Boost Your Java Productivity: Essential IntelliJ IDEA Tips and Tricks
This guide walks Java developers through high‑efficiency IntelliJ IDEA configurations, indispensable keyboard shortcuts, code‑template tricks, powerful debugging features, and a curated set of plugins, helping newcomers and seasoned programmers alike to work faster and smarter with the IDE.
High‑Efficiency Configuration
The article begins with a set of configuration tweaks for IntelliJ IDEA 2018.2.2 (Ultimate) that improve usability:
Enable case‑insensitive code completion (Settings → Editor → General → Code Completion).
Turn on auto‑import and related optimizations (Settings → Editor → General → Auto Import).
Adjust font size quickly with Ctrl + Mouse Wheel (Settings → Editor → General → Change font size (Zoom) with Ctrl+Mouse wheel).
Show tabs on multiple rows (Window → Editor Tabs → Tabs Placement, uncheck Show Tabs In Single Row).
Display line numbers in the editor (Settings → Editor → General → Appearance, check Show Line Numbers).
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
Key shortcuts are grouped into five categories, each illustrated with screenshots:
Find
Navigation and switching
Coding assistance
Code reading
Version control
Boosting Coding Efficiency
Two powerful template systems are highlighted:
File and Code Templates (Settings → Editor → File and Code Template) let you define the skeleton of new files and file headers.
Live Templates (Settings → Editor → Live Templates) provide shortcuts like sout and psvm to expand into common code snippets.
Custom live templates can be created and organized into personal libraries. Additional efficiency tricks include Ctrl+Alt+T (Surround With) and the built‑in Local History feature for safe, versioned editing.
Debugging and Source Reading
IntelliJ offers two special view modes:
Presentation Mode for code‑review displays.
Distraction‑Free Mode for focused development.
Advanced debugging capabilities include:
Conditional breakpoints.
Force return to inject a return value.
Simulate exceptions at breakpoints.
Evaluate Expression to modify variable values on the fly.
Recommended Plugins
Plugins can be installed via File → Settings → Plugins. The author recommends the following extensions for Java development:
Alibaba Java Coding Guidelines – enforces Alibaba’s Java style.
FindBugs and PMD – static code analysis.
InnerBuilder – quick generation of builder pattern code.
Lombok – reduces boilerplate.
Maven Helper – visualizes Maven dependency trees and conflicts.
Rainbow Brackets – color‑codes matching brackets.
String Manipulation – advanced string editing shortcuts.
Translation – in‑IDE translation of documentation.
GenerateAllSetter – batch generation of setter methods.
Key Promoter X – shows keyboard shortcuts for mouse actions.
GenerateSerialVersionUID – creates serialVersionUID fields.
GsonFormat – converts JSON to Java POJOs.
RestfulToolkit – quick navigation to REST endpoints, result view, and simple HTTP requests.
Material Theme UI – UI theme.
MyBatis Log Plugin – restores full SQL statements from MyBatis logs.
Free MyBatis – additional MyBatis utilities.
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Senior Brother's Insights
A public account focused on workplace, career growth, team management, and self-improvement. The author is the writer of books including 'SpringBoot Technology Insider' and 'Drools 8 Rule Engine: Core Technology and Practice'.
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