IntelliJ IDEA is a full-featured IDE for JVM and Android development made by JetBrains. It includes built-in debugging support, Docker and Docker Compose integration, embedded Git, Maven and Gradle support, intelligent code completion, an SSH terminal, and powerful refactoring and navigation tools.
IntelliJ IDEA is not limited to Java. It supports Kotlin, Groovy, Scala, Python, Erlang, and Dart through its plugin system, making it a capable IDE for a wide range of projects beyond Android and JVM development.
This guide explains how to install IntelliJ IDEA on Ubuntu 18.04 via the Snap packaging system. The same steps work on Ubuntu 16.04, Kubuntu, Linux Mint, and Elementary OS.
System requirements:
Prerequisite: You need sudo access.
The easiest way to install IntelliJ IDEA on Ubuntu 18.04 is through Snap. Snap packages self-update in the background, so you always have the latest release without running upgrade commands manually.
To install the Community Edition:
bashsudo snap install intellij-idea-community --classic
To install the Ultimate Edition instead:
bashsudo snap install intellij-idea-ultimate --classic
The --classic flag is required because IntelliJ IDEA needs unrestricted access to the filesystem to compile code, manage project files, and integrate with build tools. Without it, the snap sandbox would block these operations.
When the download finishes, the terminal confirms the installation:
intellij-idea-community 2018.3.4 from 'jetbrains' installed
Both editions share the same core IDE infrastructure, but they serve different development needs.
Community Edition is free and open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. It fully covers Java SE, Kotlin, Groovy, and Scala development, including the debugger, code analysis, refactoring tools, Maven and Gradle support, and Git integration. For most open-source projects and personal development, Community covers everything you need.
Ultimate Edition is a paid commercial product with a 30-day free trial. It adds support for Java EE, Spring, Micronaut, and Quarkus, along with a built-in database client, HTTP client, profiler, and first-class support for JavaScript, TypeScript, and popular frontend frameworks. If you are building full-stack applications or working in an enterprise Java environment, Ultimate is worth evaluating.
For Android development specifically, Android Studio is the better choice. It is built on IntelliJ IDEA Community but is purpose-built for Android and maintained by Google.
Start IntelliJ IDEA from the Activities menu by searching for “IntelliJ IDEA.”
The first screen asks whether to import settings from a previous IntelliJ installation. On a fresh install, choose Do not import settings and click OK.
Next, you are asked to accept the JetBrains privacy policy and optionally share anonymous usage statistics. The statistics option does not affect how the IDE works — you can safely decline.
The customization screen lets you choose a UI theme (Darcula dark or IntelliJ light), adjust font size and keymap, and install plugins from the JetBrains Marketplace. Popular choices include the Docker plugin, database tools, Kubernetes support, and framework-specific integrations. You can skip this and install plugins later through File > Settings > Plugins.
Click Start using IntelliJ IDEA to open the welcome screen, where you can create a new project, open an existing directory, or check out a project from GitHub or another remote repository.
IntelliJ IDEA is now installed on your Ubuntu 18.04 system. Visit the IntelliJ IDEA documentation to learn about the debugger, run configurations, version control integration, and keyboard shortcuts. Leave a comment below if you run into any issues.
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