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Elixir plugin

Elixir plugin

This is a plugin that adds support for Elixir to JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA platform IDEs (0xDBE, AppCode, IntelliJ IDEA, PHPStorm, PyCharm, Rubymine, WebStorm).

It works with the free, open source Community edition of IntelliJ IDEA in addition to the paid JetBrains IDEs like Ultimate edition of IntelliJ. No feature is locked to a the paid version of the IDEs, but the plugin works best in IntelliJ because only IntelliJ supports projects with different languages than the default (Java for IntelliJ, Ruby for Rubymine, etc).

The plugin itself is free. Once you have your IDE of choice installed, you can install this plugin

Features

Project

NOTE: This feature only works in IntelliJ IDEA as it depends on an extension point unavailable in language-specific IDEs, like Rubymine.

New

If you want to create a basic (non-mix) Elixir project with a lib directory, perform the following steps.

File > New > Project
Select Elixir from the project type menu on the left
Click Next
Select a Project SDK directory by clicking Configure.
Select a Project SDK directory by clicking Configure.
The plugin will automatically find the newest version of Elixir installed. (NOTE: SDK detection only works for Linux, homebrew installs on OSX, and Windows. Open an issue with information about Elixir install locations on your operating system and package manager to have SDK detection added for it.)
If the automatic detection doesn't find your Elixir SDK or you want to use an older version, manually select select the directory above the bin directory containing elixir, elixirc, iex, and mix.
Click Next after you select SDK name from the Project SDK list.
Change the Project name to the name your want for the project
(Optionally) change the Project location if the directory does not match what you want
(Optionally) expand More Settings to change the Module name, Content root, Module file location, and/or Project format. The defaults derived from the Project name and Project location should work for most projects.
Click Finish
Choose whether to open in a New Window or in This Window.

From Existing Sources

Create project from existing sources

If you've already created a (non-mix) project, you can load it as an Elixir project into the plugin.

File > New > Project From Existing Sources...
Select the root directory of your project.
Leave the default selection, "Create project from existing sources"
Click Next
Project name will be filled with the basename of the root directory. Customize it if you like.
Project location will be the root directory.
Click Next.
If you previously opened the directory in IntelliJ or another JetBrains IDE, you'll be prompted to overwrite the .idea directory. Click Yes.
You'll be prompted with a list of detected Elixir project roots to add to the project. Each root contains a mix.exs. Uncheck any project roots that you don't want added.
Click Next.
Select a Project SDK directory by clicking Configure.
The plugin will automatically find the newest version of Elixir installed. (NOTE: SDK detection only works for Linux, homebrew installs on OSX, and Windows. Open an issue with information about Elixir install locations on your operating system and package manager to have SDK detection added for it.)
If the automatic detection doesn't find your Elixir SDK or you want to use an older version, manually select select the directory above the bin directory containing elixir, elixirc, iex, and mix.
Click Next after you select SDK name from the Project SDK list.
Click Finish on the framework page. (No framework detection is implemented yet for Elixir.)
Choose whether to open in a New Window or in This Window.

Import project from external model

If you've already created a mix project, you can load it as an Elixir project into the plugin.

File > New > Project From Existing Sources...
Select the root directory of your project.
Select "Import project from external model"
Select Mix
Click Next
The "Mix project root" will be filled in with the selected directory.
(Optional) Uncheck "Fetch dependencies with mix" if you don't want to run mix deps.get when importing the project
Ensure the correct "Mix Path" is detected. On Windows, the mix.bat, such as C:\Program Files (x86)\Elixir\bin\mix.bat should be used instead of the mix file without the extension.
Ensure the "Mix Version" is as expected. The number in parentheses should match the Elixir version.
Click Next
All directories with mix.exs files will be selected as "Mix projects to import". To import just the main project and not its dependencies, click Unselect All.
Check the box next to the project root to use only its mix.exs. (It will likely be the first checkbox at the top.)
Click Next
Select a Project SDK directory by clicking Configure.
The plugin will automatically find the newest version of Elixir installed. (NOTE: SDK detection only works for Linux, homebrew installs on OSX, and Windows. Open an issue with information about Elixir install locations on your operating system and package manager to have SDK detection added for it.)
If the automatic detection doesn't find your Elixir SDK or you want to use an older version, manually select select the directory above the bin directory containing elixir, elixirc, iex, and mix. (On Windows it is the directory containing elixir.bat, elixirc.bat, iex.bat, and mix.bat.)
Click Finish after you select SDK name from the Project SDK list.

Project Structure

Excluded
- _build (Output from mix)
- rel (Output from exrm)
Sources
- lib
Test Sources
- test

Project Settings

The Project Settings include

Project Name
Project SDK

Module Settings

Sources

The Module Settings include Marking directories as

Excluded
Sources
Tests

Paths

Module paths list the output directories when compiling code in the module. There is a an "Output path" for dev MIX_ENV and "Test output path" for the test MIX_ENV.

Dependencies

Module dependencies are currently just the SDK and the sources for the module. Dependencies in deps are not automatically detected at this time.

New Elixir File

Right-click a directory (such as lib or test in the standard mix new layout)
Select New > Elixir File.
Enter an Alias for the Module name, such as MyModule or MyNamespace.MyModule.
Select a Kind of Elixir File to use a different template.

