The IntelliJ IDEA 10.5 Java IDE is now available for developer download from jetbrains.com. Known for its refactoring support, the IntelliJ IDEA now offers full Java 7 support with code completion, inspections, and quick-fixes, as well as JavaScript, Android, and Flex enhancements.
Version 10.5 is a free update for developers with a version 10 license, and the Ultimate version is now offered at a lower price for new licenses and for personal license upgrades.
JetBrains says that there is a reworked UI for refactorings and Search/Replace, and in addition to simplified code completion functions, "Introduce Parameter/Field/Constant refactorings now work in-place, with an instant changes preview and no additional dialogs."
Other new features include:
- JavaScript Debugger in Google Chrome
- Groovy 1.8 and Spring 3.1 support
- Jetty integration
- XSLT2 support
JetBrains is now aiming to further develop the product by taking an "open-and-engaged" stance with the developer community. The company's blog pages note the following:
"If you've already launched IntelliJ IDEA 10.5 you probably noticed this "green notification" asking your permission to send information to JetBrains about your IntelliJ IDEA project configuration (which frameworks are used and which are not) and feature usage statistics (e.g. how often extract method refactoring is used).
We just want to say that this information is VERY important for us and will help us concentrate our efforts exactly on the tools and technologies that you really use."
JetBrains characterizes IntelliJ IDEA 10.5 as a faster product with more IDE performance and startup optimization. The company is also using less technical language to describe recent development, saying that it is "in pace with the times" and "a more pleasant UI to use".
