I've been an ardent IntelliJ IDE user for a long time now. IntelliJ IDE provides ample keyboard shortcuts to help programmers write code fast. Below shortcuts are the top of my most used list.

## `Ctrl + Shift + Enter`

This shortcuts lets me quickly puts the cursor in the new line, even if my cursor is in the middle of my current line. While I mostly uses it to move the cursor to the new line, this shortcut is more advanced than that - it can complete the current statement and place the cursor in the next possible edit.

## `Ctrl + y`

Removes the current line.

## `Ctrl + Shift + E` and then `Ctrl + Shift + E`

The first shortcut shows me the recent location of my cursor and when I press again it filters and shows only the recently edited locations. Once I learned this shortcuts, my mouse usage has come down drastically.

## `Ctrl + E` and then `Ctrl + E`

Similar to the above shortcut, but it shows the files instead of locations.

## `Ctrl + Shift + A`

I can control anything on the IDE basically using just this one shortcut. Search for the settings / action that I want and run it. Switching theme, toggling word wrap, building projects, solving world hunger - anything you want.







5 most useful IntelliJ IDE keyboard shortcuts


At work, I use [PowerShell] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_PowerShell) a lot, mostly for Git commands. By default, the powershell prompt message shows you the full path of the current working directory. i.e. something like this;

    PS C:\vraa\workspace

Which is fine, but I'd like this prompt to be short and informative. In short, I'd want the prompt to:

- Show only the folder name, instead of full path.
- Show the current branch name if inside a Git repo.

Powershell provides an option to customize its behavior. You can write your customization, in terms of functions, and keep them in your $PROFILE file. So, in order to achive my requirement, I used following function.

1.  In Powershell, type `notepad.exe $PROFILE`.
2.  Add following function there.

```shell
function prompt{
  $p = Split-Path (
     Get-Location
     ) -Leaf
  
  git branch | foreach{
    if($_ -match "^\*(.*)"){
     $p += " [" + $matches[1] + " ] "
    }
  }
  
  $p = $p + ">"
  Write-Host $p -NoNewline -ForegroundColor Green
  return " "
}
```

Be sure to keep the function name as `prompt`. Save and restart Powershell.

After the above customization, when you are in a normal folder, Powershell prompt will look like this:

    foldername>

And, when inside a Git repo, the prompt message will look like:

    gitrepo [ master ] >

Thanks to [this] (http://techblogging.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/displaying-git-branch-on-your-powershell-prompt/) for the script to detect current Git branch name.

So, what is your [Powershell customization] (https://veerasundar.com/blog/using-multiple-versions-of-jdk-and-eclipse-in-single-machine/)?


This post explain how you can customize Powershell prompt to show the current Git branch name.

Customize Powershell Prompt Message


Today I learned a neat trick to organize imports in Eclipse. Of course, one can use **Ctrl Shift O **to remove the unused imports at file level. But what if you want to remove the unused imports for several files, may be at package level?

Simple - in the **Package Explorer** window, right click on the package that you want to modify and then select **source -> Organize Imports **which will analyse all the files inside that package and then remove the unused imports.

One more nifty trick is that you can automatically organize the imports when you save the file. To enable this, go to **Windows -> Preferences -> Java -> Editor -> Save Actions **and then enable **Perform the selected action on save -> Organize imports**. After this, whenever you save a java file, eclipse will remove the unused imports automatically.


Organize imports in Eclipse


I have started using [Sublime text][1] as my preferred code editor (for JS, CSS, Coffee). But, I still rely on Eclipse for writing Java code because it auto-imports Java packages and auto suggests variables and method names from my custom class files.

[1]: https://veerasundar.com/blog/unix-alias-with-parameters-or-opening-sublime-text-editor-from-command-line

Working on multiple editors throws in another problem: whenever I make a change in some file outside of Eclipse, the IDE does not silently reload. It shows a blank page saying 'The resource is out of sync. Press F5 to reload'. The message started annoying me soon as I had to switch back and forth often.

