Setup: Installing Intellij

Installing Intellij

NOTE: As Intellij is a Java development tool, you will need the Java Development Kit when using Intellij. If you have not yet installed the JDK, see this page.

Intellij is a powerful cross-platform IDE. To install:

1. Go to the Intellij downloads
2. Select your OS at the top and download the community version.
3. Install it.

Creating Project

You can create a Intellij project using the built-in Maven plugin. To create project:

1. Open up Intellij.
2. You should be presented with a screen that says "Import Project". If you are not (you have used Intellij before), go to "File"->"Import Project".
3. Select the path of the Maven "pom.xml" file.
4. Hit ok.

Configuring Maven

Intellij comes with built-in Maven support to import projects, but requires a Maven install for compiling. At this time, if you have not already, please install maven. To configure:

1. Add a environment variable M2_HOME with the value being the path to your Maven install. If you are unsure how to do this, you can configure the path directly within Intellij:

   1. Go to "File"->"Settings" and on the side you will see Maven listed. Click on Maven.
   2. You will see a field named "Maven home directory". Check the "Override" box.
   3. Enter in the path to your Maven install.

Using Maven

To build the project, you must go through the Maven plugin. To use Maven in Intellij:

1. "Maven Projects" should be listed on the right side of the screen. Click it.
2. A pop-out windows should appear with different commands. Expand "Lifecycle".
3. Select command (say "Compile") to run.
4. Click green arrow at top. This will run that command.

Running compile for the first time will download all the needed libraries.

For additional installation help, see Intellij's download page.