Automatic Data Structures Visualization in IntelliJ IDEA

By: Grigorii Emdin, Dmitrii Kirkhmeier, Nikita Koval

Abstract

Debugging code that involves complex data structures poses significant challenges. We propose an approach that visualizes the runtime state of key data structures — such as arrays, linked lists, and trees — during debugging by leveraging a large language model (LLM) to facilitate and guide the visualization process. Our current implementation, developed as a plug-in for IntelliJ IDEA, supports the highlighting of array indices and enforces correct element sequencing in linked lists.

Keywords

Debugging Tools, Program Visualization, IDE Plugins

Cite as:

Grigorii Emdin, Dmitrii Kirkhmeier, Nikita Koval, “Automatic Data Structures Visualization in IntelliJ IDEA”, Journal of Object Technology, Volume 25, no. 1 ( 2026), pp. 1:1-6, doi:10.5381/jot.2026.25.1.a7.

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