Empty module

An underscored file will be created in an underscored directory lib/my_namespace/my_module.ex) with the given module name with be created:

defmodule MyNamespace.MyModule do
  @moduledoc false
  
end

Elixir Application

An underscored file will be created in an underscored directory lib/my_namespace/my_module.ex) with the given module name with be created. It will have a start/2 function that calls MyNamespace.MyModule.Supervisor.start_link/0.

defmodule MyNamespace.MyModule do
  @moduledoc false
  
  use Application

  def start(_type, _args) do
    MyNamespace.MyModule.Supervisor.start_link()
  end
end

Elixir Supervisor

An underscored file will be created in an underscored directory lib/my_namespace/my_module.ex) with the given module name with be created. It will have a start_link/1 function that calls Supervisor.start_link/0 and init/1 that sets up the child specs. It assumes a MyWorker child that should be supervised :one_for_one.

defmodule MyNamespace.MyModule.Supervisor do
  @moduledoc false
  
  use Supervisor

  def start_link(arg) do
    Supervisor.start_link(__MODULE__, arg)
  end

  def init(arg) do
    children = [
      worker(MyWorker, [arg], restart: :temporary)
    ]

    supervise(children, strategy: :one_for_one)
  end
end

Elixir GenServer

An underscored file will be created in an underscored directory lib/my_namespace/my_module.ex) with the given module name with be created. It will have a start_link/2 function that calls GenServer.start_link/3 and the minimal callback implementations for init/1, handle_call/3, and handle_cast/2.

The Elixir use GenServer supplies these callbacks, so this template is for when you want to change the callbacks, but would like the stubs to get started without having to look them up in the documentation.

defmodule MyNamespace.MyModule do
  @moduledoc false
  
  use GenServer

  def start_link(state, opts) do
    GenServer.start_link(__MODULE__, state, opts)
  end

  def init(_opts) do
    {:ok, %{}}
  end

  def handle_call(_msg, _from, state) do
    {:reply, :ok, state}
  end

  def handle_cast(_msg, state) do
    {:noreply, state}
  end
end

Elixir GenEvent

An underscored file will be created in an underscored directory lib/my_namespace/my_module.ex) with the given module name with be created. The minimal callback implementations for init/1, handle_event/2, and handle_call/2, handle_info/2.

The Elixir use GenEvent supplies these callbacks, so this template is for when you want to change the callbacks, but would like the stubs to get started without having to look them up in the documentation.

defmodule MyNamespace.MyModule do
  @moduledoc false
  
  use GenEvent

  # Callbacks

  def init(_opts) do
    {:ok, %{}}
  end

  def handle_event(_msg, state) do
    {:ok, state}
  end

  def handle_call(_msg, state) do
    {:ok, :ok, state}
  end

  def handle_info(_msg, state) do
    {:ok, state}
  end
end

Syntax Highlighting and Semantic Annotation

Syntax highlighting of lexer tokens and semantic annotating of parser elements can be customized in in the Color Settings page for Elixir (Preferences > Editor > Color & Fonts > Elixir).

Text Attribute Key Display Name			Tokens/Elements	Scheme
Text Attribute Key Display Name			Tokens/Elements	Default	Darcula
Alias			`String`
Atom			`:one` `<<>>:`
Braces and Operators	Bit		`<<` `>>`
Braces and Operators	Braces		`{` `}`
Braces and Operators	Brackets		`[` `]`
Braces and Operators	Character Token		`?`
Braces and Operators	Comma		`,`
Braces and Operators	Dot		`.`
Braces and Operators	Interpolation		`#{` `}`
Braces and Operators	Maps and Structs	Maps	`%{` `}`
Braces and Operators	Maps and Structs	Maps	`%` `{` `}`
Braces and Operators	Operation Sign		`=` `+` `*` `==` `!` `&&` `\|\|` `\|>` `^`
Braces and Operators	Parentheses		`(` `)`
Braces and Operators	Semicolon		`;`
Calls	Function		`inspect`	*Only the Italic attribute	*Only the Italic attribute
Calls	Macro		`inspect`	*Only the Bold and Italic attributes	*Only the Bold and Italic attributes
Calls	Predefined		`Kernel` functions macros `Kernel.SpecialForms` macros	*Only the Foreground attribute	*Only the Foreground attribute
Comment			`# Numbers`
Keywords			`end`
Module Attributes			`@custom_attr`
Module Attributes	Documentation		`@doc`
Module Attributes	Documentation	Text	`Simple module docstring`
Module Attributes	Types	Callback	`func`
Module Attributes	Types	Specification	`func`
Module Attributes	Types	Type	`parameterized`
Module Attributes	Types	Type Parameter	`type_parameter`
Numbers	Base Prefix	Non-Decimal	`0b` `0x` `0o`
Numbers	Base Prefix	Obsolete Non-Decimal	`0B` `0X`
Numbers	Decimal Exponent, Mark, and Separator		`e` `.` `_`
Numbers	Digits	Invalid	`2` `o` `r` `888`
Numbers	Digits	Valid	`1234` `1A` `beef` `123`
Textual	Character List		`'This is a list'`
Textual	Escape Sequence		`\x{12}`
Textual	Sigil		`~r//` `~R''` `~w()` `~W()`
Textual	String		`"Hello world"`
Variables	Ignored		`_`
Variables	Parameter		`a` `b` </td> <td> <img src="screenshots/preferences/editor/colors_and_fonts/default/Variables/Parameter.png?raw=true"/> </td> <td> <img src="screenshots/preferences/editor/colors_and_fonts/darcula/Variables/Parameter.png?raw=true"/> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Variables</td> <td>Variable</td> <td></td> <td> <code>pid</code> </td> <td> <img src="screenshots/preferences/editor/colors_and_fonts/default/Variables/Variable.png?raw=true"/> </td> <td> <img src="screenshots/preferences/editor/colors_and_fonts/darcula/Variables/Variable.png?raw=true"/> </td> </tr>

