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

IntelliJ IDEA is a widely used Java IDE, and its extensive plugin ecosystem can greatly enhance development efficiency. This guide first explains the two ways to install plugins: online installation via File → Settings → Plugins and offline installation by downloading plugin packages from the JetBrains marketplace.

After installation, the article introduces a curated list of useful plugins:

Lombok

Lombok reduces boilerplate code in Java classes through annotations such as @Data. The required Maven dependency is shown below:

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

RestfulTool

A set of tools that assist in developing RESTful services, offering a services tree view, direct navigation to method definitions, an HTTP request utility, and support for Spring MVC/Boot and JAX‑RS.

Free MyBatis Plugin

Enhances MyBatis support in IDEA by generating mapper XML files, enabling quick navigation between Java methods and mapper XML, providing auto‑completion and syntax error hints, and integrating a MyBatis Generator GUI.

MyBatis Log Plugin

Restores full SQL statements from MyBatis logs, replacing placeholders with actual parameter values, and adds a context menu to restore SQL directly from the log view.

Grep Console

Filters and highlights console output by log level (TRACE, DEBUG, etc.) and allows custom color configuration for easier log analysis.

Maven Helper

Displays Maven dependencies in a list or tree view, helping to identify and resolve version conflicts.

GenerateAllSetter

Provides quick generation of setter calls, converters between objects with matching fields, default values for collections, and automatic assertThat calls for getters.

Rainbow Brackets

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

Json Helper

Offers JSON formatting, minifying, escaping/unescaping, JMESPath search, and inline JSON preview within the IDE.

CodeGlance

Shows a miniature overview of the current file in the editor, enabling fast navigation without scrolling.

SequenceDiagram

Automatically generates sequence diagrams from code call chains, helping to visualize business logic flow.

Alibaba Java Coding Guidelines & SonarLint

The Alibaba plugin enforces coding standards, while SonarLint detects bugs, security issues, and code smells in real time. Both can be used together to improve code quality and reduce risk.

Translation (TranslateandReplace)

Translates Chinese text to camel‑case English directly in the editor, useful for naming methods and variables.

Activate‑power‑mode‑x & Power mode II

These plugins add visual effects while typing, such as particle animations and customizable colors.

Background Image Plus & Nyan Progress Bar

Customize the IDE appearance by setting random background images or turning progress bars into animated Nyan cat indicators.

Overall, the article emphasizes that the IntelliJ IDEA plugin repository contains many valuable extensions, and selecting the right combination can significantly improve coding efficiency and code quality.