What is IntelliJ IDEA?

IntelliJ IDEA is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) primarily designed for Java development, but it supports various other programming languages like Kotlin, Groovy, and more. It is a powerful software tool that helps developers write, test, and debug their code more efficiently.

Key features of IntelliJ IDEA:

• Code Editor: Provides a smart code editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and suggestions, making it easier to write code with fewer errors;
• Refactoring: Allows you to restructure your code easily and safely by providing automated code refactoring options like renaming variables, extracting methods, and more;
• Code Analysis: Performs static code analysis to detect potential issues and suggests improvements for code quality;
• Debugger: Helps identify and fix bugs in your code by allowing you to step through the code and inspect variables during program execution;
• Build Tools: Integrates with build tools like Gradle and Maven to manage dependencies and build projects;
• UI Designer: Includes visual editors for creating graphical user interfaces (GUI) using tools like JavaFX or Android layouts.

How to install?

• Click on the download button

• Scroll down and choose a Community Edition (because it is free) and press the download button:

• Wait until file is loaded, and then open it:

• The program will suggest adding IDE to your applications. Drag the file into the applications folder:

• You have successfully installed the IntelliJ IDEA on your device. Now you can find it inside your application folder.

Your first code in IDE

Now let's open the IntelliJ IDEA and see what is inside:

Click on the "New project" button

Click the "Create" button previously adding the sample code.

The code is already written for you in your own IDE! Now, click the run code button.

Now you can see the output in the console.

In the next chapter, we will explore the capabilities of the IDE in more detail and write something more complex than Hello, World!.

Note

You have the freedom to click on all the tools yourself. You have basic Java knowledge, and you can confidently write code in IntelliJ IDEA independently. The best programmers are those who experiment. Click on all the buttons, search online, and try using different features. You are like Robinson Crusoe in the world of programming, and it's important for you to learn and explore!