5 Best Tips & Tricks for IntelliJ IDE Every Programmer Should Know
Here are five of the best tips and tricks for making the most out of IntelliJ IDEA:
1. Keyboard Shortcuts
Learning and using keyboard shortcuts can significantly boost your productivity. Here are a few essential ones:
- Navigate to Class/File/Symbol:
Ctrl + N
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + O
(Mac) - Find Usages:
Alt + F7
(Windows/Linux) orOption + F7
(Mac) - Refactor This:
Ctrl + Shift + Alt + T
(Windows/Linux) orCtrl + T
(Mac) - Show Recent Files:
Ctrl + E
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + E
(Mac) - Quick Documentation:
Ctrl + Q
(Windows/Linux) orF1
(Mac)
2. Live Templates
Live Templates are snippets of code that you can quickly insert into your files. They help reduce repetitive typing:
- Configure Live Templates: Go to
File > Settings > Editor > Live Templates
(Windows/Linux) orIntelliJ IDEA > Preferences > Editor > Live Templates
(Mac). - Use Live Templates: Type the abbreviation and press
Tab
.
3. Version Control Integration
IntelliJ IDEA integrates smoothly with version control systems like Git:
- Commit Changes:
Ctrl + K
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + K
(Mac) - View History:
Ctrl + T
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + T
(Mac) - Git Tool Window:
Alt + 9
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + 9
(Mac)
4. Refactorings
IntelliJ IDEA offers powerful refactoring capabilities that help you modify your code safely and efficiently:
- Rename:
Shift + F6
- Change Method Signature:
Ctrl + F6
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + F6
(Mac) - Extract Method:
Ctrl + Alt + M
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + Option + M
(Mac)
5. Debugging Tools
Make use of IntelliJ IDEA’s robust debugging tools to identify and fix issues in your code:
- Run Debugger:
Shift + F9
- Set Breakpoints: Click in the left margin of the editor or press
Ctrl + F8
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + F8
(Mac). - Step Over:
F8
- Step Into:
F7
Bonus Tips
- Plugins: Explore and install plugins that can enhance your development experience. Go to
File > Settings > Plugins
(Windows/Linux) orIntelliJ IDEA > Preferences > Plugins
(Mac). - Split View: Use
Ctrl + Shift + A
(Windows/Linux) orCmd + Shift + A
(Mac) and type "split" to split the editor and view multiple files simultaneously.
By incorporating these tips and tricks into your workflow, you can enhance your efficiency and take full advantage of IntelliJ IDEA’s powerful features.