Create your first Java function in Azure using IntelliJ

This article shows you:

  • How to create an HTTP-triggered Java function in an IntelliJ IDEA project.
  • Steps for testing and debugging the project in the integrated development environment (IDE) on your own computer.
  • Instructions for deploying the function project to Azure Functions

If you don't have an Azure subscription, create a free account before you begin.

Set up your development environment

To create and publish Java functions to Azure using IntelliJ, install the following software:

Installation and sign in

  1. In IntelliJ IDEA's Settings/Preferences dialog (Ctrl+Alt+S), select Plugins. Then, find the Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ in the Marketplace and click Install. After installed, click Restart to activate the plugin.

    Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ plugin in Marketplace

  2. To sign in to your Azure account, open sidebar Azure Explorer, and then click the Azure Sign In icon in the bar on top (or from IDEA menu Tools/Azure/Azure Sign in). The IntelliJ Azure Sign In command

  3. In the Azure Sign In window, select Device Login, and then click Sign in (other sign in options).

    The Azure Sign In window with device login selected

  4. Click Copy&Open in Azure Device Login dialog .

    The Azure Login Dialog window

  5. In the browser, paste your device code (which has been copied when you click Copy&Open in last step) and then click Next.

    The device login browser

  6. In the Select Subscriptions dialog box, select the subscriptions that you want to use, and then click Select.

    The Select Subscriptions dialog box

Create your local project

In this section, you use Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ to create a local Azure Functions project. Later in this article, you'll publish your function code to Azure.

  1. Open IntelliJ Welcome dialog, select Create New Project to open a new Project wizard, select Azure Functions.

    Create function project

  2. Select Http Trigger, then click Next and follow the wizard to go through all the configurations in the following pages; confirm your project location then click Finish; Intellj IDEA will then open your new project.

    Create function project finish

Run the project locally

  1. Navigate to src/main/java/org/example/functions/HttpTriggerFunction.java to see the code generated. Beside the line 17, you will notice that there is a green Run button, click it and select Run 'azure-function-exam...', you will see that your function app is running locally with a few logs.

    Local run project

    Local run project output

  2. You can try the function by accessing the printed endpoint from browser, like http://localhost:7071/api/HttpTrigger-Java?name=Azure.

    Local run function test result

  3. The log is also printed out in your IDEA, now, stop the function app by clicking the stop button.

    Local run function test log

Debug the project locally

  1. To debug the function code in your project locally, select the Debug button in the toolbar. If you don't see the toolbar, enable it by choosing View > Appearance > Toolbar.

    Local debug function app button

  2. Click on line 20 of the file src/main/java/org/example/functions/HttpTriggerFunction.java to add a breakpoint, access the endpoint http://localhost:7071/api/HttpTrigger-Java?name=Azure again , you will find the breakpoint is hit, you can try more debug features like step, watch, evaluation. Stop the debug session by click the stop button.

    Local debug function app break

Deploy your project to Azure

  1. Right click your project in IntelliJ Project explorer, select Azure -> Deploy to Azure Functions

    Deploy project to Azure

  2. If you don't have any Function App yet, click No available function, click to create a new one.

    Create function app in Azure

  3. Type in the function app name and choose proper subscription/platform/resource group/App Service plan, you can also create resource group/App Service plan here. Then, keep app settings unchanged, click OK and wait some minutes for the new function app to be created. After Creating New Function App... progress bar disappears.

    Deploy function app to Azure create app wizard

  4. Select the function app you want to deploy to, (the new function app you just created will be automatically selected). Click Run to deploy your functions.

    Screenshot shows the Deploy Azure Functions dialog box.

    Deploy function app to Azure log

Manage function apps from IDEA

  1. You can manage your function apps with Azure Explorer in your IDEA, click on Function App, you will see all your function apps here.

    View function apps in explorer

  2. Click to select on one of your function apps, and right click, select Show Properties to open the detail page.

    Show function app properties

  3. Right click on your HttpTrigger-Java function app, and select Trigger Function, you will see that the browser is opened with the trigger URL.

    Screenshot shows a browser with the U R L.

Add more functions to the project

  1. Right click on the package org.example.functions and select New -> Azure Function Class.

    Add functions to the project entry

  2. Fill in the class name HttpTest and select HttpTrigger in the create function class wizard, click OK to create, in this way, you can create new functions as you want.

    Screenshot shows the Create Function Class dialog box.

    Add functions to the project output

Cleaning up functions

  1. Deleting functions in Azure Explorer

    Screenshot shows Delete selected from a context menu.

Next steps

You've created a Java project with an HTTP triggered function, run it on your local machine, and deployed it to Azure. Now, extend your function by...

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