How to Install and Use Popular IntelliJ IDEA Plugins for Java Development

IntelliJ IDEA is a widely recognized Java IDE, and using the right plugins can greatly improve development efficiency. This guide first explains two ways to install plugins: online via File → Settings → Plugins and offline by downloading plugin packages from the JetBrains marketplace and installing them from disk.

After installation, the article lists a collection of useful plugins:

Lombok

Lombok reduces boilerplate code with annotations such as @Data . To use it, add the following Maven dependency:

<dependency>
  <groupId>org.projectlombok</groupId>
  <artifactId>lombok</artifactId>
  <version>1.18.12</version>
  <scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>

RestfulTool

Provides a services tree view, URL navigation, a simple HTTP request tool, and supports Spring MVC/Boot and JAX‑RS. It also offers a Navigate → Request → Service search feature.

Free MyBatis Plugin

Enhances MyBatis support by generating mapper XML files, enabling quick navigation between code and mapper files, offering auto‑completion, syntax error hints, and integrating a MyBatis Generator GUI.

MyBatis Log Plugin

A paid plugin (30‑day trial) that restores MyBatis log output to full SQL statements, replaces placeholders with actual parameter values, and allows bidirectional navigation between Java methods and mapper XML.

Grep Console

Filters and colors console logs, making it easy to locate TRACE, DEBUG, or other log levels during application startup or debugging.

Maven Helper

Visualizes Maven dependencies as lists or trees, helping identify and resolve version conflicts.

GenerateAllSetter

Generates setter calls for all fields, creates converters for objects with matching fields, provides default values for collections, and adds assertThat calls to getters.

Rainbow Brackets

Highlights matching brackets with rainbow colors, improving readability of deeply nested code.

Json Helper

Offers JSON beautification, minification, escaping, JMESPath search, and inline JSON formatting within code.

CodeGlance

Shows a miniature code overview (similar to Sublime's minimap) for quick navigation.

SequenceDiagram

Automatically generates sequence diagrams from code call chains, aiding in understanding business logic flow.

Alibaba Java Coding Guidelines & SonarLint

Alibaba's plugin enforces coding standards, while SonarLint detects bugs, security issues, and code smells across multiple IDEs and languages.

Translation

Translates Chinese identifiers to camel‑case English names directly within the IDE.

Activate‑power‑mode‑x & Power mode II

Provides dynamic visual effects while typing, with configurable particle colors and optional editor shaking.

Background Image Plus

Sets random background images from a specified folder in the editor.

Nyan Progress Bar

Replaces all IDEA progress bars with an animated Nyan Cat.

The article concludes by encouraging readers to explore additional plugins in the IDEA marketplace that suit their workflow.