Data

Tools

Indexes

Applications

Experiments

Awesome

An open API service indexing awesome lists of open source software.

https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij

CLion / IntelliJ plugin for Bazel projects
https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij

bazel build-tool cpp ide intellij intellij-plugin

Last synced: 25 days ago
JSON representation

CLion / IntelliJ plugin for Bazel projects

Awesome Lists containing this project

README 

          
# A CLion plugin for [Bazel](http://bazel.build) projects



As of July 1, 2025, the Bazel for IntelliJ and Bazel for CLion plugins are maintained by JetBrains. These plugins are not offered by nor affiliated with Google. The Bazel trademark and logo are the property of Google LLC.



This project uses binary bundles licensed under [JetBrains User Agreement](https://www.jetbrains.com/legal/docs/toolbox/user/).



The Bazel for CLion plugin is uploaded to the [JetBrains Marketplace](https://jb.gg/bazel-for-clion) regularly from the state of this repository. See the [releases](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/releases) tab for more information.



## Community

The Bazel project is hosting a Special Interest Group (SIG) for Bazel IntelliJ IDE plug-in. Details about the SIG and 

how to join the discussion can be found in the [SIG charter](https://github.com/bazelbuild/community/blob/main/sigs/bazel-intellij/CHARTER.md).



## Support

See the [documentation entry](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/blob/master/docs/index.md)

on the plugin support across JetBrains products, languages, and operating

systems.



## Source Code Locations

The Bazel for CLion plugin is built and released from the [master branch](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij) of this repository. 



The Bazel for IntelliJ plugin is built and released from the [ijwb branch](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/tree/ijwb) of this repository. However, maintenance for the IntelliJ plugin is limited to ensuring compatibility with new versions of JetBrains IDEs. No new features or bug fixes will be provided.



The Bazel for Android Studio plugin is built and released from [AOSP](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/tools/adt/idea/+/refs/heads/mirror-goog-studio-main/aswb/). The [google branch](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/tree/google) is now deprecated. The last snapshot of the Android Studio plugin that was hosted in this repository can be found on the [aswb branch](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/tree/aswb).



Although the code in this repository and in AOSP share the same structure and core components, they have diverged from each other. 



- Changes for the CLion plugin are *only* merged into the master branch of this repository. Users can request 

  that certain fixes which are also needed for the Android Studio plugin get merged into the AOSP project. This will 

  require the internal teams’ approval. 

- Changes made by the internal Google teams are automatically exported to AOSP. These commits were regularly 

  cherry-picked to the master branch. See the next paragraph for details.

- The Android Studio plugin was removed from the master branch and is now only available in the AOSP. 



### Cherry-picks from AOSP to this project



After the migration of the Android Studio plugin to [AOSP](https://android.googlesource.com/platform/tools/adt/idea/+/refs/heads/mirror-goog-studio-main/aswb/), this process was interrupted for approximately five months.



In November 2024, many changes from AOSP were cherry-picked in [6965](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/6965).

Starting from that point, we have been making our best effort to apply AOSP changes to the [master branch](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/tree/master).



For this purpose, we use the Python tool [LeFrosch/intellij-aosp-merge](https://github.com/LeFrosch/intellij-aosp-merge), which is capable of adjusting paths from AOSP to this project's layout and allows us to compare revisions in AOSP and here.



Status of picked and skipped commits could be found in the following [googledoc](https://jb.gg/aosp-picks).



Due to multiple regressions caused by picks from the AOSP, cherry-picks have been halted for the time being.



## Installation



You can find our plugin in the [JetBrains Marketplace](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/8609-bazel)

or directly from the IDE by going to `Settings -> Plugins -> Marketplace`, and searching for `Bazel`.



## Usage

We recommend watching [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_KwWK3Qy8) to familiarize yourself with the plugin's features.



To import an existing Bazel project, choose `Import Bazel Project`,

and follow the instructions in the project import wizard.



Detailed docs are available [here](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/blob/master/docs/index.md).



## Known issues



### Python debugging

Please read this comment https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/issues/4745#issue-1668398619



### Remote Development

To properly set up Remote Development (https://www.jetbrains.com/remote-development/), follow these steps:

1. Create an empty project on the remote machine (this can be just an empty directory).

2. Import the project using Remote Development.

3. Install the Bazel Plugin on the host machine.

4. Close the project.

5. Open the initially intended project.



## Building the plugin

Install Bazel, then build the target `//clwb:clwb_bazel_zip`:

```

bazel build //clwb:clwb_bazel_zip --define=ij_product=clion-oss-latest-stable

```



from the project root. This will create a plugin zip file at `bazel-bin/clwb/clwb_bazel.zip`, which can be installed directly from the IDE. 



If the IDE refuses to load the plugin because of version issues, specify the correct `ij_product`. These are in the form `clion-oss-` with `` being one of 

* `oldest-stable`

* `latest-stable`

* `under-dev`.



Alternatively, for you can set `ij_product` to direct CLion versions, for example `clion-2025.2`.



