In this guide, we'll explore what IntelliJ Community offers, why it's a popular tool among developers, how to install it, and tips to maximize your productivity with it.
What Is IntelliJ Community?
IntelliJ Community is the free edition of IntelliJ IDEA. It's an open-source IDE geared toward JVM-based development, including Java, Kotlin, Groovy, and Scala. JetBrains has made IntelliJ Community fully accessible for personal and commercial use, which makes it an excellent choice for developers who want a powerful IDE without the price tag.
While it doesn't include some of the web and enterprise features of IntelliJ Ultimate—such as support for Spring, Java EE, and advanced database tools—it covers most of the essentials needed for general Java and Kotlin development.
Key Features of IntelliJ Community
One of the most loved features of IntelliJ Community is its smart code editor. It offers intelligent code completion, instant error detection, code suggestions, and advanced refactoring tools. The built-in compiler and debugger are fast and efficient, which helps speed up the entire development process.
Another big advantage is its seamless integration with version control systems like Git, GitHub, and Mercurial. You can perform all your version control tasks directly from the IDE, which means less context switching and more productivity.
IntelliJ Community also supports Kotlin development out of the box. Since JetBrains is the creator of Kotlin, it ensures the best Kotlin experience possible, making IntelliJ Community the go-to IDE for Kotlin developers.
Furthermore, the IDE is extensible via plugins. Even though it’s free, you can access thousands of plugins for tools like Docker, Markdown editing, code quality checks, and more. These plugins allow you to customize your development environment exactly to your liking.
Installing IntelliJ Community
Getting started with IntelliJ Community is straightforward. You can download it directly from JetBrains' official website. Once downloaded, installation is quick and intuitive, whether you're using Windows, macOS, or Linux.
After installing, you can configure the theme (light or dark), set up key bindings, and install any recommended plugins. From the welcome screen, you’ll be able to start a new project or import an existing one. The IDE supports Gradle and Maven build tools, so setting up a Java or Kotlin project is smooth and efficient.
How to Make the Most of IntelliJ Community
To get the best out of IntelliJ Community, consider learning some key productivity shortcuts. For example, Ctrl+Shift+A allows you to find any action or command. You can also press Shift twice to quickly search through files, classes, and symbols.
Make use of live templates to speed up repetitive code writing. You can configure your own templates or use the built-in ones like psvm for public static void main. Additionally, IntelliJ provides real-time code inspections. These inspections help you identify errors, warnings, and suggestions as you type, reducing the chances of bugs going unnoticed.
It’s also a good idea to enable auto-save and configure code style preferences to ensure consistent formatting. You’ll find these settings under Preferences or Settings depending on your OS.
If you’re new to Java or Kotlin development, IntelliJ Community also includes helpful documentation popups and tooltips that explain classes and methods as you hover over them. This feature can accelerate your learning curve significantly.
When to Consider IntelliJ Ultimate
While IntelliJ Community is great for core JVM development, you might eventually need more advanced features, especially for full-stack development. If you're working with Spring Boot, Java EE, or need advanced web technologies like JavaScript, React, or Angular, the Ultimate edition may be worth exploring.
Similarly, if your work involves complex database management, integrated profiling, or microservices architecture, IntelliJ Ultimate provides extra support that goes beyond the basics.
Conclusion
The IntelliJ Community edition is a fantastic tool for anyone involved in Java or Kotlin development. It’s free, powerful, easy to use, and packed with productivity features that rival paid IDEs. Whether you're writing console applications, building libraries, or preparing for coding interviews, IntelliJ Community helps you focus on writing great code without the distractions.
With its excellent performance, active plugin ecosystem, and strong support for modern JVM languages, it’s no surprise that IntelliJ Community remains a top choice for developers across the globe. If you haven’t tried it yet, download IntelliJ Community today and elevate your coding experience.
Read more on https://keploy.io/blog/community/how-to-download-and-install-intellij-idea-community-edition