Installing and working with the JavaRush plugin: answers to popular questions

What is the JavaRush plugin and what is it for?

This application is a special software module that is built into the IntelliJ IDEA development environment and allows you to work in it with tasks from the JavaRush course. For example, write solutions, send them for verification, check your solution with the “correct” one, and much more. Progress in solving problems in the plugin is synchronized with your JavaRush account, so it will look the same both on the site and in the development environment. We recommend that you start working with the plugin as early as possible: it is more convenient to solve more complex problems, and it will help you quickly understand the professional developer tool - IntelliJ IDEA. Below is a list of the most popular questions and answers about working with the plugin.

Contents FAQ:

1. Installing and activating the JavaRush plugin
2. Basic plugin settings
3. Solving problems from the course in IntelliJ IDEA
4. Solving problem games
5. Beginner mode and PRO mode in the plugin

Installing and activating the JavaRush plugin

Which version of IntelliJ IDEA do I need to install the JavaRush plugin?

To use the plugin you will need version 2023.1 and later. The new plugin is not supported in earlier versions. You can download the current version of IntelliJ IDEA from this link . Please note: you need to install the Community Edition to use it for free.

How to download and install the JavaRush plugin?

You can download the JavaRush plugin from the Jetbrains marketplace, right in your development environment.

1. Open IntelliJ IDEA (version 2023.1 and later) on which you will be working with the plugin.

2. Go to the Settings section - to do this, use the key combination ctrl+alt+s . If the settings section does not open, open any project or create a new one, then press ctrl+alt+s again.

3. In the window that appears, select the Plugins section in the side menu and open the Marketplace tab :

   And in the search bar type JavaRush .

4. Select the plugin and click on the Install button .

5. Restart IntelliJ IDEA to start working with the plugin.

How to activate the JavaRush plugin / login to your account?

After installing the plugin, the IDE will prompt you to restart. You will see a slightly modified interface and a Login to your account button on the top horizontal panel: When you click, a window will open to log into your account, in which you need to enter your secret key:

Let us remind you that you can find the secret key in the “Settings” → “Security and Login” section .

Basic plugin settings

How to switch to light/dark theme?

The fastest way is to click on the “switch” on the top panel, to the right of your avatar.

How can you work on solving several problems at the same time?

If you want both the file with the solution to the current task and the file with the solution to the new task to remain open when switching from one task to another, go to the settings menu (drop-down menu under your avatar) and deactivate the Close files when changing task mode :

• If this mode is active, when switching from one task to another (by clicking on the card of another task), the file with the solution to the current task will be closed
• If you disable this mode, when you open a new problem, both the file with the solution to the current problem and the file for solving the new problem will be available in this panel, and you can switch between them

How to change the font size in the task description?

Go to the settings menu and select the required parameter in the Font size item in the task condition .

How to change the interface language in the JavaRush plugin for IntelliJ IDEA?

Go to the settings menu and select the appropriate option in the Plugin interface language item. Now available in English, Ukrainian, Russian. After selecting the language, you must restart IDEA.

How to change the language in the title and condition of tasks?

The language in task names and descriptions does not depend on the interface language you select in IntelliJ IDEA, but on the content language that is installed in your JavaRush account. It is selected when registering on the site.

How to downgrade to an older version of the plugin?

Unfortunately, you cannot switch between the old and new JavaRush plugin in the same version of IntelliJ IDEA. You can work with different versions of plugins only if you have two versions of IntelliJ IDEA installed - for the old and for the new plugin. In the near future we will stop supporting the old plugin. If you encounter critical errors or other reasons why you cannot use the new plugin, please report it to JavaRush support : we will definitely fix them. In the meantime, you can continue to use the old plugin the same way you used it before.

How to disable JavaRush plugin in IntelliJ IDEA?

In the main menu there is a button “Disable plugin”:

Solving problems from the course in IntelliJ IDEA

How to use filters to display tasks?

After logging into your account, you will see the JavaRush project, which contains the tasks from the course. In the block on the left is a list of tasks. In the top panel there are filters with which you can sort the contents of the block with tasks: Filter meaning:

• All – a list of all tasks in the course
• New – new tasks available for solution
• In Progress – tasks you are working on
• Solved – solved problems
• Unavailable – tasks that are not available (tasks that are in course levels that you have not yet opened)

How to open a new task for solution?

