I Built CodeSpotlight: Animated Code Selection for IntelliJ IDEA
When you're explaining code in a tutorial, presentation, or live coding session, there's a simple problem:
Where should the viewer look?
I built CodeSpotlight to make the answer visually obvious.
CodeSpotlight is an IntelliJ IDEA plugin that turns your selected code into a customizable visual focus with animated effects.
✨ What it does
Instead of changing your code or adding annotations, CodeSpotlight adds a visual layer around your current selection.
It supports:
- Animated code selection
- Multiple animation modes
- Custom primary and secondary colors
- Moving light segments
- Light trails
- Focus Mode
- Saved presets
- Free + Pro features
Everything is configured directly inside IntelliJ IDEA.
🎯 Why I built it
I wanted selected code to remain visually obvious while recording tutorials and explaining code.
For example, instead of saying:
"Look at this method here..."
the selected code can become the visual focus automatically.
It can be useful for:
- Coding tutorials
- Live coding
- Technical presentations
- Screen recordings
- Teaching
- Code demonstrations
🛠️ Built with
Kotlin + IntelliJ Platform SDK + Gradle
The plugin works within the IntelliJ IDEA editor and preserves the normal code selection and editing behavior.
🎥 Demo
🔌 Try it
https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/34323-codespotlight/
CodeSpotlight is available as a free version with additional Pro features.
I'm especially interested in feedback from other IntelliJ IDEA users:
Would a visual focus effect like this be useful in your coding workflow?
showdev #intellijidea #kotlin #java
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