`-oss-oldest-stable` and `-oss-latest-stable` are aliases for the two IDE versions

that the plugin is officially compatible with at a given time. `-oss-latest-stable` usually 

maps to the last released IDE version while `-oss-oldest-stable` maps to the one right before that, 

e.g. `-oss-oldest-stable=2022.1` and `-oss-latest-stable=2022.2`. Additionally, 

`-oss-under-dev` represents the upcoming version of the IDE that we are working towards 

supporting. A complete mapping of all currently defined versions can be found in 

`intellij_platform_sdk/build_defs.bzl`.



You can import the project into IntelliJ (with the Bazel plugin)

via importing the `ijwb/ijwb.bazelproject` file.



## Compatibility with IDE Versions



You can build the plugin for different IDE versions by adjusting the `ij_product` 

option either from command line or by updating the `.bazelproject` file to specify

the desired value for `ij_product` under `build_flags`. 



We have three aliases for product versions;

  * `oldest-stable` is the oldest IDE version supported by the Bazel plugin released to 

  the JetBrains stable channel.

  * `latest-stable` is the latest IDE version supported by the Bazel plugin released to

  the JetBrains stable channel.

  * `under-dev` is the IDE version we are currently working towards supporting.



The current corresponding IDE versions of these aliases can be found [here](./intellij_platform_sdk/build_defs.bzl#L31).



## Contributions



We welcome contributions to support new IDE versions. However, to make

the review process faster and easier, we recommend the following:



  * We can only accept small pull requests. Smaller pull requests tend to have 

    fewer review comments and hence can get submitted much faster. They also tend

    to conflict less with our internal code base, simplifying the integration for us. 

    For example, you should have separate pull requests each focusing on a certain incompatible change

    rather than having a large pull request fixing multiple ones.

    

  * Since we continue to support a number of IDE versions while working on a new

    one, you need to make sure that your proposed changes do not break

    older versions. Our presubmit pipeline will take care of testing your changes

    against all the supported versions and lets you know whether it broke anything.

    

  * To facilitate merging your changes into upstream, we recommend following

    our procedure for supporting SDK backward-compatibility. 

    

    * First consider adjusting the plugin code so that it directly works with different IDE versions. 

      Example strategies for this would be:

      

      * Switching to a (possibly newer) IntelliJ platform API which is available in all relevant IDE versions. Example: [pr/2623](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/2623)

      * Switching to a raw class by removing a generic type parameter which differs across versions. Example: [pr/2631](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/2631)

    

    * For non-trivial incompatible changes, the code for maintaining SDK compatibility lives

      in [sdkcompat](./sdkcompat) and [testing/testcompat](./testing/testcompat) directories, where `testing/testcompat`

      holds test-only SDK compatibility changes. Each of the two directories contains a sub-folder per supported IDE version with 

      version-specific implementations. The outside API of all classes must be the same across versions, just 

      the implementation may differ. When introducing a new file in this directory, make sure to duplicate

      it appropriately across all versions.  

      We follow these three techniques for non-trivial incompatible changes.

    

      * **Compat**  

         Preferred to Adapter and Wrapper when applicable. We add a util-class with 

         only static methods and a private constructor and wrap the changed method by one of the 

         static methods. If the change is small enough, you do not need to create a new util-class

         and should add the change to [BaseSdkCompat class](./sdkcompat/v222/com/google/idea/sdkcompat/general/BaseSdkCompat.java) 

         instead. Example: [pr/2345](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/2345)



      * **Adapter**  

         Used when we extend a super class and its constructor is updated.

         We create a new class extending the changed super class then extend this new class

         from the plugin code. Example: [pr/2352](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/2352)



      * **Wrapper**  

        Created when a new interface is used in a super class constructor. We create

        a wrapper class that wraps and supplies the old or the new interface based on

        the SDK version and use this wrapper class in the plugin code.

        Example: [pr/2166](https://github.com/bazelbuild/intellij/pull/2166)



  * All compat changes must be commented with `#api{API_VERSION}`, e.g. `#api203`.

    This represents the last API version that requires the code, i.e. the one before

    the version you aim to support. This is needed to make it easier to find and

    clean up this functionality when paving old versions.

    

  * Compat classes must never import plugin code and we try to keep the logic and code in them 

    as minimal as possible.



  

We may also be able to accept contributions to fix general issues or adding new features with some caveats:



  * Before opening a pull request, first file an issue and discuss potential

    changes with the devs. This will often save you time you would otherwise

    have invested in a patch which can't be applied.

  * Improvements for old not supported IDE versions will not be accepted.

    Your changes should target the currently supported IDE versions. 

    You can find a list of these versions [here](./intellij_platform_sdk/build_defs.bzl#L31).

  * We can't accept stylistic, refactoring, or "cleanup" changes.

  * We have very limited bandwidth, and applying patches upstream is a

    time-consuming process. Large patches generally can't be accepted unless

    there's clear value for all our users.