5 IntelliJ Plugins That Every Java Developer Should Have

IntelliJ IDEA is one of the most popular integrated development environments (IDEs) used by Java developers worldwide. With its robust features and powerful tools, it can significantly enhance a developer’s productivity and efficiency. However, with the numerous plugins available for IntelliJ IDEA, it can be challenging to determine which ones are the most useful. In this article, we will discuss the top five IntelliJ plugins that every Java developer should have.

1. Lombok Plugin Lombok is a Java library that provides a set of annotations to reduce boilerplate code. With the Lombok plugin for IntelliJ IDEA, developers can easily integrate Lombok into their projects, which can significantly reduce code clutter and improve code readability. The plugin also provides support for Lombok’s @Builder annotation, which simplifies the creation of builder classes. Using the Lombok plugin can improve a developer’s productivity by reducing the amount of boilerplate code that needs to be written.
2. CodeGlance CodeGlance is a plugin for IntelliJ IDEA that provides a small code preview window on the right-hand side of the editor. This window shows an overview of the current file and allows developers to navigate the code quickly. It can also display code annotations and highlight code changes made during a Git commit. Using CodeGlance can improve a developer’s productivity by providing a quick and easy way to navigate code.
3. Git Integration Git is a popular version control system used by many software development teams. The Git Integration plugin for IntelliJ IDEA provides seamless integration with Git, allowing developers to commit, push, and pull changes without leaving the IDE. The plugin also provides support for Git branches, allowing developers to switch between branches and merge changes easily. Using the Git Integration plugin can improve a developer’s productivity by reducing the time spent switching between the IDE and command-line interface.
4. FindBugs FindBugs is a static analysis tool that helps developers identify potential bugs and performance issues in their code. The FindBugs plugin for IntelliJ IDEA provides seamless integration with the FindBugs tool, allowing developers to analyze their code within the IDE. The plugin highlights potential issues in the code and provides suggestions for improving code quality. Using the FindBugs plugin can improve a developer’s productivity by helping them identify and fix potential issues early in the development process.
5. SonarLint SonarLint is a code analysis tool that helps developers identify potential bugs, security vulnerabilities, and code smells in their code. The SonarLint plugin for IntelliJ IDEA provides seamless integration with SonarLint, allowing developers to analyze their code within the IDE. The plugin highlights potential issues in the code and provides suggestions for improving code quality. Using the SonarLint plugin can improve a developer’s productivity by helping them identify and fix potential issues early in the development process.

In conclusion, the top five IntelliJ plugins that every Java developer should have are the Lombok plugin, CodeGlance, Git Integration, FindBugs, and SonarLint. Using these plugins can significantly enhance a developer’s productivity and efficiency by reducing code clutter, providing a quick and easy way to navigate code, improving code quality, and seamlessly integrating with version control systems. By incorporating these plugins into their workflow, Java developers can improve their development process and create high-quality code that meets industry standards.