Grammar parsing

Built on top of highlighted tokens above, the parser understands the following parts of Elixir grammar as valid or allows the grammar because they contain correctable errors:

Empty Parentheses (())
Keyword Lists
- Keyword Keys - Aliases, identifiers, quotes, or operators when followed immediately by a colon and horizontal or vertical space.
- Keyword Values - Empty parentheses (()) and matched expressions.
Matched Expressions, in other words, unary and binary operations on variable, function, and macro names and values (numbers, strings, char lists, sigils, heredocs, true, false, and nil).
No Parentheses expressions, which are function calls with neither parentheses nor do blocks that have either (1) a positional argument and keyword arguments OR (2) two or more positional arguments with optional keyword arguments.
Anonymous function calls .() with either no arguments; a no parentheses arguments expression as an argument; keywords as an argument; positional argument(s); or positional arguments followed by keywords as arguments.
Remote function calls (Alias.function, :atom.function, etc) and local function calls (function) with...
- No Parentheses with...
  - No Arguments (Alias.function)
  - Keywords (Alias.function key: value)
  - Nested No Parentheses Call (Alias.function Inner.function positional, key: value)
  - Positional and Keyword arguments (Alias.function positional, key: value)
  - Matched Expression (Alias.function 1 + 2)
- Parentheses with...
  - No arguments (Alias.function())
  - No Parentheses Call (Alias.function(Inner.function positional, key: value)
  - Keywords (Alias.function(key: value))
  - Positional and Keyword arguments (Alias.function(positional, key: value))
  - Trailing parentheses for quoting (def unquote(variable)(positional))
Bracket expression (variable[key])
Block expressions (function do end)
Unmatched expressions, in other words combinations of block expressions and matched expressions.

Inspections

Inspections mark sections of code with warnings and errors. They can be customized from the Preferences > Inspections > Elixir.

Ambiguous nested calls

Detects when compiler will throw unexpected comma. Parentheses are required to solve ambiguity in nested calls. Function calls with multiple arguments without parentheses cannot take as arguments functions with multiple arguments without parentheses because which functional gets which arguments is unclear as in the following example:

outer_function first_outer_argument,
               # second argument is another function call without parentheses, but with multiple arguments
               inner_function first_inner_argument,
               ambiguous_keyword_key: ambiguous_keyword_value

To fix the ambiguity if first_inner_keyword_key: first_inner_keyword_value should be associated, add parentheses around the inner function's arguments:

# keywords are for inner function
outer_function first_outer_argument
               inner_function(
                 first_inner_argument
                 ambiguous_keyword_key: ambiguous_keyword_value
               )

# keywords are for outer function
outer_function first_outer_argument
               inner_function(
                 first_inner_argument
               ),
               ambiguous_keyword_key: ambiguous_keyword_value

Preferences > Inspections > Elixir > Ambiguous nested calls

Ambiguous nested call inspection marks the error on the comma that causes the ambiguity.

Mousing over the comma marked as an error in red (or over the red square in the right gutter) will show the inspection describing the error.

Ambiguous parentheses

Detects when compiler will throw unexpected parenthesis. If you are making a function call, do not insert spaces in between the function name and the opening parentheses. Function calls with space between the function name and the parentheses cannot distinguish between function calls with parentheses, but with an accidental space before the ( and function calls without parentheses where the first positional argument is in parentheses.

Empty Parentheses

function ()

To fix the ambiguity remove the space or add outer parentheses without the space if the first argument should be ():

# extra space, no arguments to function
function()

# first argument is `()`
function(())

Keywords in Parentheses

function (key: value)

Keywords inside parentheses is not valid, so the only way to fix this is to remove the space

function(key: value)

Positional arguments in Parentheses

function (first_positional, second_positional)

A list of positional arguments in parenthenses is not valid, so the only way to fix this is to remove the space

function(first_positional, second_positional)

Preferences > Inspections > Elixir > Ambiguous parentheses

Ambiguous parentheses inspection marks the error on the parenthetical group surrounded by the parentheses that are ambiguous due to the preceding space.

Mousing over the parenthetical group marked as an error in red (or over the red square in the right gutter) will show the inspection describing the error.

Keyword pair colon (`:`) used in type spec instead of type operator (`::`)

Type specifications separate the name from the definition using ::.

@type name: definition

Replace the : with ::

@type name :: definition

Keywords appear before the end of list.

one.(
  one,
  two positional, key: value,
  three
)

Keywords can only appear at the end of an argument list, so either surround the no parentheses expression argument with parentheses, or move the the keywords to the end of the list if it wasn't meant to be a no parentheses expression.

one.(
  one
  two(positional, key: value),
  three
)

one.(
  one,
  two,
  three,
  key: value
)

Preferences > Inspections > Elixir > Keywords Not At End

Keywords Not At End inspection marks the error over the keywords that need to be surrounded by parentheses or moved to the end of the list.

