IntelliJ IDEA is an built-in improvement atmosphere (IDE) from JetBrains. Whereas used primarily for Java improvement, IntelliJ IDEA additionally helps many different programming languages and has a full set of options that improve developer productiveness, corresponding to static code evaluation, code completion, and extra. By dealing with repetitive duties and saving time, it lets builders spend extra vitality on the artistic facet of software program improvement.

Does this imply that IntelliJ IDEA is the perfect developer software for you? We are going to assist reply that query by breaking down the IDE’s options, pricing, execs, and cons. And, should you discover it not the correct match, we may even reveal a number of the prime IntelliJ IDEA options so you could have loads of choices when purchasing round.

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Overview of IntelliJ IDEA

JetBrains first launched IntelliJ IDEA to the market in 2000 as a programmer software meant to spice up productiveness and resolve points confronted by Java builders. As an alternative of merely providing commonplace coding assist, IntelliJ IDEA’s creators aimed to take issues one step additional and provide superior capabilities for refactoring, code evaluation, and integrations with a number of the most widely-used frameworks.

Because of a user-friendly interface, progressive options like clever code completion, and dependable efficiency, IntelliJ IDEA was in a position to construct a stable repute with builders. As time handed, JetBrains expanded the developer software’s options to incorporate enhanced help for added programming languages like Scala, Groovy, Kotlin, and many others., plus plugin and net improvement, database integration, and extra. At present, IntelliJ IDEA is JetBrains’ prime providing and one of the common IDEs within the trade utilized by particular person builders of all talent ranges and software program improvement groups seeking to streamline their processes whereas rising productiveness.

Options of IntelliJ IDEA

What makes IntelliJ IDEA such a preferred developer software? Options like these:

• New Mission wizard
• Customizations
• Extensibility by means of plugins
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Sensible coding help
• On-the-fly code inspections
• Dwell templates
• Clever code completion
• Refactoring instruments built-in
• Diagrams
• Highly effective search
• Run, check, and debug
• Constructed-in developer instruments
• Third-party integrations
• Model management
• Net improvement help
• Collaboration options

IDE newbies can get new initiatives began shortly in IntelliJ IDEA with the New Mission wizard. Merely choose the language, construct system, and JDK model, and the remainder of the settings will likely be configured for you so you possibly can start working inside minutes. Builders looking for a custom-made expertise will get simply that when utilizing IntelliJ IDEA. You may customise the interface, select from over 100 customized themes to make these lengthy days of coding simpler in your eyes, set up simply the plugins that you must get your required stage of performance, and extra.

Keyboard shortcuts play a major position in saving time and offering comfort in IntelliJ IDEA. Double Shift triggers the Search In every single place operate to search out gadgets inside or outdoors of initiatives, and you can see many different shortcuts for important features like debugging, viewing current information, and many others.

Whereas IntelliJ IDEA was designed with Java and Kotlin improvement in thoughts, the developer software can decipher different programming languages, corresponding to Scala, Groovy, JavaScript, and many others. Not solely can it perceive these further languages, however the IDE can present sensible coding help to identify errors on the fly, provide code completion, refactoring, and extra. The on-the-fly coding inspections can increase confidence and guarantee your code meets the very best requirements, whereas additionally rising your coding pace. Talking of coding pace, IntelliJ IDEA’s dwell templates, which may also be custom-made, will provide help to obtain that accelerated objective by typing in predefined abbreviations.

The clever code completion begins as quickly as you kind code into the editor with out the necessity for any further configurations or shortcuts. Automated refactoring effectively simplifies your code to attenuate upkeep and make it extra readable. The IDE additionally provides builders with diagrams for analyzing, visualizing, and navigating code with ease.

One space the place IntelliJ IDEA is especially sturdy is with navigation and search. The IDE has a number of options for locating what you’re on the lookout for quick, starting with the aforementioned Search In every single place software. Hit the Shift key twice and sort the identify of what you’re on the lookout for, and Search In every single place will scour your codebase to search out it shortly. The same function is Discover in Recordsdata, which may pinpoint textual content strings in initiatives. IntelliJ IDEA additionally provides you the Fast Definition popup to see the place and the way symbols are outlined in initiatives, plus SSR (Structural search and change) and Discover Usages.

