Boost Your Java Coding Speed with IntelliJ IDEA Live Templates

When coding in IntelliJ IDEA, have you used these shortcuts?

Typing main triggers an auto‑completion that expands to the full main method structure:

Typing sout expands to the full System.out statement:

Now the questions arise:

What other shortcuts exist?

How can you define your own?

Initial Introduction to Live Templates

This feature comes from IntelliJ IDEA’s Live Templates configuration. Access it via Settings and search for Live Templates:

Select the Java tab to view predefined templates:

They are few; just note the ones you use frequently.

To define a new template, click the + button:

Choose Live Template and an editor appears:

Fill in the template content you need, save, and the shortcut is ready.

Try typing the defined shortcut, e.g., ddfor, to insert the template code:

Advanced Usage

If the basic usage isn’t enough, consider these tips:

Use Groups

When you need many templates, especially for team-wide standards, create groups to organize them.

Use Parameters

Templates can include dynamic information such as date or user. Use $$ with a variable name between two $ symbols. IntelliJ provides predefined variables and also supports custom ones.

For details on template variables, refer to the official documentation.

Import/Export

You can share templates by exporting them and importing others’ templates.

Locate the feature as shown:

Then select Live Templates in the export/import dialog:

That’s the overview of using IntelliJ IDEA Live Templates to speed up your Java coding.