Build overview
When you work with various build tools in IntelliJ IDEA, you might find it challenging to figure out what build action is running what build process.
Build main menu action
Unless you delegate the build process to one of the build tools, you can use IntelliJ IDEA to build your project.
Build a project with IntelliJ IDEA
From the main menu, select . Alternatively, press Ctrl+F9 to build your project.
IntelliJ IDEA compiles all the classes inside your build target and places them inside the output directory.
You can check the result in the Build tool window.
For more information, refer to Compile and build applications with IntelliJ IDEA.
Build with Gradle
If you have a Gradle project then by default the build process is delegated to Gradle.
You can invoke the project building by using the main menu, or you can use the Gradle tool window. However, invoking the build from the main menu, will only compile the code.
Use build action from the main menu
From the main menu, select . Alternatively, press Ctrl+F9 to compile your project.
Gradle runs the
classesandtestClassestasks only.You can check the result in the Build tool window.
In a Gradle project, the Gradle tool window is the main part of your work process. It displays a structure of the build cycle, a list of tasks that you can execute, a list of dependencies used in the project. In addition, you can perform various actions such as linking a project, reloading it, and so on.
If you run the build task in the Gradle tool window, you will get the full build process such as generating classes, running tests, packaging, and so on.
Run the build task
In the Gradle tool window, click the node.
Click the build node and double-click the build task.
Check the result in the Run tool window.
Build with Maven
If you have a Maven project, then you can delegate the build actions to Maven instead of IntelliJ IDEA. However, invoking the project build from the main menu, will only execute the Maven install phase.
So, if you work with Maven project, you should use the Maven tool window to compiling, building and deploying the project.
Run the build phase
In the Maven tool window, click the node.
Double-click the verify goal to run it.
Check the result in the Run tool window.