Mousing over the keywords marked as an error in red (or over the red square in the right gutter) will show the inspection describing the error.

Match operator (`=`) used in type spec instead of type operator (`::`)

Type specifications separate the name from the definition using ::.

@type name = definition

Replace the = with ::

@type name :: definition

Quick Fixes

Quick Fixes are actions IntelliJ can take to change your code to correct errors (accessed with Alt+Enter by default).

Convert `:` to `::` in type specs

If a type specification uses a single : instead of ::, then hit Alt+Enter on the : to change it to :: and fix the type spec.

Convert `=` to `::` in type specs

If a type specification uses = instead of ::, then hit Alt+Enter on the = to change it to :: and fix the type spec.

Remove space in front of ambiguous parentheses

If a set of parentheses is marked as ambiguous then the space before it can be removed to disambiguate the parentheses with Alt+Enter. (Will vary based on keymap.)

Hitting Alt+Enter on ambiguous parentheses error will bring up the Local Quick Fix, "Remove spaces between function name and parentheses". Hit Enter to accept and remove the space.

Code Folding

You can collaspe (fold) pre-defined regions of your Elixir code to make it easier to quickly scroll through files or hide details you don't care about right now.

Controls

Collapsing

Position cursor between lines with with downward facing - arrow and upward facing - arrow.
Cmd+-

Expanding

Position cursor on the collapsed line with the square +
Cmd++

Regions

Expanded	Collapsed	Folded By Default?
`do end`	`do: ...`	No
`->` and right operand	`-> ...`	No
`@doc VALUE`	`@doc "..."`	No
`@moduledoc VALUE`	`@moduledoc "..."`	No
`@typedoc VALUE`	`@typedoc "..."`	No
alias ALIAS1 alias ALIAS1	`alias ...`	Yes
import ALIAS1 import ALIAS2	`import ...`	Yes
require ALIAS1 require ALIAS2	`require ...`	Yes
use ALIAS1 use ALIAS2	`use ALIAS1`	Yes
`@for`	`FOR` in `defimpl PROTOCOL, for: FOR`	Yes
`@protocol`	`PROTOCOL` in `defimpl PROTOCOL, for: FOR`	Yes
@MODULE_ATTRIBUTE	VALUE in `@MODULE_ATTRIBUTE VALUE`	Yes

Commenter

You can comment or uncomment the current line or selected block of source. By selecting a block of source first you can quickly comment out and entire function if you're trying to track down a compiling or testing error that's not giving a helpful line number.

Using the menus

Highlight one or more lines
Comment (or Uncomment) with one of the following: a. Code > Comment with Line Comment b. On OSX the key binding is normally Cmd+/.

Delimiters

Auto-inserting

The right-delimiter will be automatically inserted when the left delimiter is typed. In some cases, to prevent false positives, the the delimiter is only completed if when used for sigils.

Preceded By	Left	Right
	`do`	`end`
	`fn`	`end`
	`[`	`]`
	`{`	`}`
	`(`	`)`
	`'`	`'`
	`'''`	`'''`
	`"`	`"`
	`"""`	`"""`
	`<<`	`>>`
`~<sigil-name>`	`<`	`>`
`~<sigil-name>`	`/`	`/`
`~<sigil-name>`	`	`

Matching

All delimiters that are auto-inserted are also matched for highlighting

Left	Right
`do`	`end`
`fn`	`end`
`[`	`]`
`{`	`}`
`(`	`)`
`'`	`'`
`'''`	`'''`
`"`	`"`
`"""`	`"""`
`<<`	`>>`
`<`	`>`
`/`	`/`
`	`

Building/Compiling

Settings

Compile project with mix (use mix compile instead of elixirc directly)
Attach docs (don't use --no-docs elixirc flag)
Attach debug info (don't use --no-debug-info elixirc flag)
Ignore module conflict (use --ignore-module-conflict elixirc flag)

Individual File

Have a file selected in Project view with the Project view in focus OR have an Editor tab in focus
Build > Compile 'FILE_NAME'
Build results will be shown
- If compilation is successful, you'll see "Compilation completed successfully" in the Event Log
- If compilation had errors, you'll see "Compilation completed with N errors and M warnings" in the Event Log and the Messages Compile tab will open showing a list of Errors

Project

Build > Make Project
Build results will be shown
- If compilation is successful, you'll see "Compilation completed successfully" in the Event Log
- If compilation had errors, you'll see "Compilation completed with N errors and M warnings" in the Event Log and the Messages Compile tab will open showing a list of Errors

Live Templates

Live Templates are snippets of code that can be inserted quickly and have placeholder locations that the cursor will automatically jump to when using the template. Whenever you start typing, Live Templates will start matching against the shortcuts. A template can be selected with Tab.

Live Templates can be customized in Preferences > Editor > Live Templates > Elixir.

Metasyntactic variables are locations where the cursor will jump to. END is the final location of the cursor.

