intellij-sdk-code-samples/basics/getting_started/setting_up_environment.md

---
layout: editable
title: Setting Up Development Environment
---


To set up your plugin development environment:

*  Check out the source code of IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition as described in
   [Check Out And Build Community Edition](checkout_and_build_community.html).

*  Create a new *IntelliJ IDEA SDK*:

   ![Create IntelliJ IDEA SDK](img/create_intellij_idea_sdk.png)

*  Set *IDEA jdk* created in
   [Check Out And Build Community Edition](checkout_and_build_community.html)
   as the default Java SDK:

   ![Set IDEA JDK](img/set_idea_jdk.png)

*  Specify your installation folder of *IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition* as the home path.

   **Note:**
   You may use IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate as an alternative, but the debugging of core code will only work with the *Community Edition*.

*  In the Sourcepath tab of the SDK settings, click the ```Add``` button:

   ![Add Sourcepath](img/add_sourcepath.png)

*  Specify the directory into which you have checked out the sources of the *Community Edition*:

   ![Specify Source Paths](img/community_sources_directory.png)

*  Select **File \| New \| Module** and choose the *IntelliJ Platform Plugin* module type

   ![IntelliJ Platform Plugin Module](img/intellij_platform_plugin_module.png)

*  Enter your desired plugin name.

*  Go to **File \| Project Structure** and select the newly created *IntelliJ Platform SDK* as the default SDK for the plugin module:

   ![Set Plugin Module SDK](img/set_plugin_module_sdk.png)