How to Build a Self‑Enforcing Break Reminder Plugin for IntelliJ IDEA

Introduction

When I was a student I chose computer science, spent countless hours coding in C, C++, Java, and later became a developer who often forgets to move and hydrate. After a health check I decided to create an IntelliJ IDEA plugin called StopCoding that forces regular breaks.

Installation Guide

Installation

Search for "StopCoding" in the IntelliJ Marketplace and install it (the plugin has passed official review).

For internal network users, download the offline package from GitHub: https://github.com/jogeen/StopCoding/releases/tag/20210104-V1.0 and install locally.

Usage

Step1: Open Tools → StopCoding from the menu bar.

Step2: Configure the interval and other parameters, then save.

Step3: Code as usual; when the timer expires a non‑dismissable dialog with a countdown appears, forcing you to rest until the timer finishes.

Development Guide

The plugin is built with basic Java knowledge and consists of the following modules:

Technology Scope

Plugin project structure

Swing for the two dialogs

Timer as the core scheduling component

Project Structure

plugin.xml

– core configuration file. data package – contains SettingData (model for configuration) and DataCenter (static runtime data). service package – TimerService implements the timing logic. task package – RestTask for break periods and WorkTask for work periods. ui package – SettingDialog (settings UI) and TipsDialog (break reminder UI). StopCodingSettingAction – entry point action.

Swing Dialog Creation

IntelliJ provides visual designers for Swing, making UI creation straightforward. The dialog contains two buttons with pre‑wired listeners:

public class TestDialog extends JDialog {
    private JPanel contentPane;
    private JButton buttonOK;
    private JButton buttonCancel;

    public TestDialog() {
        setContentPane(contentPane);
        setModal(true);
        getRootPane().setDefaultButton(buttonOK);

        buttonOK.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                onOK();
            }
        });

        buttonCancel.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                onCancel();
            }
        });
        // other code
    }
}

Timer Usage

The plugin relies on the JDK Timer class to schedule work and break intervals. Typical API usage includes constructing a Timer, scheduling a TimerTask, and cancelling it when needed.

Conclusion

With this overview you should be able to explore the source code and build your own simple IntelliJ IDEA plugin. The StopCoding plugin aims to help programmers maintain a healthier work rhythm.