Tag: IDEConfiguration

Streamlining IntelliJ for Performance

Overview of IntelliJ IDE

IntelliJ IDEA is a feature-rich Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed for efficient software development. It offers an array of functionalities such as advanced code refactoring, efficient code navigation, comprehensive debugging tools, robust searching capabilities, and seamless source control integration.

Making IntelliJ Lightweight

Transforming IntelliJ into a more lightweight editor can enhance its speed, though individual experiences and needs may vary.

Reducing Interface Elements

Minimizing Visual Clutter

  • Toolbar and Status Bar: These UI elements can be hidden to simplify the view.
    • To hide them, deselect Toolbar and Status Bar from the View menu.

Breadcrumbs

  • Usage: Breadcrumbs show the file path within the UI and may introduce unnecessary complexity.
    • Disable breadcrumbs via the Settings (ctrl-alt-s) by searching for them and toggling the option off.

Line Numbers

  • Controversial Aspect: The presence of line numbers is a disputed choice, with some developers choosing to disable them.
    • This can be managed in the Settings by searching for 'line numbers'.

Code Folding

  • Subjective Value: Code folding can be turned off as it may or may not be useful depending on personal preference.
    • Within Settings, searching for 'code folding' allows users to uncheck options related to default collapsing.

Structure View Optimization

  • Utility: The structure view is essential for navigating files’ class and method layout.
    • To optimize workspace, the Structure tab can be repositioned, for example, to the right side of the IDE window.

Synchronizing Views

  • Coordinated Navigation: Keeping the project and structure views in sync with file navigation can aid in orientation.
    • Enable 'Autoscroll to Source' and 'Autoscroll from Source' in both the Project and Structure views.

Theme Customization

  • Darcula Theme: To reduce eye strain, the Darcula theme can be activated.
    • Change the theme through Settings under Appearance & Behavior > Appearance.

Plugin Management

  • Removing Unused Plugins: Inactive plugins might still consume resources unnecessarily.
    • Disable unneeded plugins in the Settings under the 'Plugins' category.

Choosing the Right Edition

  • Community vs Ultimate: The two editions of IntelliJ vary mainly in the plugins offered. If web development is not a priority, the Community Edition is a leaner choice with fewer pre-installed plugins.

Adjusting VM Options

  • Memory Allocation: The default heap size may be increased from the values: 
    -Xms128m
-Xmx750m
    • Adjusting these values might improve performance.

Conclusion

Tailoring IntelliJ IDEA into a more streamlined and potentially faster IDE involves tweaking its interface, managing code visibility features, synchronizing project views, customizing themes, curating plugins, selecting the appropriate edition, and fine-tuning memory settings. These adjustments can potentially improve the user's coding experience with a lighter and swifter environment.

Tags:

  • #IntelliJIDEA
  • #PerformanceOptimization
  • #IDEConfiguration
  • #DevelopmentTools

https://github.com/flutter/flutter/wiki/IntelliJ—Flutter-Setup-Tips-and-Tricks