Shortcut	Code
`@doc`	`@doc """ ONE """ END`
`case`	`case ONE do TWO -> END end`
`cond`	`cond do END end`
`def`	`def NAME do END end`
`def,`	`def NAME, do: END`
`defi`	`defimpl PROTOCOL, for: TYPE do END end`
`defm`	`defmodule ALIAS do END end`
`defmac`	`defmacro MACRO_NAME do END end`
`defmacp`	`defmacrop MACRO_NAME do END end`
`defover`	`defoverridable [NAME: END]`
`defp`	`defp NAME do END end`
`defpro`	`defprotocol PROTOCOL do END end`
`defs`	`defstruct [END]`
`do`	`do END end`
`doc`	`@doc """ ONE """ END`
`fn`	`fn ARGS -> END end`
`for`	`for A <- B do END end`
`if`	`if TRUE do END end`
`ife`	`if TRUE do OK else END end`
`ii`	`IO.inspect(END)`
`mdoc`	`@moduledoc """ ONE """ END`
`rec`	`receive do ONE -> END end`
`test`	`test "TESTDESC" do END end`
`try`	`try do ONE rescue TWO -> END`

Run Configurations

Mix Tasks

Much like rake tasks in Rubymine, this plugin can run mix tasks.

Run > Edit Configurations...
Click +
Select "Elixir Mix"
Fill in the "Program arguments" starting with the name of the mix task followed by any arguments to that task
Fill in the "Working directory"

Type the absolute path to the directory.
Select the path using directory picker by clicking the ... button

(Optionally) click the ... button on the "Environment variables" line to add environment variables.
Click "OK" to save the Run Configuration and close the dialog
Click the Run arrow in the Toolbar to run the mix task
The Run pane will open, showing the results of the mix task.
- If there is an error with a FILE:LINE stack frame, it will be a clickable link that will take you to that location

`mix test`

The mix test task gets a special type of Run Configuration, Elixir Mix ExUnit. Using this Run Configuration type instead, of the basic Elixir Mix Run Configuration will cause the IDE to attach a special formatter to mix test, so that you get the standard graphical tree of Test Results

Creating `mix test` Run Configurations Manually

Run > Edit Configurations...
Click +
Select "Elixir Mix ExUnit"
Fill in the "Program arguments" with the argument(s) to pass to mix test. Normally, this will be a directory like test, relative to the "Working directory"
Fill in the "Working directory"

Type the absolute path to the directory.
Select the path using directory picker by clicking the ... button

(Optionally) click the ... button on the "Environment variables" line to add environment variables.
Click "OK" to save the Run Configuration and close the dialog
Click the RUn arrow in the Toolbar to run the mix test task
The Run pane will open showing the Test Results

While you can create Elixir Mix ExUnit run configurations manually using the Run > Edit Configurations... menu, it is probably more convenient to use the context menu.

Creating `mix test` Run Configurations from context

The context menu must know that the the directory, file, or line you are right-clicking is a test. It does this by checking if the current directory or an ancestor is marked as a Test Sources Root.

In the Project pane, ensure your OTP application's test directory is marked as a Test Sources Root
Check if the test directory is green. If it is, it is likely a Test Sources Root. This color may differ in different themes, so to be sure you can check the context menu
Right-click the test directory.
Hover over "Mark Directory As >" * If "Unmark as Test Sources Root" is shown, then the directory is already configured correctly, and create from context will work. * If "Test Sources Root" is shown, then the directory need to be configured by clicking that entry

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from directory

Right-click the directory in the Project pane
Click "Run Mix ExUnit", which will both create the Run Configuration and Run it.

If you want to only create the Run Configuration, select "Create Mix ExUnit" instead

Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts

Select the directory in the Project pane.
Ctrl+Shift+R will create the Run Configuration and Run it.

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from file

Right-click the file in the Project pane
Click "Run Mix ExUnit", which will both create the Run Configuration and Run it.

If you want to only create the Run Configuration, select "Create Mix ExUnit" instead

Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts

Select the directory in the Project pane.
Ctrl+Shift+R will create the Run Configuration and Run it.

Finally, you can use the editor tabs

Right-click the editor tab for the test file you want to run
Click "Run Mix ExUnit", which will both create the Run Configuration and Run it.

If you want to only create the Run Configuration, select "Create Mix ExUnit" instead

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from line

If you want to be able to run a single test, you can create a Run Configuration for a line in that test

Right-click a line in the test file
Click "Run Mix ExUnit", which will both create the Run Configuration and Run it.

If you want to only create the Run Configuration, select "Create Mix ExUnit" instead

Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts

Place the cursor on the line you want to test
Ctrl+Shift+R will create the Run Configuration and Run it.

Completion

Aliases and Modules

When you start typing an Alias, completion will look in three locations:

alias aliased names in the current file
1. Suffix for alias Prefix.Suffix
2. MultipleAliasA or MultipleAliasB for alias Prefix.{MultipleAliasA, MultipleAliasB}
3. As for alias Prefix.Suffix, as: As
Indexed module names (as available from Go To Symbol)
1. Prefix.Suffix from defmodule Prefix.Suffix
2. MyProtocol from defprotocol MyProtocol
3. MyProtocol.MyStruct
  1. defimpl MyProtocol, for: MyStruct
  2. defimpl MyProtocol nested under defmodule MyStruct
Nested modules under aliased names
1. Suffix.Nested for alias Prefix.Suffix where Prefix.Suffix.Nested is an indexed module, implementation or protocol name.
2. MultipleAliasA.Nested for alias Prefix.{MultipleAliasA, MultipleAliasB} where Prefix.MultipleAliasA.Nested alias Prefix.{MultipleAliasA, MultipleAliasB} is an indexed module, implementation or protocol name.
3. As.Nested for alias Prefix.Suffix, as: As where Prefix.Suffix.Nested is an indexed module, implementation, or protocol name.