It is not just for the multiple editors. Even when I do a *git pull,* the resources go out of sync.

Then, I found a workaround for this. Eclipse provides a built-in option that auto reloads a resource if its out f sync. Here's how you  can enable it.

Go to **Window -> Preferences -> General -> Workspace **and check the option **'Refresh using native hooks or polling'**.

So, the next time when you try to open a out of sync file, the IDE will sync it for you (thus saving you a keystroke, one at a time ![:)][2] ).

[2]: https://veerasundar.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif


How to auto reload external code changes in Eclipse project


Mind Maps are **great**! Repeat, Mind Maps are **very, very great**! Let me show you why.

My work often demands me to switch between several tasks. In any given day, I have to work on several different features, bug fixes and analysis. At first, I was using simple text files to keep things organized. But then as the time goes on, this method proved very in-efficient and time consuming.

So I moved to Mind Maps. I use the free Mind Mapping software [SciPlore MindMapping][1] (I tried [FreeMind][2] too!) to organize my day-to-day notes.

[1]: http://www.sciplore.org/software/sciplore_mindmapping/
[2]: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/

Let me tell How I organize my notes using Mind Map, in the hope that if you are planning to use Mind Map, you'll have some reference to start.

## Starting with the base structure:

Here's how my top level mind map looks like:

![mind mapping structure ][3]As you can see, there are three top level nodes under _Global_:

[3]: https://veerasundar.com/img/2011/03/mind-map-1.png "mind-map-1"

1.  **\*Constants **- \*I use this node to store some static information like, stage URLs, test account names, passwords, etc.
2.  **_Methods _**- This is my knowledge store. I use this node to organize any techniques, or how-to-dos. For example, how to deploy a build on stage, how to remove clearcase views etc.
3.  **_Variables _**- This is the most happening node in this lot. This is my _working space._ This node contains my every day-to-day notes and activity logs. So, lets go further into this node and how I organize this one.

## Organizing the working directory:

![mind-map-working-directory][4]I further split the *Variables *into several team that I'm part of and year (to reduce the clutter) and to Sprints. At work, we follow Agile methodology, so it is very easy for me to organize notes per Sprint. Again for each sprint, I will work on stories as well as bugs. So, I splitted that too.

[4]: https://veerasundar.com/img/2011/03/mind-map-working-directory.png "mind-map-working-directory"

## Not just organizing, but visually prioritizing tasks

Here comes the good part. SciPlore lets me to put some icons next to each node. There are n-number of little icons that I can use to classify a node. For example, if a task is blocked for some reason, then I can assign a RED SIGNAL icon, so that I can immediately recognize the show-stopper if I come back to this task after switching between several tasks. Similarly there are lot more icons there which I can use. Here's a sample classification of one of my Sprint tasks.  
![mind-map-icons][5]

[5]: https://veerasundar.com/img/2011/03/mind-map-icons.png "mind-map-icons"

As you can see above, I have prioritized some stories with the numbers and marked some of them as completed. So, if I just open the stories node, I'll immediately get a picture of what is done and what is yet to be done.

## So, why should you use Mind Maps?

Let me list some of the benefits I get through Mind Maps.

1.  I spend **less time **searching for informations.
2.  I **immediately get to know **what is happening in my project. What's done, what's blocked and what's yet to be done (by means of assigning proper icons). So, at a glance, you get the whole status.
3.  **Visually organizing **rather than copy pasting and using indentation to group things, when compared with text files.
4.  Rather than scattering notes files into multiple folders, I can use a **single mind map **file to store them all.
5.  **Less Clutter **- SciPlore lets me to hide unwanted nodes so that I can focus only on the active task.

So, if you want all the above benefits, you should consider using Mind Maps! It's all up to you. ![:)][6] But, if you are already using Mind Map, I would be really interested to know your story.

[6]: https://veerasundar.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

Feel free to leave a comment about what do you feel about this post!


#productivity (5)