How to install Intellij Idea 2021 Community on a Chromebook

Introduction to Installing IntelliJ IDEA Community on a Chromebook

If you’re a programmer or an aspiring developer, you have likely come across IntelliJ IDEA, one of the most robust Integrated Development Environments (IDE) available today. Developed by JetBrains, IntelliJ IDEA offers extensive support for various programming languages and tools, making it a favorite among developers worldwide. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing IntelliJ IDEA Community on a Chromebook, enabling you to harness its power for your software development needs.

Understanding Chromebooks and Their Limitations

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops that primarily utilize Google’s Chrome OS, designed for efficiency, portability, and cloud-based applications. While they are excellent for web browsing and office applications, their ability to run traditional desktop software is limited. This poses a challenge for developers who wish to use robust IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA. However, with the introduction of Linux (Crostini) support in Chrome OS, you can install Linux applications on your Chromebook, including IntelliJ IDEA.

Why IntelliJ IDEA?

IntelliJ IDEA Community is equipped with a plethora of features, such as code refactoring, syntax highlighting, version control integration, and debugging tools. These capabilities make it especially suitable for Java development, but it also supports a variety of other languages through plugins. The Community edition is free and open-source, making it an accessible option for students and developers alike.

Preparing Your Chromebook for Installation

Before diving into the installation process, you need to prepare your Chromebook:

Step 1: Enable Linux (Beta) on Your Chromebook

1. Access Settings: Click on the time in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook’s screen and select the gear icon to open Settings.

2. Go to Advanced: Scroll down and click on the ‘Advanced’ section to expand more options.

3. Linux (Beta): Select the ‘Developers’ option, and you should find ‘Linux development environment (Beta).’ Click on it.

4. Set Up Linux: Choose ‘Turn On’ to start the setup process, and follow the on-screen instructions. You can specify the disk size for your Linux container based on your needs.

5. Terminal Launch: Once the setup is complete, the Linux terminal will open automatically.

Installing IntelliJ IDEA on Your Chromebook

With your Linux environment ready, you can install IntelliJ IDEA by following the steps below:

Step 2: Update Your Linux Environment

Keeping your Linux packages updated is crucial for performance and security. In your Linux terminal, type the following commands:

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This will ensure that all of your software packages are current.

Step 3: Install Java Development Kit (JDK)

IntelliJ IDEA requires a JDK to run Java applications. You can install OpenJDK using the terminal:

bash
sudo apt install default-jdk

This command will install the default version of JDK. To verify the installation, you can check the JDK version by running:

bash
java -version

Step 4: Download IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition

Next, you need to download the IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition:

1. Visit the JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA download page.
2. Click on the “Download” button under the Community edition. This will download a .tar.gz file.

Step 5: Extract the Downloaded File

Once the file is downloaded, navigate to your Downloads directory using the terminal:

bash
cd ~/Downloads

Extract the downloaded archive using tar:

bash
tar -xzf ideaIC-*.tar.gz

This will create a new directory prefixed with idea-IC-.

Step 6: Move the IntelliJ IDEA Directory

For easier access, it’s advisable to move the IntelliJ IDEA directory to a more appropriate location, such as /opt:

bash
sudo mv idea-IC-* /opt/idea

Step 7: Running IntelliJ IDEA

To run IntelliJ IDEA, navigate to the bin directory within the newly created directory:

bash
cd /opt/idea/bin

Then, use the following command to start the application:

bash
./idea.sh

Creating a Desktop Entry

For convenience, you can create a desktop entry to launch IntelliJ IDEA from your app launcher:

1. Open the terminal and create a .desktop file:

bash
nano ~/.local/share/applications/idea.desktop

2. Paste the following content into the file:

plaintext
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=IntelliJ IDEA Community
Icon=/opt/idea/bin/idea.png
Exec=”/opt/idea/bin/idea.sh” %f
Comment=IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
Categories=Development;IDE;
Terminal=false

3. Save the file (press CTRL + X, then Y, and hit Enter).

You should now be able to find IntelliJ IDEA in your app launcher.

Enhancing Your IntelliJ IDEA Experience

Once you have IntelliJ IDEA up and running on your Chromebook, you can enhance your experience by exploring various features:

Plugins: IntelliJ offers a marketplace full of plugins that can help you customize your IDE to fit your development needs. You can access the marketplace directly from within the IDE.

Version Control Integration: IntelliJ IDEA seamlessly integrates with version control systems like Git, allowing you to manage your projects efficiently.

Educational Features: If you’re new to programming, IntelliJ IDEA comes with educational tools that provide coding assistance and learning resources.

Conclusion

Installing IntelliJ IDEA Community on a Chromebook may seem daunting at first due to the limitations of Chrome OS, but with the right steps, it becomes a straightforward task. By enabling Linux support and following the installation steps outlined above, you can leverage the powerful features of IntelliJ IDEA to boost your software development capabilities. Now, whether you’re coding for fun or pursuing a career in development, you have a robust IDE at your fingertips.

FAQs

1. Can I use IntelliJ IDEA on a non-Chromebook laptop?

Yes, IntelliJ IDEA can be installed on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux-based distributions, following their respective installation guides from the JetBrains website.

2. Do I need to pay for IntelliJ IDEA?

The Community Edition is free and open-source. However, JetBrains also offers a paid Ultimate Edition that includes additional features for web and enterprise development.

3. Is my Chromebook powerful enough to run IntelliJ IDEA?

Most modern Chromebooks are capable of running IntelliJ IDEA, especially with optimizations. However, performance may vary, so it’s advisable to check your device specifications and upgrade where necessary.

4. Can I run multiple versions of IntelliJ IDEA?

Yes, you can install and run multiple versions of IntelliJ IDEA. Just ensure that each version is stored in a separate directory.

5. How do I uninstall IntelliJ IDEA?

To uninstall IntelliJ IDEA, you can simply delete its directory from /opt/, or if you have created a desktop entry, remove it from ~/.local/share/applications/.

6. Can I use IntelliJ IDEA for languages other than Java?

Absolutely! IntelliJ IDEA supports multiple languages, including Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, and many others, allowing you to work on a variety of projects.