Finding IntelliJ Key Bindings: The Quest for Efficiency

As an avid user of IntelliJ, you may have encountered situations where you need to quickly identify the key bindings for specific actions in the IDE. While related to searching for actions by typing shortcuts into the text filter, this request goes a step further, seeking a way to search for key bindings without relying on mouse interactions.

The Key Promoter plugin does offer some functionality, but unfortunately, it doesn't provide a shortcut for searching key bindings. Moreover, even trying to use the TAB key to cycle through buttons fails to yield results. It's as if the button is intentionally designed to be inaccessible via the keyboard. This frustration is heightened when you realize that the 'Find Action by Shortcut' feature in IntelliJ can only be accessed with mouse assistance.

The question remains: is it possible to search for key bindings without relying on the mouse? In an ideal world, a good keymap should minimize mouse usage, allowing developers to focus on coding. The absence of such a feature in IntelliJ's Keymap settings is puzzling, especially given that there were no reported conflicts.

One possible solution lies in drilling into the Keymap preferences and assigning a shortcut to an arbitrary action. This approach works in most cases, but it can be time-consuming and error-prone. For instance, when trying to assign a 'Maximize Window' shortcut on OS X using 'Ctrl+Alt+Cmd+M', you'd expect the IDE to recognize potential conflicts beforehand.

The ideal scenario would involve having a general-purpose tool for finding keyboard shortcuts bound to IDE actions. This feature would enable developers to quickly identify potential conflicts and optimize their key bindings for maximum efficiency.

In conclusion, while IntelliJ's Keymap settings do provide some functionality for searching key bindings, it falls short of meeting the needs of developers who prefer to work without relying on mouse interactions. The ability to lookup keyboard shortcuts bound to IDE actions would greatly enhance the user experience and minimize frustration.

What do others think?

Do you share this sentiment, or have you found alternative solutions for searching key bindings in IntelliJ? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Find intellij key bindings