1. User interface for higher productivity
By default IntelliJ IDEA shows you the navigation toolbar, tool window bars and the project view. This is the minimum set of what you can use to navigate over the project files and developer tools. All the rest is available through the main menu.
By default IntelliJ IDEA shows you the navigation toolbar, tool window bars and the project view. This is the minimum set of what you can use to navigate over the project files and developer tools. All the rest is available through the main menu.
When you hide everything you don’t need the IDE looks just as a text editor, very powerful text editor. You can always maximize the editor by pressing Shift + Ctrl + F12 (Shift + Cmd + F12 for Mac).
2. No switching between perspectives
IntelliJ IDEA has no perspectives like other IDE’s does (like Eclipse). It means that you don’t need to switch between different workspace layouts manually to do different tasks. The IDE follows your context and brings corresponding tools automatically. Since there are no perspectives the shortcuts and actions are the same all the time
3. Speed search
Most of the component in IntelliJ IDEA provide the speed search. This feature allows you to filter the list or navigate to particular item by a search query. If your focus in the project view tool window and you would like to navigate to some item without mouse just start typing it’s name a the IDE will do what you want.
4. Multiple windows
If you want to work with some files in a separate window just drag the editor tab out of the window and the IDE will detach this tab into a window. You can easily drag your tabs from one window to another.
5. Darcula color scheme
Since IntelliJ IDEA 12 the IDE provides a native darker look and feel called Darcula. You can always change your look and feel in Settings → Appearance → Theme.
6. Find action by name
If you don’t know how to call a particular action you can find it by name via Shift + Ctrl + A (Shift + Cmd + A for Mac).
