IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 EAP 2: Default New UI, Improved Kotlin K2 Mode, And More

Maria Kosukhina

IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 EAP 2 is now available with significant updates and improvements. This build switches the default look of IntelliJ IDEA to the new UI, leaving the classic one available as a plugin. It features preview functionality for the Search Everywhere dialog, enhances Kotlin K2 mode, and introduces other improvements that you can try right away!

You can download the new version from our website, update directly from the IDE via the free Toolbox App, or use snaps for Ubuntu.

Download IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 EAP 2

Let’s take a closer look at what’s included.

User experience 

The new UI made default for all users

The new UI for JetBrains IDEs was introduced two years ago and has been continuously refined. We’ve diligently collected your feedback and improved the IDEs’ look and feel to ensure a smooth and gradual transition. Over the last few releases, we’ve seen high adoption rates for the new UI, and we’ve addressed the main issues based on your feedback. Now, we believe the new UI is ready for everyone. Starting with the IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 EAP 2 build, it will become the default option.

If you prefer the classic UI, you can still use it by installing the corresponding plugin, which is available from JetBrains Marketplace.

Preview option in Search Everywhere

The Search Everywhere dialog now includes an option to preview the codebase elements you’re searching for. Enabling this feature through the Preview icon on the dialog’s toolbar will cause a preview pane to appear under the search results, offering additional context and making it easier to navigate through your project.

Auto-detect proxy enabled by default for new users

IntelliJ IDEA now automatically detects system proxy settings configured on your machine and uses them by default, facilitating seamless interaction with external resources and services.

Kotlin

Improved K2 mode

In IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1, we launched K2 mode (Alpha), which effectively enables a brand-new mechanism for Kotlin support in the IntelliJ IDEA. It brings several stability and performance improvements, along with support for upcoming Kotlin language features. We benchmarked K2 mode against the IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate source base and found that its code highlighting performance was nearly twice as good.

It will be compatible with all Kotlin versions from 1.9 onwards:

To activate it, go to Preferences/Settings | Languages & Frameworks | Kotlin and tick the Enable K2 Kotlin Mode checkbox. 

In the current EAP build, K2 mode now enjoys improved stability and adds support for more of IntelliJ IDEA’s features, including:

• Refactorings (Extract Function/Parameter/Property, Inline declaration, Introduce constant)
• Inlay hints
• Smart Step Into in the debugger

By the end of 2024, we aim to have support for most IntelliJ IDEA features and plan to enable K2 mode by default.

This is why we need your feedback now! Help us fine-tune K2 mode so we can launch it in top shape. You can share your experiences with us by posting in our public Slack channel or creating an issue in YouTrack. We value your insights!

Other improvements coming for K2 mode

Version 2024.2 will include other major K2 mode features, such as support for the J2K converter, Kotlin Multiplatform, and .gradle.kts.

We’re also creating a migration guide for plugin developers to help them migrate their plugins quickly and ensure they are compatible with K2 mode. 

Version control systems 

Updated Local History dialog

We’ve modernized the UI of the Local History dialog. Additionally, when accessed for a directory, it now features a diff view next to the list of changes, making them easier to understand.

The Recent Changes popup has been replaced by a tool window tab, providing a list of changes and a dedicated browser for more convenient navigation and review.

Enhanced user experience with the Log tool window 

All settings related to the Log tool window have been consolidated into a dedicated settings page, making it easy to customize its behavior in one convenient location. You can access this page through Settings / Preferences | Version Control | Log or via a new dropdown menu on the Log tool window’s toolbar.

Additionally, you can now open the Git log as a tab in the editor, providing more workspace and easier navigation through the list of commits and related details. This action is available through the same dropdown menu in the tool window’s toolbar.

JetBrains Runtime 

Switch to JBR 21

With IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 EAP 2, we’re transitioning from JetBrains Runtime 17 (JBR17) to JetBrains Runtime 21 (JBR21). Starting with this build, all IntelliJ IDEA 2024.2 updates will come with JBR21, offering enhanced security and performance, as well as Wayland rendering support for Linux.

These are the main updates for this week. For more details, check out the release notes. Please test the new features and leave your feedback in the comment section below or on X (formerly Twitter). If you spot a bug, report it using our dedicated issue tracker.

Happy developing!

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