How to generate serial version UID in Intellij

163
votes

When I used Eclipse it had a nice feature to generate serial version UID.

But what to do in IntelliJ?

How to choose or generate identical serial version UID in IntelliJ?

And what to do when you modify old class?

If you haven't specify the id, it is generated at runtime...

4
javaserializationintellij-idea
Duplicate of stackoverflow.com/questions/12912287/… - Bruno Volpato
@JFIB The class constant serialVersionUID is generated by the compiler when not specified. Specifying has the advantage (and danger) of keeping the id identical for changed class versions. That is an file with an object of the old version will be read (deserialized) with the new version or vice versa. - Joop Eggen
@JFB What is a serialVersionUID and why should I use it? - catch23

4 Answers

380
votes

Without any plugins:

You just need to enable highlight: (Idea v.2016, 2017 and 2018, previous versions may have same or similar settings)

File -> Settings -> Editor -> Inspections -> Java -> Serialization issues -> Serializable class without 'serialVersionUID' - set flag and click 'OK'. (For Macs, Settings is under IntelliJ IDEA -> Preferences...)

Now, if your class implements Serializable, you will see highlight and alt+Enter on class name will ask you to generate private static final long serialVersionUID.

UPD: a faster way to find this setting - you might use hotkey Ctrl+Shift+A (find action), type Serializable class without 'serialVersionUID' - the first is the one.

119
votes

Easiest method: Alt+Enter on

private static final long serialVersionUID = ;

IntelliJ will underline the space after the =. put your cursor on it and hit alt+Enter (Option+Enter on Mac). You'll get a popover that says "Randomly Change serialVersionUID Initializer". Just hit enter, and it'll populate that space with a random long.

34
votes

Install GenerateSerialVersionUID plugin

2
votes

IntelliJ IDEA Plugins / GenerateSerialVersionUID https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/?idea&id=185

very nice, very easy to install. you can install that from plugins menu, select install from disk, select the jar file you unpacked in the lib folder. restart, control + ins, and it pops up to generate serial UID from menu. love it. :-)