Correct way to add external jars (lib/*.jar) to an IntelliJ IDEA project

🎉🔗 Easy and Effective Way to Add External Jars (lib/*.jar) to Your IntelliJ IDEA Project! 🔗🎉

Are those 📦 external jars driving you crazy in your IntelliJ IDEA project? 😩 Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this article, we'll show you the correct way to add those pesky 🐛 jars and get your project up and running smoothly. ✨

🌟 The Challenge 🌟

When setting up your fresh new Java project in IntelliJ IDEA, you might have noticed that only a few directories and files are created by default, such as:

./projectname.iml
./projectname.ipr
./projectname.iws
./src/

Seems like your 🎯 goal is to configure IntelliJ IDEA to include those important dependency JARs located in ./lib/*.jar into your project. But what is the correct way to achieve this in IntelliJ IDEA? Let's uncover the secrets! 🕵️‍♀️

💪 The Solution 💪

To add external jars to your IntelliJ IDEA project, follow these simple steps:

1. Start by creating a lib directory at the root of your project.

   • You can do this by right-clicking on your project's root directory in the Project tool window, selecting "New," and then "Directory."

   • Name the directory as lib.

   • 📌 Pro tip: If you already have a lib directory, skip this step.

2. Place your JAR files in the newly created lib directory.

   • You can drag and drop the desired JAR files into the lib directory in IntelliJ IDEA's Project tool window.

   • Alternatively, you can copy the JAR files using your operating system's file explorer and then paste them into the lib directory.

3. Next, configure IntelliJ IDEA to recognize the JAR files in the lib directory:

   • Right-click on the lib directory in the Project tool window, go to "Mark Directory as," and select "Library Directory."

   • A dialog box will appear. Click "OK" to confirm.

4. Finally, add the JAR files as dependencies to your project:

   • Open the Project Structure dialog by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S (or through the File menu).

   • Select "Modules" on the left.

   • In the "Dependencies" tab, click the + button and choose "JARS or directories."

   • Navigate to the lib directory, select the JAR files, and click "OK."

That's it! You've successfully added the external JARs to your IntelliJ IDEA project. You can now enjoy a seamless development experience without any nagging JAR issues. 🥳

🎯 The Call-to-Action 🎯

We hope this guide has given you a clear understanding of how to add external JARs to your IntelliJ IDEA project. Say goodbye to those 🐛 bugs and hello to smooth sailing! If you found this helpful, make sure to share it with your fellow developers. 🙌

Got any other questions or need further assistance? Let us know in the comments below! We're here to support you on your coding journey. Happy coding! 💻💪

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