Aliases inside `{ }`

When you start typing inside { } for alias Prefix.{} or import Prefix.{}, completion will look for nested modules under Prefix and then remove the Prefix., so completion will look like Suffix.

Function and Macro Calls

Completion uses the same presentation as Structure, so you can tell whether the name is function/macro (Time), whether it is public/private (Visibility) and the Module where it is defined. Between the icons and the Modules is the name itself, which is highlighted in bold, the parameters for the call definition follow, so that you can preview the patterns required for the different clauses.

Qualified

Qualified functions and macro calls will complete using those functions and macros defined in the qualifying Module (defmodule), Implementation (defimpl) or Protocol (defprotocol). Completion starts as shown as . is typed after a qualifying Alias.

Unqualified

Function and macro calls that are unqualified are completed from the index of all function and macro definitions, both public and private. (The index contains only those Elixir functions and macro defined in parsable source, such as those in the project or its dependencies. Erlang functions and Elixir functions only in compiled .beam files, such as the standard library will not complete.) Private function and macros are shown, so you can choose them and then make the chosen function or macro public if it is a remote call.

Module Attributes

Module attributes declared earlier in the file can be completed whenever you type @ and some letter. If you want to see all module attributes, you can type @a, wait for the completions to appear, then delete the @ to remove the filtering to a.

Parameters and Variables

Parameter and variable usages can be completed whenever typing an identifier. The completions will include all variables know up from that part of the file. It can include variables from outside macros, like quote blocks.

Go To Declaration

Go To Declaration is a feature of JetBrains IDEs that allows you to jump from the usage of a symbol, such as a Module Alias, to its declaration, such as the defmodule call.

Alias

Place the cursor over an Alias with an aliased name setup by alias
1. Suffix if alias Prefix.Suffix called
2. MultipleAliasA if alias Prefix.{MultipleAliasA, MultipleAliasB} called
3. As if alias Prefix.Suffix, as: As
Activate the Go To Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click
A Go To Declaration lookup menu will appear, allowing you to jump either the alias that setup the aliased name or jumping directly to defmodule of the unaliased name. Select which declaration you want
1. Use arrow keys to select and hit Enter
2. Click

Function or Macro

You'll know if function or macro usage is resolved and Go To Declaration will work if the call is annotated, which in the default themes will show up as italics.

Imported Functions or Macros

Place the cursor over name of the function or macro call.
Activate the Go to Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click
A Go To Declaration lookup menu will appear, allowing you to jump to either the import that imported the function or macro or jumping directly to the function or macro definition clause. Select which declaration you want.
1. Use arrow keys to select and hit Enter
2. Click

Local Functions or Macros

Place the cursor over name of the function or macro call.
Activate the Go to Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click
Whether a lookup a Go To Declaration lookup menu appears depends on the number of clauses in the function or macro definition:
1. If there is only one clause in the function or macro definition, you'll jump immediately to that clause
2. If there is more than one clause in the function or macro definition, a Go To Declaration lookup menu will appear, allowing you to jump to either the import that imported the function or macro or jumping directly to the function or macro definition clause. Select which declaration you want.
  1. Use arrow keys to select and hit Enter
  2. Click

Remote Functions or Macros

Place the cursor over name of the function or macro call that is qualified by an Alias.
Activate the Go to Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click
1. If there is only one clause in the function or macro definition, you'll jump immediately to that clause
2. If there is more than one clause in the function or macro definition, a Go To Declaration lookup menu will appear, allowing you to jump to either the import that imported the function or macro or jumping directly to the function or macro definition clause. Select which declaration you want.
  1. Use arrow keys to select and hit Enter
  2. Click

Module

Place the cursor over a fully-qualified Alias
1. A.B in A.B.func()
2. A.B in alias A.B
3. B in alias A.{B, C}
Activate the Go To Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click

If you hold Cmd and hover over the Alias before clicking, the target declaration will be shown.

Module Attribute

Place the cursor over a @module_attribute
Activate the Go To Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click

If you hold Cmd and hover over the @module_attribute before clicking, the target declaration will be shown.

Parameters and Variables

Place the cursor over a parameter or variable usage
Active the Go To Declaration action with one of the following:
1. Cmd+B
2. Select Navigate > Declaration from the menu.
3. Cmd+Click

If you hold Cmd and hover over the variable before clicking, it will say parameter or variable, which matches the annotation color.

Go To Symbol

Go To Symbol is a way to search for any of the following by name:

Call definition clauses (def, defp, defmacro, and defmacrop)
Callbacks (@callback and @macrocallback)
Call definition specifications (@spec)
Call definition heads (foo(bar)) for delegation (defdelegate foo(bar), to: BAZ)
Implementations (defimpl)
Protocols (defprotocol)

You can bring up Go To Symbol with the keyboard shortcut (⌥⌘O on OSX) or using the menus (Navigate > Symbol...).

Go To Test

Go to Test allows you to jump from the a Source Module to its corresponding Test Module

Have the cursor in the body of a Module
Active the Go To Test action with one of the following:
1. Shift+Cmd+T
2. Select Navigate &gt Test from the menu.

Go To Test Subject

Go to Test Subject allows you to jump from the a Test Module to its corresponding Source Module

Have the cursor in the body of a Test Module
Active the Go To Test Subject action with one of the following:
1. Shift+Cmd+T
2. Select Navigate &gt Test Subject from the menu.

