Spring
Configure the Spring facet
To use Spring in you project, you need the Spring facet that comprises libraries and UI elements for configuring Spring-specific settings. IntelliJ IDEA can automatically detect Spring configuration in your code. It will inform you about missing configuration and will suggest the necessary actions.
If IntelliJ IDEA could not detect configuration files automatically, you can add the facet manually:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S to open the Project Structure dialog.
- From the left-hand list, select Modules.
- Select the necessary module and click
in the middle section. - Select Spring from the list.
- You might need to set up a library when adding the facet. In this case, click Fix at the bottom of the window next to a warning message.
If you already have a Spring library, you can use it as is, or create a new library using JAR files on your computer. In this case, select the Use library option.
If you do not have a library, select Download.
If the Spring facet is configured correctly, you will see Spring gutter icons marking each component, bean, etc. To configure gutter icons, press Ctrl+Alt+S and go to .
Create an application context
Spring application context is a way of grouping configuration files in IntelliJ IDEA. When you create a context, you let IntelliJ IDEA understand relationship between configuration files included into this context.
You can create as many application contexts as you need; any configuration file may be included in more than one context.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S and select Facets.
- Select the Spring facet from the list and click in the right-hand section.
- In the New Application Context dialog, enter a name, and select files you want to include in the context.
Use the 
and 
options to remove and edit contexts.
Configure a parent context
IntelliJ IDEA allows you to configure a parent-child relationship between contexts. Beans from a parent context are visible to beans in child contexts, but not vice versa. Therefore, beans from child contexts can use configuration from the parent context.
For example, Spring MVC applications usually have two contexts. One context belongs to web layer beans, another context is used for services and repositories. The web layer context will be a child context in this case, as you need to inject services into controllers, not other way around.
To configure a parent context, use the New Application Context dialog.
The Multiple Context panel shows up on top of the editor for files included into two or more application contexts. You can use this panel to select another active context, for example, if you want to run your application with different configuration, and change highlighting.
To disable the panel, click 
, and clear the Show Multiple Context panel checkbox.
Navigate Spring dependencies
View Spring dependencies on a diagram
The Spring dependencies diagram lets you view and analyze dependencies between beans and dependencies between configuration files in your project.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S to open the Project Structure dialog.
- Right-click the configuration file for which you want to build a diagram.
- Select Diagrams from the menu.
- Select Show Diagram Popup (Ctrl+Alt+U) to open the diagram in a local popup window, or Show Diagram (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+U) to open the diagram in the editor.
- Select a diagram type. Use the Spring diagram to view beans that were defined in Spring configuration files.
The Spring Model Dependencies diagram is used for viewing relationship between configuration files.
Different color edges on the diagram denote different types of connections between components (import, component scan, etc.). Tooltips on nodes and edges can give you details on what each element contributes to the application context.
Use diagrams to detect setup errors
Errors in your Spring configuration can happen at the dependencies level. For example, a circular dependency.
Circular dependencies may be hard to detect as they do not cause any obvious errors. However, some beans will be loaded multiple times possibly resulting in unexpected behaviour.
On diagrams, red arrows mark errors, such as circular dependencies, and allow you to easily spot and remove them from your Spring configuration.
Browse dependencies in the Spring tool window
The Spring tool window helps you navigate between Spring components and dependencies. You can view definitions for Spring beans used in your project, and see how they are related to other beans.
To access the Spring tool window, go to .
The Beans tab shows definitions for Spring beans used in your project, their documentation, and how they are related to other beans. Each bean is marked with an icon — 
(beans defined in XML files); 
(auto-discoverable beans declared through @Component annotations); 
(service beans added by Spring that not defined explicitly).
Use icons on the left frame to change the way beans are displayed, view documentation, or build a graph.
The MVC tab allows you to view controller mappings for the Spring MVC framework. You can also use the 
Request Method option to filter mappings by HTTP method.
If your configuration comprises Spring Data, the Data tab will show you the list of repositories, their queries and their projection.
Change active profiles
Spring allows you to map specific contexts or beans to different profiles — for example, test or production. This way, you can activate different profiles in different environments.
If you have defined at least one profile in your project, IntelliJ IDEA will show a special panel on top of the editor. You can use this panel to view the current profile name and to change active profiles:
- Click Change Profiles on the panel.
- Select the component to which you want to map the profile. This can be either an entire project, the current module, or context.
- Select the profile to which you want to map this component.
If you want to hide the panel, click on it. In the next dialog, clear the Show Profiles Panel checkbox.