The IntelliJ IDEA options don’t cease there, because it additionally has sturdy instruments for setting run and construct parameters, debugging code, and making use of/growing Junit checks. It comes with a number of built-in instruments (terminal, database instruments, profiler, HTTP shopper, decompiler), plus integrates with common construct instruments like Maven, Ant, and Gradle and container orchestration programs like Docker and Kubernetes. IntelliJ IDEA additionally helps net improvement, widely-used model management programs like Mercurial, Git, and many others., and JVM frameworks like Spring, Spring Boot, JPA, and extra. Final however not least, IntelliJ IDEA has a number of collaborative options to assist distant builders keep on the identical web page, no matter location, corresponding to Code With Me, JetBrains House, and extra.

IntelliJ IDEA Pricing

IntelliJ IDEA has numerous pricing plans for organizations and particular person use. The programmer software additionally has a 90-day free trial. Organizations and companies should buy a Business license, which provides entry to a single individual throughout the group. Non-public people should buy a Private license for their very own use. The pricing plans are as follows for yearly billing, which may prevent two months by paying upfront:

IntelliJ IDEA for organizations:

• IntelliJ IDEA Final: $599 per person for the primary yr. $479 for the second yr. $359 per yr onwards.
• All Merchandise Pack: $779 per person for the primary yr. $623 for the second yr. $467 for the third yr onwards.

The All Merchandise Pack is JetBrains’ finest provide, because it unlocks 16 programmer instruments that embody:

• 10 IDEs
• 3 extensions
• 2 code profilers
• 1 collaborative service

Not solely do you get IntelliJ IDEA with the All Merchandise Pack, however you additionally get CLion, Code With Me, DataGrip, PhpStorm, ReSharper, Rider, WebStorm, and extra.

IntelliJ IDEA for people:

• IntelliJ IDEA Final: $169 for the primary yr. $135 for the second yr. $101 for the third yr onwards.
• All Merchandise Pack: $289 for the primary yr. $231 for the second yr. $173 for the third yr onwards.

Past these pricing plans and the 90-day free trial, JetBrains additionally has particular IntelliJ IDEA provides for choose varieties of purchasers. College students, lecturers, coding bootcamps, and open-source initiatives can benefit from the IDE for gratis. Startups, universities, and academic organizations can take pleasure in it at a 50 p.c low cost.

IntelliJ IDEA Execs

IntelliJ IDEA has the next execs for builders:

• Clever code help
• Constructed-in coding instruments
• Loads of integrations
• Refactoring options

IntelliJ IDEA has a number of execs, starting with its clever code help that provides code completion and different capabilities to extend builders’ coding effectivity and pace. The built-in instruments (terminal, profiler, and many others.) provide loads of performance out of the field, which will be prolonged much more by means of IntelliJ IDEA’s a number of integrations. Refactoring is one other professional, because it lets builders modify code construction with ease and with out fear of affecting current code.

IntelliJ IDEA Cons

IntelliJ IDEA does have a number of cons for programmers:

• Studying curve
• Cluttered interface
• Costly

IntelliJ IDEA’s big selection of instruments is a plus, however it may also be a drawback since it may well take some time to study the place every little thing is and the way it works. Some have complained that the person interface can appear cluttered or overwhelming too. And if you wish to unlock the entire developer software’s options, you’ll need to get a higher-price premium plan, which can not match all budgets.

Options to IntelliJ IDEA

If IntelliJ IDEA is simply too pricey, complicated, or cluttered, you might wish to strive considered one of these improvement atmosphere or code modifying options:

Visible Studio Code (VS Code)

VS Code is a stable code modifying choice in case you are looking for one thing sturdy but light-weight and, most significantly, free. It options together with:

• Help for hottest languages
• Syntax highlighting
• Constructed-in debugging
• Code refactoring instruments
• Loads of assets and integrations

Be taught extra about VS Code.

Eclipse IDE

A versatile, extensible, and customizable IntelliJ IDEA different is Eclipse. It helps Java improvement, is open-source, and free. Its options embody:

• Developer collaboration instruments
• Information modeling
• Deployment options
• Code debugging
• Non-public code repository

Be taught extra about Eclipse IDE.

NetBeans IDE

NetBeans is one other open-source and free IntelliJ IDEA different that helps Java improvement and comes loaded with loads of options for code completion, debugging, and extra. Different options embody:

• Help for cell improvement
• Code refactoring toolset
• Debugging choices
• Growth cycle instruments
• Help for net improvement

Be taught extra about NetBeans IDE.

Last Ideas on IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a developer software that packs a powerful function set, integrations, and extra, however at a value. In the event you can afford it, IntelliJ IDEA can take your productiveness as a developer to a different stage. However should you want one thing simpler on the pockets, strive one of many free IntelliJ IDEA options listed above.

Learn: High Ten Java IDEs and Code Editors