seamless integration. Workflows synchronise with Design Center and version control systems like Git for better collaboration.
- Ease of setup. The Anypoint Extension Pack simplifies the installation and setup process in VS Code.
- Modern interface. A clean and intuitive UI enhances navigation and usability.
The strengths of Anypoint Code Builder
Anypoint Code Builder is built upon Visual Studio Code, a widely used and highly regarded IDE. This foundation leverages the familiarity, flexibility and extensive ecosystem of VS Code to enhance the developer experience.
User Experience
- ACB’s lightweight nature ensures a smoother experience, especially on lower-spec machines.
- ACB supports a vast array of additional VS Code extensions, allowing developers to enhance their workflow and user experience.
- The command palette in VS Code serves as a central hub for executing tasks, such as publishing APIs to Exchange.
Enhanced capabilities
- Visual debugger. Provides step-through debugging with breakpoints directly in the UI. While also available in Anypoint Studio, its inclusion in ACB is a welcome improvement.
- Snippets. Predefined and custom snippets allow for a highly customised experience, enabling developers to share commonly used configurations and best practices with their teams.
- Support for AsyncAPI. The ability to design and implement AsyncAPIs has been introduced, catering to the increasing demand for event-driven architectures.
Future-proof
With frequent updates, ACB continues to evolve, gradually incorporating new features that improve its capabilities for developers at all levels.
The current limitations of ACB
Feature gaps
ACB currently lacks some functionalities available in Anypoint Studio, such as the Global Elements tab. However, new global elements can still be added visually through a connector’s operation in ACB, providing a workaround. Next, the UI for writing DataWeave scripts can introduce errors when importing the project into Studio, such as extra brackets that require manual fixes. And lastly, moving, encapsulating or extracting message processors is currently only possible through direct XML editing.
Stability challenges
Today, there are some issues such as failed scaffolding and problems importing assets from Exchange remain, affecting workflow continuity. Compatibility issues may arise too when migrating projects between ACB and Studio, particularly with DataWeave code.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Anypoint Code Builder | Anypoint Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Lightweight, fast, optimised for lower-spec machines | Resource-intensive but feature-rich |
| Ease of Use | Modern UI, VS Code-based | More complex UI, Eclipse-based |
| Debugging | Integrated visual debugger | Established debugging tools |
| Extensibility | Supports VS Code extensions | Limited extensibility |
| Global Elements | No dedicated tab, but can be added via connectors | Fully supported |
| Best for | Smaller, lightweight projects | Complex, large-scale projects |
The verdict: Anypoint Code Builder vs. Anypoint Studio
So, is Anypoint Code Builder ready to replace Anypoint Studio? Not yet. While ACB introduces significant improvements in performance, user experience and extensibility, it still lacks some critical features and stability needed for complex projects. For simpler integrations and developers familiar with VS Code, ACB is already a strong alternative.
Looking ahead, ACB is evolving rapidly. With each update, it becomes more robust, making the potential for it to replace Studio entirely more realistic. If you haven’t explored it yet, now is a great time to try ACB and see how it fits into your development workflow. MuleSoft developers should keep an eye on future releases as ACB continues to close the gap with Anypoint Studio.
Need help? Reach out!
