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Installing IntelliJ IDEA

New Java Syntax
Level 5 , Lesson 3
Available

1. The history of the IDE, popular IDEs for Java

The history of the IDE begins from the moment when programmers came up with the idea of combining 4 of the most commonly used software development tools:

  1. Text editor
  2. Compiler (or interpreter, depending on the language)
  3. Build automation tools
  4. Debugger

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. Today it is hard to imagine IDEs without features such as:

  1. Class browser: a tool for easily navigating through thousands of classes in a project
  2. Integration with version control systems
  3. Tools for designing a graphical user interface without writing code
  4. Powerful tools for refactoring (changing code without adding any new features)
  5. Code style analysis and enforcement
  6. Super powerful debuggers that let you debug programs even remotely
  7. Code analyzers and all kinds of helpful autocompletions/prompts/hints

There are many different IDEs for Java developers today. Three of them stand out because they are most popular:

  • IntelliJ IDEA
  • Eclipse
  • NetBeans

Many programmers are still caught up in the long-term war between Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA, but by now it is obvious to everyone that IDEA has won. And you will understand why as soon as you use it for even a few days.

2. Flavors of IntelliJ IDEA

JetBrains releases IntelliJ IDEA updates four times a year. An IDEA version number consists of a year number and number that corresponds to the specific release in the year. For example, version 2018.2 is the second release of 2018, and 2019.3 is the third release of 2019. It is difficult to get confused.

Each release has two versions of IntelliJ IDEA: free and paid.

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
The free version is called IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition. It has everything you need for learning on CodeGym. So feel free to download it, install it, take off. You can download it here.

IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate Edition
The paid version is called IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate Edition. It has strong support for plenty of professional frameworks such as Spring, Hibernate, GWT, etc. At best, you will need these things at the very end of your CodeGym studies.

IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate Edition has a 30-day free trial, but then you will have to shell out a tidy sum for it.

If you want to use the paid version for free, there is a completely legitimate way to do this. It is called the Early Access Program (EAP).

IntelliJ IDEA EAP
With the release of each version of IDEA, there is a risk that some innovations won't work correctly or might even break some things that previously worked. That's why JetBrains lets developers download a non-released version of IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate Edition and test it on real projects.

On the one hand, there is a risk that this version will be rough around the edges. On the other hand, you get access to the latest IDEA features even before they are officially released. And for free. Isn't that cool?

3. Installing IDEA

Installing IDEA

Choose whichever version of IntelliJ IDEA you want on the https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/" target="_blank">official IntelliJ IDEA webpage. I hope you've already decided which one you prefer. If you're having trouble deciding, I recommend the Community Edition: it's simple and user-friendly.

There are versions of IDEA for Windows, MacOSX, and Linux. This is no surprise, since developers are very fond of these last two operating systems. As you gain experience, you'll also be amazed at how easy it is to manage various programs and services from the console/terminal.

If you still have questions, perhaps the official instructions for installing IntelliJ IDEA may be helpful.

4. Video instructions on the installation process

Next, simply run the downloaded installer to install IDEA. We made a special video to make this process as easy as possible for you.

Having trouble installing? Write to support at support@codegym.cc or use the widget in the lower right corner of the page of our site. Including a description of the problem, screenshots, and OS version will be super helpful.

5. Creating your first project

To write your first program in IDEA, you need to do 3 things:

  • Create a new project
  • Create a Solution class where you will write your code
  • Run the program.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a project


Video on how to create a project in IDEA


6. Plugins for IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA has a variety of plugins that make various aspects of a programmer's job easier. But we are mainly interested in the ones that will help us learn.

There is just a great IntelliJ IDEA plugin called Key Promoter X. It tells you how various complex actions you perform in IDEA can be performed with a single hotkey combination. Add it — you won't regret it.

First, go to the plugins section. To do this, press Ctrl+Alt+S. Then type "Key Promoter X" in the search bar and install the plugin:

Congratulations, you are now one step closer to being a developer!

Comments (8)
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DaveR001 Level 1, Rolling Meadows, United States
10 April 2024
I take back the Key Promoter comment. When I was trying to find it a couple of days ago it did not appear in the list. It is there today in the marketplace list.
DaveR001 Level 1, Rolling Meadows, United States
10 April 2024
This lesson is significantly out of date. The above videos and screenshots DO NOT match the IntelliJ IDEA that you download. There are a lot of differences. In addition, the Key Promoter plugins apparently no longer exist. This section badly needs an upgrade.
Harshit Garg Level 23, Chandigarh, India Expert
5 August 2023
is the first set of images empty, like only one image?
Abe Level 13, los angeles, United States
12 November 2022
the tutorial on how to create a new project shows slides that do not look like what I got. I just downloaded and installed intelliJ
24 November 2022
I think its because they have the older version
Andy Level 7, United States of America, United States
30 January 2022
For Mac Users press: Command plus , OR else go to Preferences and select Plug-in from the left side panel. Thanks.
Ricky Level 21, Norway
6 November 2021
I do not have the option to use anything except eclipse due to my university's curriculum. A large part of level 5 isn't relevant to me, yet I still have to pass these tasks to continue. I at least take solace in the fact that a lot of this is likely somewhat useful knowledge for eclipse users as well.
Anonymous #10894155 Level 9, United States of America, United States
4 January 2022
Yeah me too Ricky