IntelliJ IDEA Tutorial for Beginners (2026) | Java Setup & First Project, by DanishCodeHub on YouTube. 26 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 26 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Download IntelliJ IDEA from the JetBrains website and install it. The Community edition is free and enough for plain Java. Make sure a JDK is installed first, since the IDE needs one to compile code.
Open IntelliJ IDEA and click New Project. Pick Java as the language, choose your installed JDK from the list, name the project and set a folder for it.
Look around the main window. The Project panel on the left lists your files, the editor sits in the middle, and the Run and Build buttons are at the top right.
Right-click the src folder, choose New and then Java Class. Type a name like Main and press Enter. IntelliJ adds the class file with a main method stub.
Inside main, type System.out.println("Hello"); then press the green Run arrow next to the main method. The output appears in the Run panel at the bottom.
To group classes, right-click src, choose New and then Package, and give it a name like com.example.app. Drag or create classes inside it.
Open several files and use the editor tabs to switch between them. Right-click a tab and choose Split Right or Split Down to see two files side by side.
To use another Java version, open File, Project Structure, then SDKs and click Add SDK to point at a second JDK. Set the project SDK and language level in the same window.
Rename a class or package with Shift+F6 instead of editing the name by hand. IntelliJ updates every reference automatically, so nothing breaks.
Learn a few shortcuts: Shift+F10 runs the program, Ctrl+Alt+L reformats code, and Ctrl+B jumps to a declaration. Practice them until they feel natural.
Tips and common mistakes
Always rename classes and packages with Shift+F6, because manual edits leave broken references.
If the Run button is greyed out, check that the file has a main method and that a JDK is set in Project Structure.
Use the split editor when comparing two files instead of switching tabs back and forth.
Set the project SDK once in Project Structure so new files compile with the right Java version.
Questions
Do I need the paid Ultimate edition?
No. The free Community edition handles plain Java projects, which is all you need to start. Ultimate adds web and enterprise framework support.
Why does IntelliJ say no SDK is configured?
The IDE cannot find a JDK. Install one, then open File, Project Structure, SDKs and add the JDK folder path.
Where does my program output appear?
It shows in the Run panel at the bottom of the window after you click the green Run arrow or press Shift+F10.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
