Space Code Reviews in IntelliJ IDEA 2021.1

This update was published by our partner JetBrains. To view the original article, please click here.

JetBrains’ Space makes it easy for you and your team to review code, and discuss changes. You can request a review from one or more team members after the changes. When working on a feature branch, you can merge it back into the base branch, right from Space.

Code reviews and merge requests can be accessed from your browser and using the Space desktop application. And from within the IDE!

The IDE is where developers feel at home because it is the place where they write code and create applications. The native integration between Space and IntelliJ-based IDEs comes with benefits and lets us bring you a great user experience. Code reviews are just a first step!

In this post, let’s see how you can use any IntelliJ-based IDE to browse Space code reviews, assign, manage, view, and submit comments, and accept changes.

JetBrains Space brings software developers together with chats, project management, issue tracking, Git hosting, CI/CD, and package repositories.

If you are using IntelliJ IDEA 2021.1, the Space plugin is now bundled. For other IDEs, you can install the Space plugin manually.

To get started, you’ll need to log in to Space in the IDE. You can do this from the settings, under Tools | Space. Enter the URL to your Space organization, press Log In, and your default browser will ask you to grant access from the IDE.

Once completed, you can use Get from VCS to list all projects and repositories in your Space organization. Search and select the Git repository you want to start with, and click Clone.

The Space plugin also comes with a tool window where you can inspect jobs in Space Automation. The plugin adds code completion, syntax highlighting, for your .space.kts files.

Code Reviews tool window

In the sidebar, or using the Tools | Space | Code Reviews menu, you’ll find the Space Code Reviews tool window. It shows all code reviews for the current project, and lets you search and filter them.

The quick filters let you browse:

• Open or Closed code reviews
• Reviews that contain your changes
• Code reviews needing your attention
• Changes that you need to review
• Reviews assigned to you

Code review timeline

From the list of code reviews, you can navigate to its details. You’ll see basic details of the code review, such as who the authors and reviewers are. You can checkout the merge request’s branch if you want to have the full codebase at your fingertips.

The code review timeline is also shown, where you can see all comments and changes that were made during the lifetime of this code review. You can add and reply to comments, and resolve them.

In Space, everything is a chat. Code review comments are no different: you can write additional comments on the code review, and browse and respond to threads as well. Without having to leave the IDE!

Folks using the browser or Space desktop app will see any comments you add, either directly in the code review if they have it open, or in Space chat.

Reviewing code in the IDE

After you open a code review in the IDE, you’ll see a list of files that were added, changed, or removed. You can open them, and see what was changed using the IDE’s diff viewer. From this diff, you can add comments to any line of code.

Comments are saved as a draft, and sent at the end of your turn in the code review process. If needed, you can use Post now to send the comment immediately.

Accept changes, or wait for response

Once you’re done reviewing changes, you can finish your turn in the code review process. In the code review’s details, you can choose to:

• Accept Changes, when everything looks fine from your point of view; or
• Wait for Response, when you’ve reviewed the changes, but have open questions or concerns.

Any of these options will end your turn in the code review process, and post draft comments you added while looking through code.

Contact us to know more information on JetBrains solutions.

LOGON is a pan-asian company operating in China, Hong Kong (HK), India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand. LOGON has local dedicated trained product specialists in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai and Bangalore. LOGON acts both as value added reseller and sole distributor for award winning software solutions. Customers can buy new licenses, purchase upgrades and renewals from any of our local offices. Contact us for first line support during evaluations, PoCs. We offer best practices consulting services and classroom & online training. Check our site for latest offers, special discounts, bundle deals, etc..