Determining Minimal IntelliJ IDEA Memory Allocation for Low‑Traffic Workloads

When a small team maintains a low‑traffic Java project, the goal is to keep IntelliJ IDEA’s operational cost minimal while preserving a responsive development experience.

The free Community Edition is ideal, but the optimal JVM heap size for a 10‑module codebase remains unclear. JetBrains does not publish a recommended minimal allocation, and the impact of Power Save Mode on build times is undocumented.

Additionally, teams that rely on a License Server for a single sporadic user face uncertainty about scalability and hidden overhead in that scenario.

What is the lowest JVM heap size that still allows responsive editing and building for a 10‑module Java project?

Does Power Save Mode reduce CPU usage without noticeably increasing build times?

Is a single‑user License Server sufficient for sporadic use, or does it incur hidden overhead?