Setting up VS Code / IntelliJ IDEA for Java Development

Beginner12 min read•Updated: 2026-10-22

💻 Setting up VS Code & IntelliJ IDEA for Java

Introduction

While code can be written in any text editor, professional Java development thrives in dedicated Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) with smart autocomplete, refactoring, and debugging.

🛠️ Setting up Visual Studio Code for Java

1
Install the official Microsoft Extension Pack for Java (vscjava.vscode-java-pack).

Includes: Language Support for Java (Eclipse JDT), Debugger for Java, Test Runner, Maven/Gradle project manager.

1
Open any folder in VS Code, create a file named Main.java, and type main followed by Tab to trigger code snippets.
2
Click the Run or Debug button above main() to execute.

🏢 Setting up IntelliJ IDEA (The Industry Standard)

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition by JetBrains is the most popular Java IDE worldwide:

1
Download IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition from jetbrains.com.
2
Launch and select New Project -> Java -> Select detected OpenJDK 21.
3
Features:

Deep structural code inspections and automated quick-fixes (Alt + Enter).
Built-in Git version control integration and terminal.
Comprehensive test runner and live profiler.

💡 Pro Tip: Single-File Source-Code Execution (Java 11+)

Since Java 11, you can run a single .java file directly without calling javac first:

1java Main.java

The JVM compiles it in memory and runs it immediately!

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Structure of a Java Class & public static void main(String[] args)

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Related Lessons

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Setting up OpenJDK 21, Environment Variables (JAVA_HOME, PATH)	Structure of a Java Class & public static void main(String[] args)

Practice Quiz

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🛠️ Setting up Visual Studio Code for Java

Install the official Microsoft Extension Pack for Java (vscjava.vscode-java-pack).

Includes: Language Support for Java (Eclipse JDT), Debugger for Java, Test Runner, Maven/Gradle project manager.

Open any folder in VS Code, create a file named Main.java, and type main followed by Tab to trigger code snippets.

Click the Run or Debug button above main() to execute.

🏢 Setting up IntelliJ IDEA (The Industry Standard)

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition by JetBrains is the most popular Java IDE worldwide:

Download IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition from jetbrains.com.

Launch and select New Project -> Java -> Select detected OpenJDK 21.

Features:

Deep structural code inspections and automated quick-fixes (Alt + Enter).

Built-in Git version control integration and terminal.

Comprehensive test runner and live profiler.

Previous Lesson

Next Lesson

Setting up OpenJDK 21, Environment Variables (JAVA_HOME, PATH)

Structure of a Java Class & public static void main(String[] args)