Find Usage

Find Usage is a feature of JetBrains IDEs that allows you to find all the places a declared symbol, such a Module Alias in a defmodule, is used, including in strings and comments.

Module

Place cursor over an defmodule Alias.
Activate the Find Usage action with one of the following: a. i. Right-click the Alias ii. Select "Find Usages" from the context menu b. Select Edit > Find > Find Usages from the menu c. Alt+F7

Module Attribute

Place cursor over the @module_attribute part of the declaration @module_attribute value.
Activate the Find Usage action with one of the following: 1. 1. Right-click the module attribute 2. Select "Find Usages" from the context menu 2. Select Edit > Find > Find Usages from the menu 3. Alt+F7

Parameters and Variables

Place cursor over the parameter or variable declaration.
Active the Find Usage action with one of the following: 1. 1. Right-click the Alias 2. Select "Find Usages" from the context menu 2. Select Edit > Find > Find Usages from the menu 3. Alt+F7

Refactor

Rename

Module Attribute

Place the cursor over the @module_attribute usage or declaration.
Active the Rename Refactoring action with one of the following: 1. 1. Right-click the module attribute 2. Select Refactoring from the context menu 3. Select "Rename..." from the Refactoring submenu 2. Shift+F6
Edit the name inline and have the declaration and usages update.

Parameters and Variables

Place the cursor over the parameter or variable usage or declaration
Active the Rename Refactoring action with one of the following: 1. 1. Right-click the module attribute 2. Select Refactoring from the context menu 3. Select "Rename..." from the Refactoring submenu 2. Shift+F6
Edit the name inline and have the declaration and usages update.

Structure

You can view the structure of the currently open editor tab using the Structure tool window.

Viewing Structure

View > Tool Windows > Structure
Click the Structure Button (normally in the left tool buttons)
1. If you can't see the Tool Buttons, they can be enabled with View > Tool Buttons
Cmd+7

Buttons

The buttons in the Structure tool are broken into 4 categories:

Sorters
Providers
Expanders
Autoscrollers

Sorters

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Sort by Time	When the defined callable is usable: Compile time Both or None Runtime Macros are compile time while functions are runtime.
	Sort by Visibility	Whether the element visible outside its defining module: Public Private
	Sort Alphabetically	Sort by name

NOTE: When any combination of sorters is turned on, they are sorted from left to right (as shown in the button bar), so with all 3 sorters on, the elements are first grouped by Time, then inside each Time group, they are sorted by Visibility, then in each Visibility group, they are sorted by name.

Providers

The providers add nodes not in the text of the file, but that will appear in the compiled Module.

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Show Used	In Modules that `use ` or `use , arg`, the elements from the last `quote` block in the `__using__/1` for `` are injected.

Expanders

The expanders expand or collapse all the elements in the Structure tool window.

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Expand All	Expand All Elements in the Structure tool window
	Collapse All	Collapse All Elements in the Structure tool window

Autoscrollers

The autoscrollers link together the editor tab's location and the Structure tool windows selected element.

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Autoscroll to Source	Clicking an element in the Structure tool window will scroll the editor window to the location of the corresponding source.
	Autoscroll from Source	When moving the cursor in the editor window, the selected element in the Structure tool window will change to the corresponding element.

Elements

Icons

Time

The Time icons indicate whether the element is usable at compile time or runtime.

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Compile Time	The element is used or checked at compile time and (may) not even be accessible at run time, such as macros.
	Runtime	The element is usable at runtime, such as a function.

Visibility

The Visibility icons indicated whether the element is usable outside its defining Module.

Icon	Tooltip	Description
	Public	Public elements are accessible outside their defining Module.
	Private	Private elements are only accessible in their defining Module. The macros that define private elements usually end in `p`.

