Installing IntelliJ on Windows: A Guide for WSL Users

When it comes to installing IntelliJ on Windows, there are a few things to consider if you plan to use the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) as well. One of the most significant issues is line endings. By default, Jetbrains tools such as WebStorm and IntelliJ assume that files should be written with the line endings from the OS they're running on. This can cause problems when working with projects on both WSL2 and Windows.

On Windows, the git client automatically converts between CRLF and LF for you when pulling and committing changes. However, this can lead to issues when editing files on WSL2. Incorrect line endings can cause problems down the line if not addressed.

Another issue that arises is 'Filesystem Case-Sensitivity Mismatch.' This can be easily fixed by going to 'Help' -> 'Edit Custom Properties' in WebStorm/IntelliJ and setting `filesystem.case.sensitivity=true`. However, this will raise a warning about slow external file changes sync. This is because WebStorm can't start the fsnotifier64 on a network drive, which it thinks your Linux files are on.

To avoid these problems, it's recommended to keep your project files on a native Linux filesystem, such as `/home//projects`, like I do. Here are some of the issues I personally encountered when using WebStorm with WSL2:

* Incorrect line endings

* Filesystem Case-Sensitivity Mismatch

* Slow external file changes sync

If you've managed to get this far, it's likely that you're also experiencing issues using Jetbrains tools with WSL2. By following these tips and keeping your project files organized, you can avoid these problems and enjoy a smoother development experience.

Install intellij on windows