IntelliJ IDE opens Claude code terminal in .ijwb directory when Bazel for Intellij plugin is installed and running in a bazel project
Status Closed — not planned
Maintainer reply None cached
Workaround ✓ Mentioned in description ↑
Activity 7 comments · opened Aug 4, 2025 · closed Jan 6, 2026
Environment
- Platform (select one):
- [ ] Anthropic API
- [x] AWS Bedrock
- [ ] Google Vertex AI
- [x] Other: Claude Code [Beta] IntelliJ plugin 0.1.11-beta
- Claude CLI version:
1.0.67 (Claude Code) - Operating System: MacOS Sequoia 15.5
- Terminal: InteliJ IDE Terminal - IntelliJ IDEA 2025.1.4.1 (Ultimate Edition)
Bug Description
When Bazel for Intellij plugin is installed (I have version 2025.07.24.0.1-api-version-251) When starting Claude code in the IDE terminal it starts of in the .ijwb directory instead of the project root directory.
This is a problem as for example Claude code can't find it's license.
Steps to Reproduce
- install IntelliJ and install bazel plugin for IntelliJ
- Start a new bazel project
- Install Claude code and IntelliJ Claude Code [Beta] plugin
- Click the Anthropic icon to start Claude code in ide terminal
- note
cwdis wrong
Expected Behavior
Claude code would open with cwd as project root
Actual Behavior
Claude code opens with cwd as .ijwb directory (which is the bazel plugin configuration directory)
Workaround
- Press ctrl+d twice to exit Claude code
cd ..to navigate to actual project root- Start Claude code again
Claude
Additional Context
IntelliJ IDEA 2025.1.4.1 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-251.27812.49, built on July 24, 2025
Source revision: 735cc3bd3c92f
Licensed to <Reducted> / Ilan Keshet
Subscription is active until November 6, 2025.
Runtime version: 21.0.7+9-b895.130 aarch64 (JCEF 122.1.9)
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Toolkit: sun.lwawt.macosx.LWCToolkit
macOS 15.5
Kotlin plugin: K2 mode
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Concurrent GC, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 8096M
Cores: 16
Metal Rendering is ON
Registry:
ide.experimental.ui=true
jvm.dfa.analysis.ui.security.analysis.window.was.shown=true
Non-Bundled Plugins:
com.jetbrains.plugins.ini4idea (251.27812.54)
com.ultrahob.zerolength.plugin (0.95)
artsiomch.meson.syntax (203.1.0)
org.jetbrains.plugins.go (251.27812.12)
com.intellij.grazie.pro (0.3.388-251)
info.fluffos.idea_bison (20230902.02)
ir.msdehghan.plugins.ansible (1.0.0)
name.kropp.intellij.makefile (251.25410.28)
org.ermadan.kafkalytic (0.10.5)
org.intellij.plugins.hcl (251.26927.39)
PythonCore (251.27812.49)
aws.toolkit.core (3.87.251)
com.jetbrains.space (251.23774.318)
org.jetbrains.plugins.ruby (251.27812.49)
org.jetbrains.plugins.go-template (251.23774.318)
fantom.codeowners (0.9.0)
idea.goyacc (0.1.0)
com.anthropic.code.plugin (0.1.11-beta)
dev.meanmail.plugin.nginx-intellij-plugin (2025.14)
Pythonid (251.27812.49)
com.koxudaxi.pydantic (0.4.18)
com.intellij.ml.llm (251.27812.49)
net.seesharpsoft.intellij.plugins.csv (4.0.2)
uk.co.ben-gibson.remote.repository.mapper (4.5.2)
mobi.hsz.idea.gitignore (4.5.6)
amazon.q (3.87.251)
com.intellij.bigdatatools.core (251.27812.49)
izhangzhihao.rainbow.brackets.lite (1.3.0)
org.intellij.scala (2025.1.32)
com.google.idea.bazel.ijwb (2025.07.24.0.1-api-version-251)
com.github.copilot (1.5.52-243)
aws.toolkit (3.87.251)
Kotlin: 251.27812.49-IJ
<img width="1728" height="1089" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5b9e7c38-6af8-4be0-8eb3-0a8026cd7049" />
7 Comments
There may be a bigger issue with Intellij IDEA and not Claude Code plugin related to it.
There's similar problem with Bazel projects and a built-in MCP server: it refuses accessing any "real" project data because it thinks that the project root is
$PRJ/.ijwbso if you ask it to refactor$PRJ/foo/Bar.javait refuses stating that it is "outside of the project directory".Same issue with jetbrains mcp. Submitted a ticket to jetbrains here: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-377834/IntelliJ-MCP-Server-defaults-to-.ijwb-directory-when-running-in-a-bazel-project
This is what Jetbrains told me to resolve the issue: the problem lies with the existence of the .ijwb directory created by the now deprecated "Bazel for IntelliJ" plugin. Jetbrains recommends downloading their new official Bazel plugin. Here are the steps:
This issue has been inactive for 30 days. If the issue is still occurring, please comment to let us know. Otherwise, this issue will be automatically closed in 30 days for housekeeping purposes.
It's true that jetbrains are in the process of rolling out a new bazel
plugin, but at the moment it's far from a replacement to the existing
_deprecated_ plugin
On Thu, Dec 4, 2025, 12:19 github-actions[bot] @.***>
wrote:
This issue has been automatically closed due to 60 days of inactivity. If you're still experiencing this issue, please open a new issue with updated information.
This issue has been automatically locked since it was closed and has not had any activity for 7 days. If you're experiencing a similar issue, please file a new issue and reference this one if it's relevant.