Click on the task card in the sidebar on the left, and in the pop-up window click Open :

Why doesn't the task open?

Make sure the problem can be solved. Click on the New / In Progress filters to get a list of current tasks.

The task list has disappeared - how can I get it back?

Click on Tasks in the left vertical panel:

A task condition has disappeared - how can I get it back?

Click on Condition in the right vertical panel:

How to submit a solution to a problem for review?

Click the Check button on the top panel:

How to find the correct solution to a problem?

Click on the Answer button on the top panel: The correct solution will be displayed in the box on the right, and your solution will be displayed on the left:

How to proceed to a discussion of a task or help on a specific task?

Click on the Help button on the top panel: You can select the appropriate option from these two:

• Discuss the task on the forum - go to the discussion of the task in the comments below it
• Ask for help - go to the thread with all questions about the task in the “Help” section

How to run a task without submitting the solution for review?

Click on the Run button on the top panel: The code for your solution will run, but without checking the solution itself.

How can I run a debug for my solution?

Click on the Debug button on the top panel:

How can I get recommendations to improve the code style of my solution?

Click on the Analysis button on the top panel:

How to change a task?

You can change a task by clicking on a different task card in the left panel. If you want to use filters, use the Select task button on the top panel: After this, you will switch to task selection mode with available filters.

I solved problems on the JavaRush website. Will my progress from the site be displayed in the IntelliJ IDEA plugin?

Yes. The list of tasks and their statuses is updated automatically every five minutes. Therefore, if you solved a problem on the site, in the IntelliJ IDEA plugin it will also be in the list of solved problems. If you need to update information on task statuses right now, use the Synchronize tasks command:

Solving problem games

Do I need to install anything additional to write game tasks in the JavaRush plugin?

No need. In the new plugin, the game engine is rewritten in Swing, so to solve problems from the “Games” section you do not need to download JavaFX, as before. When you install a new plugin, by default there is everything you need to solve problems of this type.

How can I publish my solution (game) in the “Games” section?

Click on the Publish button on the top panel:

Beginner mode and PRO mode in the plugin

How to switch between beginner mode and PRO mode?

You can do this in your account settings. Click on your avatar (top right), and in the drop-down menu select Settings : By default, Beginner Mode is activated . Deactivate it to switch to PRO mode and click on the Save button .

What is beginner mode in the plugin?

This is a simplified version for those users who have no (or little) experience with IntelliJ IDEA and other development environments. It hides some IntelliJ IDEA features, including the ability to work with other projects besides the JavaRush project (course tasks). This mode will protect you from all sorts of “clicked the wrong thing” and “accidentally deleted the wrong thing.” Thus, in beginner mode you can only work with tasks from the JavaRush course; you cannot work with other projects. When you try to open another project in IntelliJ IDEA in beginner mode, the system will automatically return you to the JavaRush project. If you need to work on other projects in IntelliJ IDEA, switch to PRO mode.

What is PRO mode in the plugin?

In PRO mode, you have access to all the tools and functionality of IntelliJ IDEA, including the ability to work with other projects, in addition to tasks from the JavaRush course: As you can see, panels with IDEA commands and tools appear at the top and bottom. Please note that the top panel, highlighted in the image, duplicates the main commands (functions) that you use to solve problems.

How to hide the plugin's navigation bar in PRO mode

Click on Settings and uncheck Show plugin navigation bar :

How to return to a JavaRush project (tasks) in PRO mode

Click on Settings and select Open Course Java Project : This will open a project containing tasks from the course.

How to return to the basic settings / structure in PRO mode if something is “broken”?

Click on Settings and select Restore project structure : This will delete all project files and restore the structure and SDK (Software Development Kit).

How to set the display of task cards in PRO mode?

By default, in PRO mode, the project view opens in the left panel - the standard display of the structure in IntelliJ IDEA. To return to the display of task cards, you need to click on the Tasks tab in the left vertical panel: