> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://boxlang-ide.ortusbooks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://boxlang-ide.ortusbooks.com/intellij/settings-reference.md).

# Settings Reference

The BoxLang IntelliJ plugin provides two levels of configuration: **application-level** (global) settings that apply to all projects, and **project-level** overrides for team collaboration.

Access settings via **Settings → Languages & Frameworks → BoxLang**.

***

## Application-Level Settings

Application-level settings are global defaults that apply to all BoxLang projects unless overridden at the project level.

### Runtime Configuration

| Setting             | Type         | Default        | Description                                                            |
| ------------------- | ------------ | -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **BoxLang Runtime** | Status panel | Not installed  | Shows current runtime status with Download/Change/Delete actions       |
| **BoxLang Home**    | Path         | `~/.boxlang`   | Directory for BoxLang configuration, modules, and logs                 |
| **Java Home**       | Path         | System default | Path to Java 21+ installation. Leave empty to use system Java          |
| **Use .bvmrc**      | Checkbox     | Enabled        | When enabled, reads BoxLang version from `.bvmrc` file in project root |

### LSP Configuration

| Setting                 | Type         | Default           | Description                                                                               |
| ----------------------- | ------------ | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **LSP Module**          | Status panel | Not installed     | Shows current LSP status with Download/Change/Delete actions                              |
| **LSP BoxLang Version** | Text         | (runtime version) | BoxLang version used by the LSP server. Leave empty to match runtime                      |
| **LSP BoxLang Home**    | Path         | (runtime home)    | BoxLang home directory for the LSP server. Leave empty to match runtime                   |
| **LSP Modules**         | Text         | (empty)           | Comma-separated list of BoxLang modules to install in LSP home (e.g., `bx-esapi, bx-pdf`) |
| **LSP JVM Args**        | Text         | (empty)           | Additional JVM arguments for the LSP server process                                       |
| **LSP Module Path**     | Path         | (auto)            | Path to LSP module JAR. Leave empty for automatic management                              |
| **Max Heap Size**       | Spinner      | 512 MB            | Maximum heap size for LSP server (64-8192 MB, step 64)                                    |

### Debugger Configuration

| Setting                  | Type         | Default       | Description                                                       |
| ------------------------ | ------------ | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Debugger Module**      | Status panel | Not installed | Shows current debugger status with Download/Change/Delete actions |
| **Debugger Module Path** | Path         | (auto)        | Path to debugger module JAR. Leave empty for automatic management |

***

## Project-Level Settings

Project-level settings override application-level defaults for the current project. Access via **Settings → Languages & Frameworks → BoxLang → Project Overrides**.

All settings from the application level can be overridden at the project level. This is useful for:

* **Team collaboration** — Share project-specific BoxLang versions
* **Multi-project workspaces** — Different BoxLang versions per project
* **Testing** — Try new BoxLang versions without affecting global settings

***

## Runtime Management Actions

The runtime, LSP, and debugger status panels provide three actions:

| Action       | When Available | Description                                              |
| ------------ | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Download** | Not installed  | Download and install the latest version from ForgeBox/S3 |
| **Change**   | Installed      | Select a different version from available versions       |
| **Delete**   | Installed      | Remove the installed version from the cache              |

Clicking the **path link** opens the installation directory in your system file browser.

***

## .bvmrc Support

When **Use .bvmrc** is enabled, the plugin reads the BoxLang version from a `.bvmrc` file in the project root:

```
1.13.0
```

Or use `latest` for the most recent version:

```
latest
```

The `.bvmrc` version takes precedence over the configured runtime version.

***

## Storage Locations

The plugin stores downloaded components in the IDE's system directory:

| Component            | Location                                   |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Runtime versions** | `{IDE_SYSTEM}/boxlang/runtimes/{version}/` |
| **LSP modules**      | `{IDE_SYSTEM}/boxlang/lsp/{version}/`      |
| **Debugger modules** | `{IDE_SYSTEM}/boxlang/debugger/{version}/` |

Each version directory contains the JAR file and a `version.json` metadata file.

***

## Related Pages

* [Installation](/intellij/installation.md)
* [Runtime Management](/intellij/runtime-management.md)
* [Run Configurations](/intellij/run-configurations.md)
* [Debugging](/intellij/debugging.md)


---

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