As DevC++ (Bloodshed) is not being maintained actively, so my hunt for C++ IDE continues. Netbeans & Eclipse C++ Packages can be a good option but very few opt for them as they’re more suitable for Java & PHP. So Finally I’ve found Codeblocks to replace DevC++.
About Codeblocks
Codeblocks can be used with many leading C++ compilers and even other language compilers as well. The best part about Codeblocks is like DevC++, it is open-source & available as free of charge. It is licensed under GPL version 3. So you can use it anyway you want either for educational & even for commercial purpose.
Getting Codeblocks
Codeblocks is available for windows, Linux and Apple OSX. To get started using it you’ve to download the appropriate stable version of it. Download the CodeBlocks from this website: http://codeblocks.org . You can even get the nightly builds from their site if you’re curious enough. You’ve the option to download the Codeblocks with MinGW or without it, so if you’ve msvc++ or another C++ compiler then you can download Codeblocks without MinGW and save your download time.
Features
It has all the features similar to DevC++ plus there are more features with Codeblocks.
1.You can use Devpaks inside CodeBlocks.
2.Code-completion and Code folding is available with Codeblocks.
3.Syntax highlighter plug-in can be helpful when using language other than C++.
4.Plus more….
Installation
Installation of Codeblocks is easy, it asks you where to place the directory and which plugins you want to install on your system. Select the plugins of your choice then complete the installation. After finishing installation, Codeblocks will show you the list of available compilers. You can select the Compiler at this stage or let CodeBlocks use the GCC as default compiler. Later from Settings Menu you can change the compiler.
Using Codeblocks
If you want to create new project or file then you can access the toolbar icons or from File menu e.g. File > New> Project. Like most other IDE’s to build files CTRL-F9, to RUN CTRL-F10 are some of the common short keys.
Help & Support
There are plenty of coders, developers who use Codeblocks, so you can get help from many C++ forums. Other than that you can read Official FAQ that answers most of your beginner level questions. For more information you can find these official resources useful.
Codeblocks: http://codeblocks.org
Codeblocks Wiki: http://wiki.codeblocks.org
I hope the information above helps. If you’ve any question regarding this article or Codeblocks please don’t hesitate to post it here.
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