Master IntelliJ IDEA: Essential Settings and Tips for Java Backend Developers

Preface: IntelliJ IDEA

If IntelliJ IDEA is a modern intelligent development tool, Eclipse feels like a relic of the stone age.

The author, a former Eclipse user, shares personal experience of how IDEA’s powerful plugins—especially Git and Maven integration, code completion, and JavaScript support—greatly improve development efficiency.

1. IDEA vs Eclipse Core Terminology

The biggest change is the concept of a workspace. In IDEA, Project and Module are separate concepts, which can be confusing for beginners.

1.1 Why eliminate the workspace? IDEA does not require a workspace because each Project already provides one. Each Module can use its own JDK and Maven configuration, offering flexibility that Eclipse lacks.

1.2 Why are sub‑projects called Modules? It reflects modularization: the root is a Project, and its sub‑projects are Modules, which may be related or independent.

2. Current Project Configuration vs Default Configuration

2.1 Why need a default configuration? Since IDEA lacks a workspace, each new Project must set its own JDK and Maven, which can be repetitive. The default configuration provides a “Default Settings” option to simplify this.

Since version 2018.2, “Default Settings” has been renamed to “Default Settings / Project Structure”.

2.2 Initialization steps

Open default configuration:

File → Other Settings → Default Settings / Project Structure

Open current configuration:

File → Settings / Project Structure

3. Global JDK (Default Configuration)

Navigate:

File → Other Settings → Default Project Structure → SDKs → JDK

and set the JDK directory.

SDK stands for Software Development Kit; IDEA supports JDK and other SDKs.

Each Project and its Modules can use the desired JDK version.

4. Global Maven (Default Configuration)

Navigate:

File → Other Settings → Default Settings → Build & Tools → Maven

Configure the Maven home directory; using a user‑level settings.xml is recommended.

Specify a local repository path to avoid data loss after system reinstall.

5. Version Control (Git/SVN) Default Configuration

Navigate:

File → Other Settings → Default Settings → Version Control → Git

IDEA includes built‑in Git/SVN support; set the executable path and test the connection.

If IDEA cannot find svn.exe , reinstall SVN and select the command‑line client.

6. Auto‑Import and Smart Removal (Default Configuration)

Navigate: File → Other Settings → Default Settings → Auto Import This improves code import handling and resolves common complaints about IDEA’s import behavior.

7. Tomcat Server (Current Project Configuration)

Configure Tomcat:

File → Settings → Deployment → Application Servers → Tomcat Server

8. Automatic Compilation

Enable auto‑make: File → Other Settings → Default Settings → Auto Import and then enable compiler.automake.allow.when.app.running in the Registry.

9. Disable Case‑Sensitive Completion

Settings → Editor → General → Code Completion Case → set Sensitive Completion to None .

10. Adjust Font Type and Size

Search “Font” in Settings to change the editor font family and size.

11. Match Eclipse Shortcut Keys

File → Settings → Keymap → select Eclipse preset.

12. Show Common Toolbar

View → check Toolbar & Tool Buttons .

13. Handy Shortcuts for Power Users

Middle‑click for intention actions (replace Alt+Enter).

F2 to rename files.

F3 to open the containing folder.

Ctrl+Middle‑click to navigate to implementation.

14. Tips for OCD Developers

Disable case‑sensitive completion.

Hide .idea and .iml files via File Types.

Enable code folding for documentation comments.

15. IDEA Q&A

(1) How to open an existing project? Use File → Open and select the project folder.

(2) How to delete a project? Close it via File → Close Project; delete the folder manually if needed.

(3) How to open multiple Maven projects in one window? Place them in a single folder and open that folder with IDEA.

(4) How to add modules to a project? Right‑click the project → New → Module (e.g., Spring Initializr).