Java Development Tutorial#

Welcome to the Java development tutorial! This step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know to become productive with Java development in Neovim.

Note: This tutorial focuses on Java. For Rust-specific features and workflows, see the Rust Development Guide.

What You’ll Learn#

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be able to:

Set up and navigate a Java project in Neovim
Write Java code with intelligent auto-completion
Create classes, packages, and manage project structure
Navigate large codebases efficiently
Debug Java applications
Run and manage JUnit tests
Use self-hosted AI coding assistants (via Ollama)

Prerequisites#

Before starting, make sure you have:

Neovim 0.9+ installed
JDK 11 or later
Neovim4j configuration installed (see Installation Guide)
Basic familiarity with Vim motions (or willingness to learn as you go)

Tutorial Structure#

This tutorial is divided into 10 progressive lessons:

Project Setup - Creating your first Java project
Hello World - Writing and running your first program
Code Completion - Using IntelliSense and auto-completion
Creating Classes - Managing Java classes and files
Managing Packages - Organizing code with packages
Buffer Navigation - Working with multiple files
Code Navigation - Finding definitions, references, and more
Debugging - Setting breakpoints and debugging code
Testing - Running JUnit tests
Workflows - Real-world development scenarios

How to Use This Tutorial#

Follow in order: Each lesson builds on the previous one
Hands-on practice: Try every example yourself
Take your time: Don’t rush - mastery comes with practice
Keep references handy: Have the Quick Reference open while learning

Time Commitment#

Quick learner: 2-3 hours to complete all lessons
Thorough learner: 4-6 hours with practice exercises
Beginner to Vim: Add 1-2 hours for Vim basics

Ready to Start?#

Let’s begin with Lesson 1: Project Setup!

Need help? Refer to the Quick Reference for keybinding cheat sheets.