# Configuring a Plugin for Split Mode

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/docs/intellij/llms.txt).

> **Tip:**
> Plugins created using the [IDE Plugin generator](creating-plugin-project.html#create-ide-plugin) with the Split Mode (Remote Dev) feature enabled are configured for split mode by default.

Split Mode configuration in the Gradle build script allows for running development sandbox IDEs in mode emulating the [remote development](split-mode-and-remote-development.html) scenario, with both frontend and backend processes running locally. To make a plugin work natively in split mode, see [plugin modularization](modular-plugins.html).

## Basic Configuration

> **Warning:**
> Split Mode requires [IntelliJ Platform Gradle Plugin 2.x](tools-intellij-platform-gradle-plugin.html).

Enable Split Mode in the `intellijPlatform {}` extension:

```KOTLIN
intellijPlatform {
  splitMode = true
  pluginInstallationTarget = SplitModeAware.PluginInstallationTarget.BOTH
}
```

The two relevant properties are:

* [splitMode](tools-intellij-platform-gradle-plugin-extension.html#intellijPlatform-splitMode) – starts separate frontend and backend processes

* [pluginInstallationTarget](tools-intellij-platform-gradle-plugin-extension.html#intellijPlatform-pluginInstallationTarget) – selects where the plugin is installed

## Choosing the Installation Target

Choose `pluginInstallationTarget` according to the code being exercised:

* `BACKEND` for backend-only functionality

* `FRONTEND` for frontend-only functionality

* `BOTH` for typical modular plugins that contain frontend, backend, and shared modules

For split plugin development, `BOTH` is the most common choice.

> **Note:**
> `pluginInstallationTarget` only controls where the plugin is placed in locally run development sandboxes. It doesn't describe end-user installation or synchronization behavior in split mode. See [Plugin Management](plugin-management-in-split-mode.html).

## Custom Run and Test Tasks

Custom split-mode tasks can be declared with `intellijPlatformTesting`:

```KOTLIN
val runIdeSplitMode by intellijPlatformTesting.runIde.registering {
  splitMode = true
  pluginInstallationTarget = SplitModeAware.PluginInstallationTarget.BOTH
}

val testIdeUiSplitMode by intellijPlatformTesting.testIdeUi.registering {
  splitMode = true
  pluginInstallationTarget = SplitModeAware.PluginInstallationTarget.BOTH
}
```

These tasks get dedicated sandboxes and can be used like other development or test tasks. See [IntelliJ Platform Testing Extension](tools-intellij-platform-gradle-plugin-testing-extension.html) for more details.

## Configuring Debug and Trace Logs

Starting with IntelliJ Platform Gradle Plugin 2.15.0, Split Mode provides dedicated `runIdeBackend` and `runIdeFrontend` tasks, so additional log categories can be enabled separately for each process.

```KOTLIN
tasks {
  // Set up the additional debug/trace log categories if needed.
  runIdeBackend {
    systemProperty("idea.log.debug.categories", "com.example.plugin.backend")
  }
  runIdeFrontend {
    systemProperty("idea.log.trace.categories", "com.example.plugin.frontend")
  }
}
```

Set `idea.log.debug.categories` or `idea.log.trace.categories` to the package or logger category names that should be enabled in the corresponding IDE process. Use a comma-separated list to enable multiple categories. If needed, either property can be applied to either task.

## Typical Next Step

After the Gradle configuration is in place, the next step is deciding how the plugin code should be distributed between frontend, backend, and shared modules. See [Implementing a Feature for Split Mode](split-mode-feature-development.html).

## Required Gradle Plugin and Library Versions

The following tables list recommended versions of Gradle plugins and libraries for split mode development, tailored for compatibility with the specified IntelliJ Platform versions.

### Gradle Plugins

| IntelliJ Platform | `rpc` | `org.jetbrains.kotlin.plugin.serialization` |
| 2026.3 | 2.4.0-RC-0.1 | 2.4.0 |
| 2026.2 | 2.4.0-RC-0.1 | 2.4.0 |
| 2026.1 | 2.3.20-RC2-0.1 | 2.3.20 |
| 2025.3 | 2.1.20-0.1 | 2.1.20 |

### Libraries

| IntelliJ Platform | `kotlinx-serialization-core-jvm` | `kotlinx-serialization-json-jvm` |
| 2026.3 | 1.11.0 | 1.11.0 |
| 2026.2 | 1.9.0 | 1.9.0 |
| 2026.1 | 1.9.0 | 1.9.0 |
| 2025.3 | 1.7.3 | 1.7.3 |