registry

name	registry
description	Guidelines for using the IntelliJ Registry API. Use when working with registry keys or feature flags.

Working with Registry

Guidelines for using the IntelliJ Registry API.

Documentation

• Defining Registry Keys: Registry.md - How to declare keys in plugin.xml or registry.properties
• Cloud Registry: Cloud Registry and Notifications.md - Remote registry updates for JetBrains IDEs

Quick Reference

Defining a Registry Key

Always prefer declaring in plugin.xml (not registry.properties):

<registryKey key="my.feature.enabled"
             defaultValue="true"
             description="Enables my feature"
             restartRequired="false"/>

To override in a dependent plugin:

<registryKey key="my.feature.enabled"
             defaultValue="false"
             description="Enables my feature"
             restartRequired="false"
             overrides="true"/>

Accessing the Registry

In suspending code:

val isEnabled = RegistryManager.getInstanceAsync().get("my.key")

In blocking code:

val isEnabled = RegistryManager.getInstance().get("my.key")

Access via Registry.get() or Registry.is() is effectively deprecated, since it might cause problems during early IDE startup. Always prefer the RegistryManager when possible.

Early Startup: Registry.is() with Default Value

When code may run before COMPONENTS_LOADED state (e.g., during EULA dialog, splash screen), you MUST use Registry.is(key, defaultValue) with an explicit default:

// Required for early startup code
Registry.`is`("my.key", false)  // default must match registry.properties

How to find the default value:

1. Search in community/platform/util/resources/misc/registry.properties
2. Or check the <registryKey> declaration in plugin.xml

Why: Registry.is(key) without default throws an exception if called before LoadingState.COMPONENTS_LOADED. The safe overload returns the provided default when Registry is not yet initialized.

Override via Command Line

For testing or run configurations:

-Dmy.registry.key=value

Registry in Tests

Use @RegistryKey annotation instead of Registry.get().setValue():

@Test
@RegistryKey(key = "my.registry.key", value = "true")
fun testWithRegistryEnabled() { ... }

See writing-tests.md for more test patterns.