Author: Helen Scott

New to Java? Some Resources

I was asked if I had a list of resources for developers who are new to Java. I didn’t at the time, but I’ve spent some time researching and here is that list.

I’ve listed content that is both free and paid. It’s not that one type is superior; it’s just to give you plenty of choices. These are the resources that I’ve used and do still use to re-learn Java. So, if you’re new to Java or looking to pick it up again after a break, this article is for you.

The other super important point is that everyone learns differently; some like reading, some like doing, some like watching, most of us like a bit of a mix of everything. I tend to switch between them depending on what I want to learn about and how I feel. You’re probably similar, so pick an approach that works for you.

IntelliJ IDEA Changelists and Git Staging

Since the release of IntelliJ IDEA 2020.3, there are now two ways to manage your commits to Git.

The first one is with IntelliJ IDEA Changelists and the second is with Git staging.

This blog will take you through both approaches and highlight the differences.

Working with Multiple Carets in IntelliJ IDEA

Sometimes you need to modify multiple lines of code on separate lines inside IntelliJ IDEA with the same change.

The fastest way to achieve that is with multiple carets that are either stacked vertically in a list, placed at the end of each line or positioned exactly where you want them in your code.

Generating Code with IntelliJ IDEA

One of the super cool things about IntelliJ IDEA is how much code you can generate with minimum effort.

There’s a Generate menu in IntelliJ IDEA that you can access with ⌘N on macOS and Alt+Insert on Windows and Linux.

Here’s a quick tour of some of the places where you can use it in Java projects in IntelliJ IDEA.

3 Ways to Refactor Your Code in IntelliJ IDEA

In this blog, we’re going to look at 3 ways to refactor your code in IntelliJ IDEA.

Simplifying your code has lots of advantages, including improving readability, tackling technical debt, and managing ever-changing requirements. The three types of refactoring we will look at in this blog are:

– Extracting and Inlining
– Change Signature
– Renaming

IntelliJ IDEA Made Me Lazy

I haven’t always been lazy; it’s a fairly recent addition to my repertoire of skills. And do you know who I blame? I blame IntelliJ IDEA. I used to check that I’d completed a statement correctly, I used to look at javadoc, I used to check I’d closed my parentheses correctly, but now I don’t give things a second glance.

Being lazy isn’t a bad thing, it’s an efficiency gain that allows me to focus on the things that matter, which isn’t checking my parentheses are correct or remembering to put a semi-colon after my statement. No, it’s taking time for myself and those around me. Sure, it’s IntelliJ IDEA’s fault, but I am happy that we’re here!

OpenJDK, JDKs and Every Java Acronym in Between

The Java SE landscape is strewn with acronyms that it has picked up over the last 25 years. Sometimes those acronyms even mean multiple things.

This post attempts to explain them all in terms of two main groupings: OpenJDK and Java Development Kits

Live Templates in IntelliJ IDEA

When I first came across the notion of Live Templates, I couldn’t figure out what was ‘live’ about them. Did they need feeding or something?

It seems to be an industry-standard term, so I’m no longer devoting much energy to this quandary, but if you were wondering the same, you’re not alone.

New to IntelliJ IDEA? Me Too!

Until recently, I last wrote Java in anger in 2002. IntelliJ IDEA had just been released; it wasn’t remotely on my radar. I honestly can’t remember what IDE we were using back then, but it certainly was a very long way to the fully featured IDE that JetBrains produce today.

Here’s my personal experience of using IntelliJ IDEA for the first time.