IntelliJ IDEA 9 Milestone 1
This Milestone release delivers a fresh preview of features and improvements we've implemented so far for IntelliJ IDEA 9. We encourage all early adopters to share their feedback and request more new features they want to be available in the final release. We appreciate all your input.
For Everyone on Java
- Global unused symbols highlighting shows dead code instantly, as you type
- Easy class exclusion from completion & auto-import gets you rid of unwanted java.awt.List et al
- Built-in spell checker verifies comments, literals and identifiers in your code
- Auto-folding helps make Java a more concise language, with generic parameters, one-method anonymous classes (a.k.a. poor man's closures), i18n-ized messages, etc.

- You can now see what particular index.html you're looking at with customizable colors for editor tabs
- Subversion 1.6 support is now available
Faster Environment
New background-enabled file indexing allows you to start using essential editing features almost immediately. All the advanced features become available in minutes.
Java EE 6 Support
Though the specification itself is in late beta at the moment, IntelliJ IDEA 9M1 comes with initial support for this new standard of Java enterprise application development. The support includes error highlighting and usual editing aids for JPA 2.0, EJB 3.1, JSF 2.0, Servlet 3, JSR-299 (Web Beans) and Bean Validation, as well as support for GlassFish 3 Preview. We expect our Java EE 6 support to mature to the moment of IntelliJ IDEA 9 release as Java EE 6 / Glassfish going gold.
Tapestry Integration
IntelliJ IDEA has everything you need to develop Web applications of various scale with the Tapestry framework:
- Syntax and error highlighting
- Advanced navigation between classes and templates
- Intention actions for creating components, pages and mixins
- Code analysis with model validation
OSGi Application Development
Easy and convenient support of OSGi application development brings you a full range of features, including:
- Automatic project configuration
- Facet and run configuration
- Coding assistance, with completion
- Code inspections
- Syntax and error highlighting
Android Development
A bundled Android plugin enables you to create, run and debug Android applications on both the emulator and the real device. It also supports error highlighting and code completion inside manifest and layout files, navigation between code and resources, and other productivity features.
Google App Engine Development
You can now deploy your Java applications to Google App Engine from IntelliJ IDEA.
New JavaScript Debugger
The JavaScript debugger is now implemented as a Firefox plugin, so you can debug applications directly in Firefox browser, not only in IntelliJ IDEA embedded one.
Flex Development
IntelliJ IDEA 9 M1 includes a number of new features for Flex development:
- AIR support
- FlexUnit support
- Support for class, method and call hierarchy in ActionScript code
PHP Support
IntelliJ IDEA now includes initial support for PHP programming language: syntax and error highlighting, navigation, code completion, etc. PHP support is under active development and is going to be substantially improved before the final IntelliJ IDEA 9 release.
Task and Context Management
IntelliJ IDEA 9 M1 includes an early prototype of task and context management
functionality: you can create tasks manually, or from JIRA issues assigned to you.
The following state is
associated with each task:
- Changelist
- Open editors
- Expanded branches in Project View
- Run configurations
- Enabled breakpoints
UML Support
IntelliJ IDEA 9 M1 brings new UML features and improvements, including:
- Improved UML popup
- add subtypes, add classes from signature, add super classes actions are available in UML popup;
- remove elements from popup;
- autoresizing;
- Show Changed Classes
- Default Settings (layouts, views, etc.)
- Bug fixes, and more
Other Interesting Things
Of course, there's a lot more new features and enhancements in this Milestone release: from GWT 1.6 support to improved Project View for Grails. Get more information, screenshots, etc., at http://blogs.jetbrains.com/idea/tag/maia/
Licensing
Everyone can download a free trial and use it for 30 days. Existing IntelliJ IDEA 8 users can use the Milestone release with their license keys until October 1st of 2009.
