JetBrains Junie Local is a new free coding agent that runs entirely on your Mac without consuming any tokens, though it demands high-end hardware to operate. The tool is a 27B parameter model positioned to compare with Sonnet 4.5 and GPT-5, and it requires a Mac equipped with substantial memory.
Junie was originally developed by JetBrains as a coding agent that runs on a Mac and calls out to models chosen by the user. That approach always required some configuration, along with sending data to a separate AI product. To address this, JetBrains has now built Junie Local, keeping the workload on the user’s own machine.
What Junie Local Requires
Junie Local installs with a single command and takes up roughly 20GB of space. The model requires at least an M5 Mac with 64GB of RAM to run. That specification places it firmly in professional territory, ruling out entry-level configurations.
Because the model runs locally, it does not cost any tokens, which sets it apart from cloud-based coding assistants that bill according to usage. The trade-off is the need for a powerful Mac capable of handling a 27B parameter model on device.
The Hardware Needed to Run It
Apple recently announced the Mac mini with the M5 Pro processor, which meets the requirements for Junie Local. A configuration with 64GB of RAM and the M5 Pro chip is priced at around £2,010.
The combination of a free model and paid hardware reframes the cost structure for developers. Rather than paying per token for cloud access, the expense shifts to a one-off hardware investment. For those already planning to purchase a suitably specified Mac mini, Junie Local offers a coding agent that runs without ongoing token charges.
Junie Local is a 27B parameter coding agent that installs with a single command, occupies about 20GB of space, and needs an M5 Mac with 64GB of RAM.
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Image: appleinsider.com
