> Markdown version of [IntelliJ IDEA](https://vaadin.com/docs/next/building-apps/ai/technical-setup/ide/intellij). Section index: [llms.txt](https://vaadin.com/docs/next/building-apps/llms.txt)

# IntelliJ IDEA

To connect your Vaadin application with an AI provider such as OpenAI, you could access the environment variable or configure the **API key** specifically for a project in IntelliJ IDEA. The recommended approach is to use **environment variables** instead of hardcoding the key in your source code or IDE settings.

> **Warning:** Never commit API keys to source control. Use environment variables or IDE run configurations instead.

## <a id="using-environment-variables"></a>Using Environment Variables

You can directly reference environment variables in your `application.properties` or `application.yml`. This allows you to reuse the same key across multiple projects and keeps your code clean.

```properties
spring.ai.openai.api-key=${OPENAI_API_KEY}
```

## <a id="configuring-the-api-key-in-intellij-idea"></a>Configuring the API key in IntelliJ IDEA

If you prefer to manage the key within IntelliJ IDEA, you have several options:

- **Run/Debug configuration** - add the environment variable `OPENAI_API_KEY` in **Run → Edit Configurations → Environment Variables**.

- **Maven runner settings** - configure the key under **Settings → Build, Execution, Deployment → Build Tools → Maven → Runner**.

- **VM options** - pass the key as a system property, for example: `-DOPENAI_API_KEY=your-key`.

[Image: configuration intellij]

With these approaches, your Vaadin application can access the **OpenAI API key** securely during development.