Call to Element

Call	Icons							Text	Description
Call	Macro Type	Time	Visibility	Function	Module Local	Overridable	Override	Text	Description
`def`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `def` with the same name and arity.
`def`								`NAME`[`(`][`ARGUMENTS`][`)`][when `...`]	The function head for function clause, including the name, arguments, and `when` if present
`defdelegate`								defdelegate append_first: false`\|`true, to: `ALIAS\|ATOM`	Groups together all the delegated functions for a single `defdelegate` call.
`defdelegate func(arg), to: ALIAS`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together implied `def` and any explicit `@spec` for the given function head (`func(arg)`)
`defdelegate func(arg), to: ALIAS`								`func(arg)`	The function head implied by the `defdelegate` list of function heads.
`defexception`								`RELATIVE_ALIAS`	The exception has the same name as the parent Module, but will display with only the relative name (the last Alias without a `.`) with its location as the qualifying Alias.
`defexception`								%`RELATIVE_ALIAS`{}	Exceptions are defined as structs, so any `defexception also defines a struct with the same name.`
`defexception list_or_keywords`								`NAME`: `DEFAULT_VALUE`	The fields and default values (or `nil` if a list is used instead of a keyword list) for the struct as passed in the first argument to `defexception`.
`defimpl PROTOCOL, for: MODULE`								`MODULE` (`PROTOCOL`)	`defimpl` defines a protocol implementation that defines a Module that concatenates the `PROTOCOL` name and the `MODULE` name. If no `:for` is given, then the outer Module is used.
`defmacro`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `defmacro` with the same name and arity.
`defmacro`								`NAME`[`(`][`ARGUMENTS`][`)`][when `...`]	The macro head for macro clause, including the name, arguments, and `when` if present
`defmacrop`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `defmacrop` with the same name and arity.
`defmacrop`								`NAME`[`(`][`ARGUMENTS`][`)`][when `...`]	The macro head for macro clause, including the name, arguments, and `when` if present
`defmacro` AND `defmacrop`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `defmacro` AND `defmacrop` with the same name and arity. This will be a compile error, but is represented with Unknown for the Visibility until corrected.
`defmodule ALIAS`								`RELATIVE_ALIAS` (`QUALIFIER`)	Top-level Modules show only the `ALIAS` with no location, while qualified Aliases or nested Modules show the `RELATIVE_ALIAS` and the `QUALIFIER` as the location.
`defoverridable`									Mark previously declared functions as overridable. Overridable functions are listed as children of this element.
`defoverridable NAME: ARITY, ...`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	The `NAME` and `ARITY` of the function that is overridable. Matches the icon and text for `def`, but with the addition of Overridable
`defp`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `def` with the same name and arity.
`defp`								`NAME`[`(`][`ARGUMENTS`][`)`][when `...`]	The function head for function clause, including the name, arguments, and `when` if present
`def` AND `defp`								`NAME`/`ARITY`	Groups together `def` AND `defp` with the same name and arity. This will be a compile error, but is represented with Unknown for the Visibility until corrected.
`defprotocol PROTOCOL`								`PROTOCOL`	The `protocol` name. Functions required by the protocol are children of this element.
`defstruct`								%`RELATIVE_ALIAS`{}	Structs have the same `RELATIVE_ALIAS as their parent Module.`
`defstruct NAME: DEFAULT_VALUE, ...`								`NAME`: `DEFAULT_VALUE`	The fields and default values (or `nil` if a list is used instead of a keyword list) for the struct.

Installation

Inside IDE using JetBrains repository

Preferences
Plugins
Browse Repositories
Select Elixir
Install plugin
Apply
Restart the IDE

Inside IDE using Github releases

In browser

Go to releases.
Download the lastest zip.

In IDE

Preferences
Plugins
Install plugin from disk...
Select the downloaded zip.
Apply
Restart the IDE.

Screenshots

Error reporting

If the plugin encounters an error, there is a custom error handler registered, so you can open a pre-populated issue in your browser.

Click the red error notification in bottom right corner of the IDE window.
Fill in a description of what you were doing when the error occurred.
Click "Open Issue against https://github.com/KronicDeth/intellij-elixir"
The IDE will open your browser to https://github.com/KronicDeth/intellij-elixir/issues/new
The title will be filled as [auto-generated], but if you can summarize the issue, change the title.
If the "Fatal IDE Errors" dialog has Attachments, copy their contents to the Attachments section of the issue body.
Review for IP disclosures. This will be public, so use your best judgement of how much of your code to post in the issue.
Click the "Preview" tab to ensure the Markdown formatting looks correct.
Click "Submit new issue".

Donations

If you would like to make a donation you can use Paypal:

If you'd like to use a different donation mechanism (such as Patreon), please open an issue.

Public Donors

I'd like to thank those who have donated to help support this project.

Robin Hillard (@robinhillard) of rocketboots.com
William De Melo Gueiros (williamgueiros)
Gerard de Brieder (@smeevil) of govannon.nl
TreasureData

binarytemple-external/intellij-elixir

Elixir plugin

Features

Project

New

From Existing Sources

Create project from existing sources

Import project from external model

Project Structure

Project Settings

Module Settings

Sources

Paths

Dependencies

New Elixir File

Empty module

Elixir Application

Elixir Supervisor

Elixir GenServer

Elixir GenEvent

Syntax Highlighting and Semantic Annotation

Grammar parsing

Inspections

Ambiguous nested calls

Ambiguous parentheses

Empty Parentheses

Keywords in Parentheses

Positional arguments in Parentheses

Keyword pair colon (:) used in type spec instead of type operator (::)

Keywords appear before the end of list.

Match operator (=) used in type spec instead of type operator (::)

Quick Fixes

Convert : to :: in type specs

Convert = to :: in type specs

Remove space in front of ambiguous parentheses

Code Folding

Controls

Collapsing

Expanding

Regions

Commenter

Delimiters

Auto-inserting

Matching

Building/Compiling

Settings

Individual File

Project

Live Templates

Run Configurations

Mix Tasks

mix test

Creating mix test Run Configurations Manually

Creating mix test Run Configurations from context

Creating/Running mix test Run Configurations from directory

Creating/Running mix test Run Configurations from file

Creating/Running mix test Run Configurations from line

Completion

Aliases and Modules

Aliases inside { }

Function and Macro Calls

Qualified

Unqualified

Module Attributes

Parameters and Variables

Go To Declaration

Alias

Function or Macro

Imported Functions or Macros

Local Functions or Macros

Remote Functions or Macros

Module

Module Attribute

Parameters and Variables

Go To Symbol

Go To Test

Go To Test Subject

Find Usage

Module

Module Attribute

Keyword pair colon (`:`) used in type spec instead of type operator (`::`)

Match operator (`=`) used in type spec instead of type operator (`::`)

Convert `:` to `::` in type specs

Convert `=` to `::` in type specs

`mix test`

Creating `mix test` Run Configurations Manually

Creating `mix test` Run Configurations from context

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from directory

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from file

Creating/Running `mix test` Run Configurations from line

Aliases inside `{ }`