How We're Improving Performance of IntelliJ IDEA Kotlin Plugin

In this talk, Vladimir Dolzhenko shares the challenges and solutions faced in improving the performance of the Kotlin plugin for IntelliJ IDEA. The presentation delves into the technical details of how the IDE operates, covering features like "Find usages" and code highlighting. It addresses potential reasons for IDE freezes and explores the complexities of Kotlin/Java interop. A significant focus is placed on the upcoming Kotlin plugin utilizing the K2 compiler, with expectations of substantial performance gains for various IDE features. The talk also touches upon the importance of performance as an ongoing discipline, including measurement, performance testing, CI integration, and expertise in both code and measurement techniques. Specific optimizations, such as the use of compiler reference index and improvements in semantic highlighting, are discussed, along with the transition to Kotlin 2.0 and its impact on performance.