April 29, 2025 |

In a surprising and innovative move, the AI-powered Theia IDE has openly exposed its entire system prompt, setting itself apart in a landscape riddled with secrecy and confusion regarding AI coding tools. But heres the twist: this revelation was intentional from the very beginning.

While numerous proprietary AI coding tools have been scrambling to manage leaks of their internal promptssome of which have been inadvertently uncovered due to bugs or malicious prompt injectionsthe Theia IDE boldly embraces a different philosophy. It heralds a future where transparency, user control, and trust take precedence over obscurity.

The Great Prompt Leaks of 20232025

The internet is rife with discussions and claims that expose leaked system prompts from various AI coding platforms, including some of the most popular ones in the market. Though the authenticity of many of these leaks remains questionablesome prompts may be incomplete, outdated, or even fabricatedthey underscore a significant issue in the AI development community: prompt engineering is the heartbeat of AI-native Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), yet it is often shrouded in secrecy.

Heres a brief overview of some prominent cases that have caught community attention:

  • The system prompt for GitHub Copilot Chat was allegedly unveiled through prompt injection, bringing to light its internal behavioral guidelines.
  • Cursor, a Claude-based AI IDE, reportedly exposed its full system prompt during a 2025 update, although this has not been officially confirmed.
  • Replit Ghostwriter has faced scrutiny with numerous community-shared dumps that include claims of disclosing a complete agent structure and toolset. The validity of these leaks continues to be debated.
  • In a dramatic turn, a prompt linked to Codeiums Windsurf circulated online, showcasing a fictional alignment strategy designed to protect the AI, which Codeium later clarified was merely experimental and not deployed in production.
  • Similar allegations have surfaced concerning Vercels v0 and Devin AI, with enthusiasts reportedly reverse-engineering or extracting prompt logic and sharing it online.

These instances expose a common dilemma: many users and developers are left in the dark about what influences AI behavior and how they can modify it. Each leak prompts a recurring question: if prompts dictate AI behavior, why are they kept hidden from users?

Open by Design: The Theia IDE Difference

In stark contrast to this trend of secrecy, the AI-powered Theia IDE adopts a refreshing approach. All prompts utilized in Theia AI and Theia IDE are:

  • Stored as individual, easily readable files
  • Licensed under the MIT License, ensuring accessibility
  • Editable in real-time within the IDE, allowing even end users to modify them

Yes, you read that correctly: both users and developers can dive into the inner workings of the AI, fully inspect, and even tweak its behavior. Want a chat agent that explains legacy code in a pirate voice? Or perhaps you wish to create a specialized fixer for XML configurations? The possibilities are virtually limitless, and you are legally free to keep your creations private.

Empowering Users Through Prompt Engineering

In many proprietary tools, prompts are treated like a secret ingredient in a recipe, essential yet withheld from users. The Theia IDE, on the other hand, views prompts as a communal recipe, providing users with the kitchen to experiment to their heart's content.

This unique approach empowers:

  • Tool builders to customize agents according to their specific use cases
  • Enterprise teams to address compliance requirements easily
  • End users to adjust their development experience as needed and on-the-fly

This model eliminates vendor lock-ins and shrouded logic, promoting a clean and transparent AI environment that users can trust and personalize according to their needs.

Why MIT? The Rationale Behind the License Choice

The decision to adopt the MIT license was driven not only by its permissive nature but also by the goal of fostering clarity. By minimizing legal obstacles, Theia encourages innovation, allowing users to:

  • Tailor prompts for industry-specific applications
  • Create experimental workflows tailored to unique team dynamics
  • Engage in community-driven enhancements, with the freedom to contribute back or choose not to

While other platforms engage in a race of secrecy, Theia IDE paves the way for a future grounded in openness and collaboration.

TL;DR: Our Prompts Cant Be LeakedTheyre Already Yours

The next time you see a viral tweet about someone hacking a prompt from a commercial tool like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or Windsurf, just remember: at Eclipse Theia, you dont need to break in. We provide you with the keys to unlock the full potential of your AI tools.

The AI-powered Theia IDE presents itself as a truly open alternative in a sea of proprietary AI coding assistants, ensuring that users have complete control over their development environment.

To see this in action, watch our demo on building AI-native tools with complete control100% open. You can also try out the AI-powered Theia IDE for yourself or read more about its introduction.

At EclipseSource, we are committed to providing expert consulting and implementation services focused on AI-driven tools, helping you leverage the latest in Eclipse Theia and VS Code technology. Reach out to us to find the perfect AI solution for your development needs!