title: How do I backup my IntelliJ plugins and automatically install them again?
body: <p>I was backing up my dotfiles and selected parts of my .idea directory. I recklessly removed a symlink in such a way that it deleted my plugins directory.</p>
  
  <p>I didn't know all the plugins I had installed and I couldn't find a file containing a list of those plugins. <strong>Does such a file exist?</strong></p>
  
  <p>Essentially my goal is to:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>backup my plugins in case <code>.idea</code> or <code>plugins</code> is accidentally deleted, or if I want to re-install IntelliJ and forgot the plugins I had installed. </li>
  <li>have IntelliJ install the plugins automatically when I choose to restore them.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>There are a few solutions I can think of:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>If a file containing a complete list of plugins exists then place it under version control. </p></li>
  <li><p>Place the entire plugins directory (which includes binaries) into version control. <strong>This I want to avoid</strong>.</p></li>
  <li><p>Instead of placing it under version control, place it under a backup directory. This should work as I just need to copy the files across into the plugins directory. The only problem I have is that it <strong>separates my files and directories</strong> unless I choose to place the entire selection of the .idea directory there.</p></li>
  <li><p>Export and Import settings from IntelliJ although I believe that the plugins need to be installed already as they are merely settings. The <code>.zip</code> file will give me an indication of the plugins I have installed <strong>but I'd have to manually export my settings on every installation</strong>.</p></li>
  <li><p>Keep a manual copy of my plugins and update it every time a new plugin is added. This could work because I don't install a lot of plugins but <strong>I'd prefer to have it automated</strong>. </p></li>
  </ul>