Where to add compiler options like -ea in IntelliJ IDEA?

Question

I want to add the -ea option. I set it in Project Settings --> Compiler --> Java Compiler : Additional command line parameters.

But it caused a make error: invalid flag: -ea. P.S.: the above error message may not be the same as yours, because IntelliJ showed error in my native language, not English. I translated it into English.

-ea (enable assertions). Assertions are disabled by default in Oracle HotSpot — ceph3us, Jul 20 '16 at 01:45

score 91 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 27 '17 at 09:39

91

The -ea option to enable assertions is passed to the JVM not to the compiler. Add it as a VM option for your runtime configuration.

Specific location in the menu: Run > Edit Configurations... > Configuration > VM options:

edited Oct 27 '17 at 09:39

Stefan van den Akker

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answered Aug 11 '13 at 02:56

Dev

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can this configuration be modified during unit tests started with gradle for example? – Dinesh Nov 29 '17 at 13:35
Don't forget to hit save icon after adding -ea. – Swapnil Chaudhari Aug 21 '19 at 08:54

score 10 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 27 '17 at 09:45

10

You can also make IntelliJ IDEA support assertions by default by changing the default Application configuration:

In the top menu, press Run > Edit Configurations > Defaults > Application > VM options.

To enable the assertion feature for all application, you could just fill the VM options with -ea

edited Oct 27 '17 at 09:45

Stefan van den Akker

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answered Nov 04 '15 at 05:41

neo

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By "Defaults", do you mean "Templates"? – jduan Jul 29 '19 at 23:20
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@jduan, Yes, kind of. When you set the VM options like above, every time you add configuration, assertion feature is enabled by default – neo Jul 30 '19 at 03:55
Isn't this exactly the same thing as the accepted answer? – Ojonugwa Jude Ochalifu Sep 21 '19 at 08:25
Is there a way to enable assertions to any debug build to all developers - maybe using a Gradle property? – Marcello Galhardo Jan 03 '20 at 14:14
What is "Defaults?" There is no such item in the run configurations list pane. Nor is there "Templates." In fact there isn't even "Edit configurations" just "Run configurations." – romulusnr May 06 '20 at 23:13

score 7 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 17 '21 at 22:44

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For IntelliJ IDEA 2020.3:

Run -> Edit Configurations... -> Modify options -> Add VM options.
Input -ea then click OK button.

answered Jan 17 '21 at 22:44

Jimmy_Rw

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 25 '22 at 10:54

Build, Execution, Deployment -> Compiler -> Java Compiler -> Override compiler parameters per-module -> +

Your project name is module name. And add -ea to the Compilation options for javac

It works for IDEA 2021.2, Fedora linux x86_64, OpenJDK 1.8 64bit

Where to add compiler options like -ea in IntelliJ IDEA?

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