As we recently started transitioning from IntelliJ IDEA to VS Code and its derivatives like Cursor and Windsor, one thing became immediately apparent: navigating through Java code just wasn't as smooth as we were used to. The lack of quick access to implementations, references, and hierarchies was slowing us down.
So I decided to build a solution.
Introducing Java Code Navigator
Today I'm excited to share Java Code Navigator, a VS Code extension that brings familiar Java navigation capabilities right into your editor through convenient CodeLens actions.
If you've ever found yourself missing the ease of jumping between interfaces and implementations or exploring call hierarchies in VS Code, this extension is for you.
The Problem: Navigation Friction
When our team started using VS Code for Java development, we immediately noticed the friction:
- Right-clicking and selecting "Go to Implementation" felt clunky compared to IntelliJ's one-click navigation
- Finding all references to a method required multiple steps
- Exploring type hierarchies wasn't as accessible
- Performing refactoring operations took more effort
These small frictions added up to a significant productivity hit, especially for those of us who were used to the fluid navigation experience in IntelliJ.