Busy Plugin Developers Newsletter – Q4 2025

Elena Kerpeleva

Your quarterly dose of plugin dev news, tools, and tips from JetBrains.

🧩 Marketplace Updates

Integration Tests Now Part of Automated Moderation

Integration test results are now displayed directly on the plugin page, alongside Plugin Verifier results on the Versions tab. These tests help ensure that a plugin version works smoothly in the IDE and does not cause exceptions. If a test run is unsuccessful, you can open the detailed report to learn more.

Integration tests are not yet available for paid plugins or plugins designed for Android Studio. We’re actively working on expanding coverage and plan to support these plugin types in the future.

One Unified Vendor Type

We’ve taken a step toward simplifying and unifying vendor logic. Previously, having two vendor types (personal and organization) caused confusion and unnecessary complexity for many authors. With the introduction of a single unified vendor type, the system becomes clearer and easier to understand. This change lays the groundwork for a more consistent and transparent vendor workflow going forward.
More about Vendor profiles →

Updated Default Search on plugins.jetbrains.com

The Marketplace search bar now has IntelliJ IDEA preselected in the filter instead of the generic “IDEs,” helping users narrow their search from the start.
Visit the site →

🔧 Plugin Development Tooling Updates

IntelliJ Platform Plugin Template 2.4.0

Repository that simplifies the initial stages of plugin development for IntelliJ-based IDEs. 

• Updated platformVersion to 2025.2.5
• Simplified IDE setup by switching to the intellijIdea(version) dependency helper.
• Upgraded Gradle, Kotlin, Qodana, and GitHub Actions to their latest versions.

View Changelog →

IntelliJ Plugin Verifier 1.398

Tool that checks binary compatibility between IntelliJ-based IDE builds and plugins. 

• Added support for plugin aliases from content modules in definedModules.
• Removed the Plugin Verifier Service from composite builds.
• Improved compatibility with Java 11.

View Changelog →

IntelliJ Platform Gradle Plugin 2.11.0

Plugin that helps configure your environment for building, testing, verifying, and publishing plugins for IntelliJ-based IDEs. 

• Added support for the --compose-hot-reload argument in RunIdeTask, enabling the Compose Hot Reload agent.
• Introduced new provider-based APIs for configuring IDEs used by the Plugin Verifier, plus an .orRecommended() fallback helper.
• Fixed JavaExec task execution with shortened classpaths, improved IDE resolution for Plugin Verifier (2025.3+), and corrected handling of four-component IDE version numbers.

View Changelog →

💡 Tip of the Quarter

Plugin Verifier Integration Is Essential

Use the verifyPlugin Gradle task and integrate it into your CI pipeline. Plugins on JetBrains Marketplace are checked automatically, and JetBrains will restrict incompatible versions. Catch issues before users do.

📚 Resources & Learning

 📖 Blog

IntelliJ Platform 2025.3: What Plugin Developers Should Know
Learn about the key changes in IntelliJ Platform 2025.3 and how they may affect your plugins, with guidance on maintaining compatibility and addressing common developer questions.
Read →

Major Architectural Update: Introducing the New Search Everywhere API (Built for Remote Development) 
Aydar from the IntelliJ Platform UI team explains how the updated Search Everywhere API improves remote development support in JetBrains IDEs. Essential insights for plugin developers working with this API!
Read →

Meet the Islands Theme – The New Default Look for JetBrains IDEs 
JetBrains IDEs now use the new Islands Theme by default. See what changed and why developers asked for it.
Read →

🛠 IntelliJ Platform Plugin SDK

Supporting the Islands Theme
Learn how to adapt your custom theme to support the Islands theme, including required changes and compatibility guidelines.
Read →

Modular Plugins (Experimental)
Explore how the new Modular Plugins model helps your plugin work reliably in remote development setups, and what changes are required to support it. 
Read →

⭐ Community Spotlight

JetBrains Plugin Developer Conf 2025: Watch the Recordings

Missed Plugin Developper Conf 2025 or want to rewatch your favorite talks? The full conference recordings are now on YouTube.

Explore topics like creating and launching plugins, mastering IntelliJ Platform tools, working with the Language Server Protocol, and AI-powered test generation – all from JetBrains experts and community developers.

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