Java to Kotlin Conversion Comes to Visual Studio Code

Alina Dolgikh

At JetBrains, we aim to make Kotlin development as accessible and efficient as possible across the entire ecosystem. While IntelliJ IDEA remains the premier IDE for Kotlin, we recognize that many developers use Visual Studio Code for a variety of tasks and projects.

To help streamline the transition from Java to Kotlin for VS Code users, we are pleased to introduce the Java to Kotlin (J2K) converter extension.

Seamless Conversion in VS Code

This new extension allows you to convert individual Java files into Kotlin code with a simple context menu action, significantly reducing the manual effort required when migrating legacy codebases or switching languages mid-project.

Because the extension leverages the same underlying engine used in our primary IDEs, you can expect a reliable conversion that respects Kotlin idioms and syntax requirements.

See it in action

The converter is designed to be unobtrusive and easy to use. Watch the short demo below to see how it handles the conversion process.

How to get started

To begin using the converter, simply:

1. Install the Java to Kotlin Converter extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
2. Open any .java file in your workspace.
3. Right-click anywhere in the editor or on the file in the Explorer and select Convert to Kotlin.

Our Commitment to the Ecosystem

This extension is part of our ongoing effort to support Kotlin users wherever they choose to write code. It joins other initiatives aimed at improving the developer experience outside of IntelliJ IDEA, such as the Kotlin LSP, which provides IDE-independent language support via the Language Server Protocol.

As this is a new release, we highly value your feedback. If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvements, please report them on YouTrack or through the extension’s marketplace page.

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