Variable extraction to var in Intellij IDEA

Question

When extracting a variable (ctrl+alt+v) in Intellij IDEA with Java 11, I would like for the default to be that it is extracted to a var instead of the verbose type.

var home = "127.0.0.1";

instead of

String home = "127.0.0.1";

Is there a way to configure Intellij IDEA to do this?

didn't get possibly what you're trying to achieve, deleted the answer. though what is it that you're eyeing, is it changing the variable name or type (suggestions)? — Naman, Jan 16 '19 at 15:07
There is related request on YouTrack: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-190495 — y.bedrov, Jan 16 '19 at 15:08
@nullpointer I would like the default *type* to be `var` and not `String` — Jewels, Jan 16 '19 at 15:13
Probably the IntelliJ people share my preferences, to produce code as explicit as possible, not forcing a future reader to reason about the variable type. — Ralf Kleberhoff, Jan 16 '19 at 15:51
This will be more helpful in complex types with generics. Like HasMap> — Brachi, Jan 16 '19 at 15:57
@RalfKleberhoff you would think that they would make the IDE as configurable as possible to cater to the preferences of _all_ of their users... — Jewels, Jan 16 '19 at 16:25
@y.bedrov I'm not sure that that is the same issue - i'm referring to the default type of the variable upon extraction, not an issue with code compilation — Jewels, Jan 16 '19 at 16:26

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 23 '19 at 06:14

10

Jet Brains added this feature to Intellij 2019.1.1

answered Apr 23 '19 at 06:14

Jewels

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4

how to enable this from settings? – Vadym Ozarynskyi Jul 16 '21 at 11:00
3

@VadymOzarynskyi the settings ui was changed i believe it looks like this now https://i.imgur.com/jR2SUrk.png – dQw4w9WyXcQ Jul 13 '22 at 02:46

score 8 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 23 '19 at 09:17

Update

Feature has been implemented and available since IntelliJ IDEA 2019.1 release

https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-179176

Fix versions 2019.1 (191.6183.87)

This feature hasn't been adopted by IntelliJ IDEA yet.

I've submitted an explicit feature request at JetBrains' bug tracking system: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-206367

Although, other similar tickets which have been submitted before, are not yet completed:

Alternative

However, you can somewhat achieve the desired behavior by using Custom Postfix Templates plugin, which allows to define your own custom postfix completion templates.

Statement like this:

Will be converted to:

To achieve this:

1) Install Custom Postfix Templates plugin via Settings → Plugins → Browse Repositories.
2) Press Shift+Alt+P (or go to menu Tools → Custom Postfix Templates → Edit Templates of Current Language) to open the custom postfix templates for the programming language in your current editor.

3) Add the following template:

.var : Extracts variable as inferred 'var' type
    NON_VOID                 →  var $VAR:suggestVariableName()$ = $expr$;

Restart IntelliJ and you're good to go.

Note. Existing postfix completion named 'var' exists in IntelliJ by default, you might want to disable the existing one (via Settings → Editor → General → Postfix Completion) or find another name for a new one.

Variable extraction to var in Intellij IDEA

2 Answers2

Update

Alternative