GraalVM Tools for Java Extension

You want the power of Java and the simplicity of VS Code? Improve your developer productivity by leveraging GraalVM in VS Code.

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension provides full-fledged support for the Java language. It also includes the power of GraalVM, full debugging capabilities, polyglot support, and lightning-fast just-in-time as well as ahead-of-time compilers - all without ever leaving the comfort of VS Code.

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension performs the work of several extensions in one. Key features include:

• Full Java development support and debugging
• The GraalVM runtime, enabling you to run Java applications unmodified
• The just-in-time Graal compiler, ensuring your code runs fast
• The ahead-of-time compilation with GraalVM Native Image, to turn your Java application into a tiny native executable, perfect for storing in the cloud
• Debugging of Native Image processes at run time
• Integration with VisualVM - for even easier and more powerful debugging
• Native support for the Micronaut framework
• Polyglot programming and debugging for polyglot applications, with support for JavaScript, Node.js, Python, R, and Ruby
• Built-in implementation of Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP)
• Smart editing features such as auto complete, go to declaration, documentation on hover, etc.

This extension makes VS Code a comfortable and convenient integrated development environment for GraalVM developers. Let's get started!

Extension Installation

To install the GraalVM Tools for Java extension in VS Code:

1. Navigate to Extensions in the left-hand side Activity Bar (or use the Ctrl+Shift+X hot keys combination).
2. Search for "GraalVM" in the search field.
3. Once found, click Install.
4. Reload when required.

GraalVM Installation Wizard

After installing the extension, you can install GraalVM by using the built-in installation wizard (click the Gr icon in the left side Activity Bar).

You can either add an existing GraalVM installation (if you already have GraalVM), or download it immediately from within VS Code. The Download & Install GraalVM action is recommended as it eliminates the fuss around setting up environment variables and prepares the GraalVM runtime in VS Code for you. Choose either the Community distribution (free for all purposes) or Enterprise distribution (free for evaluation and development). You can also choose to install additional components (JavaScript and Node.js support, LLVM, etc.).

Proxy Settings

When working behind firewall it is necessary to set the proxy for GraalVM Installation wizard and components installation so these features work properly. The extension will ask for setting this initially. Set:

1. Http: Proxy: to server and port required
2. Http: Proxy Support: on when behind firewall and OFF when working without proxy.

For more information about GraalVM installation and setup, consult the extension documentation.

Java Development and Debugging

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension brings complete support for Java language development and debugging in VS Code, including popular features such as auto completion, code navigation, refactoring, and so on.

Any application that runs on a JVM can run unmodified on GraalVM. GraalVM includes a JDK based on the Java HotSpot VM, and integrates an optimizing, just-in-time (JIT) compiler, written in Java: the Graal compiler.

There are several launch configurations available by default, and you can add more. Take a look at the extension documentation to learn more.

Integration with VisualVM

GraalVM Tools for Java extension provides integration with VisualVM, the all-in-one Java (and polyglot) monitoring and troubleshooting tool. VisualVM brings powerful, yet easy-to-use, visual Java tooling to VS Code.

For more information, see the dedicated guide about VisualVM and VS Code integration using the extension.

Support for the Micronaut Framework

In combination with the GraalVM Tools for Micronaut extension, you can create Micronaut projects, run and debug them directly from VS Code with different debugging protocols. This native support for the Micronaut framework enables you to build a native executable of your Micronaut project using VS Code.

Moreover, you can build a Docker image with the application artifacts, or even build a Docker image containing an executable generated by GraalVM Native Image and deploy it in a container.

See the GraalVM Tools for Micronaut extension documentation to learn more.

Native Image

The GraalVM download includes GraalVM Native Image, which enables you to compile your Java application ahead-of-time compile into a native executable - directly in VS Code. Only the code that is required by the application at run time will be compiled and linked into the final native executable. The advantages are many.

Your application will:

• Be compiled into a small executable file, using a fraction of customary resources - so it runs lightning fast
• Achieve super fast startup and peak performance with no warmup time
• Have improved security by greatly reducing attack surfaces and thwarting reverse engineering

With GraalVM Tools for Java extension you can turn your Java projects into native executables directly in VS Code. Learn how you can do that from the extension documentation. Read more about GraalVM Native Image here.

Native Image Debugging

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension provides Java-like debugging of a native executable in a running state directly from within VS Code. You can set breakpoints, inspect the state of your application, even attach the debugger to a Native Image process in VS Code and step over the Java application source code!

Read more about this and find a demo application in the Native Image Debugging guide.

Polyglot Programming and Debugging

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension enables a polyglot environment in VS Code, providing editing and debugging features for a several popular languages such as Python, Ruby, R, JavaScript, and Node.JS. The extension supports polyglot programming in a bidirectional way: you can embed JavaScript, Ruby, R, and Python in Java, or call Java from those languages. A host language and a guest language can directly interoperate with each other and pass data back and forth in the same memory space.

The GraalVM Tools for Java extension comes with full editing capabilities for JavaScript, Node.js, and Python by default. For editing Ruby and R in VS Code you will need to additionally install language servers. Thanks to GraalVM's built-in implementation of the Language Server Protocol, smart editing features are added on top for those languages such as code-completion, find usages, go to declaration, CodeLens, documentation on hover. The debugging features are provided for all supported languages by default.

Proceed to the dedicated guide to read about debugging JavaScript and Node.JS, Python, Ruby, R applications in VS Code, the Language Server Protocol implementation and editing features.

Built-in Implementation of Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP)

Thanks to the built-in implementation of the Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP), a user can choose a debugging protocol in VS Code by selecting either chromeDevTools or debugAdapter. The advantage of using the Debug Adapter Protocol over Chrome Dev Tools is that it is "native" to VS Code, meaning it does not require any intermediate translation, and it supports multithreading, which can be particularly useful to debug a Ruby application (for example).

See the documentation for more information on Polyglot Programming and Debugging in VS Code.

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