Best Design Tool In C Programming

Both C & C++ programming languages have made to the 2019 Stackoverflow's list of most popular languages. Moreover, these languages are predicted to even dominate the year 2020. Because of this, we have created this article having all the best C or C++ IDE for Linux. Don't worry, it also includes C/C++ Editors. Though all its users know that both the programming languages are different; it is often used interchangeably by the majority of those who don't know much about them.

For starters, C & C++ are different programming languages. Though both of them have certain similarities like similar syntax, code structures, compilation & notions, but also have certain differences.

The major difference is that C is a procedural programming language that doesn't support objects or classes, whereas, C++ can be called a hybrid language i.e. the combination of both object-oriented and procedural programming language.

Programmers also refer C as the subset of C++. In simple words, C++ can run most of the C code but C cannot run C++ code.

Coming back to the title of this article, let's discuss the Linux IDEs and Code Editors for these programming languages. But before going to the section, first, let's understand the importance of these 2 programming languages and of course about the IDEs and Code Editors.

More About C & C++

Often C is called the mother of all major programming languages. It was 1 st developed in the year 1972 and is also considered by many as the first high-level programming language. Apart from these, C is the only programming language that has survived for the longest period of time in the history of the programming world. Moreover, it is also one of those languages with which the majority of the programmers start their journey.

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While talking about C++, we can say that definitely it has influenced several other programming languages such as Java or C#. To your surprise, initially, C++ was called as the new C , as it was inspired by C. Although, C++ was build upon the C framework, it included numerous new features and functions which helped it to gain its popularity.

Differentiating IDEs & Code Editors

Linux ide

As you are reading this article, I am sure you already have the knowledge of IDEs & Editors. If so, then you can skip this part, but if you are still confused, then IDE or Integrated Development Environment is a tool or software that allows you to write, edit, modify, run, execute, debug and deploy your code. It gives you all these features under one roof or environment making your work more efficient and productive.

Similar to IDE, Code Editors also allows you to write codes. However, it has comparatively fewer features but is lighter and fast. In recent time, thanks to all the modern developments, the difference between both of them have been blurred but still, programmers use both Linux IDEs and code editors as per their ease.

Why IDEs or Editors for only Linux & Not Windows or Mac?

If you have searched something like top C/C++ IDEs for Linux then you already know the answer to the above question. Still, for those who are new to Linux, well, there are several advantages of Linux. The biggest one is its security, and because of this, the majority of the servers in the world are created by using Linux.

Earlier, Linux was more complicated than Windows, but with recent developments, it has become more user-friendly. Now, it is easy for any Windows user to switch to Linux.

Apart from security, it is also open-source, free, and stable . Unlike Windows, you can view and modify the source code as per your needs. You don't even have to pay for anything. You can access the majority of the basics and advanced software for free which reduces your cost significantly.

Furthermore, it is not prone to crashes that makes it highly stable and fast. Lastly, it has a huge community for support, comes with easy maintenance, is highly customizable, and with recent applications, it has become very easy to use.

Read More: Learn Linux OS Basic Commands From Scratch

Now, let's discuss the best C or C++ IDE for Linux for 2020

Finally, it's the time to know about some of the top Linux IDEs & Code Editors used by programmers in 2020 for development in C or C++. Regardless of the popularity of the IDEs & Editors, your choice may vary while choosing the right one. It is mainly because of the fact that each one of them comes with own sets of advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it all depends upon the requirements as per your projects.

CLion

clion Linux ide

Type: IDE

License: Free & Paid

It is one of the most popular & heavily used IDE for C & C++ programming while using Linux. Apart from Linux IDE, it can also be used for Windows & MacOS. This IDE is available in both free & paid versions (for commercial use). It is developed by one of the most famous companies called JetBrains. This IDE is more suitable for big projects rather than trying to learn C or C++.

Advantages:

Supports multiple languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, XML, Objective-C & others
Smart modern editor & embedded terminal
Debugging & syntax highlighting
Intelligence code completion
Numerous Plug-ins
Supports Git, CVS, perforce, TFS & Mercurial
Ideal for large-scale projects
Code generation & refactoring
Easy navigation to context usage or symbol declarations
Easily integrates with Google test frameworks

Disadvantages:

Not suitable for beginners
Slow
Not user-friendly
Proprietary & can cost up to $199
Supports only English

Download Link

Eclipse

eclipse Linux ide

Type: IDE

License: Free & Open-Source

It is another well known C/C++ Linux IDE that is used on a regular basis for programming. Eclipse is a very powerful and is used for other programming languages as well. This tool offers great GUI along with drag & drop functionality to the users. It comes handy for arranging interface elements.

Advantages:

Highly productive
Supports multiple languages & is cross-platform
Includes good debugger, compiler & syntax highlighter
Code auto-completion
Remote system explorer & profiling
Attractive GUI
Exclusive C/C++ development tools
Source code refactoring
Supports folding & hyperlink navigation
Availability of knowledge tools like in-built browser, macro definition browser, type hierarchy, call graph

Disadvantages:

Large size
Difficult to add plugins
Not ideal for low-end computers
Little slow

Download Link

Code::Blocks

codeblocks Linux ide

Type: IDE

License: Free & Open-Source

As compared to others, it is a light-weight IDE that is used for programming in C, C++ and Fortran languages using Linux. It is also an open-source tool that allows you to make changes in the source code. Like the initial two, it is not that powerful but comes with all the required features, and is user-friendly. Code::Blocks also run smoothly on the majority of the systems.

Advantages:

Highly configurable & extensible
Lots of plugins
Consistent user interface
Includes multiple compilers
Syntax highlighting, debugger & auto code completion
Superfast
Multi-target projects
Display local functions, symbols and arguments
Custom memory dump
Supports C, C++ & Fortran and multiple platforms

Disadvantages:

Poor code completion
Hard to make the code readable
More Complicated

Download Link

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code Linux ide

Type: Text Editor

License: Free & Open-Source

Note: Don't confuse Visual Studio Code (Code Editor) with Visual Studio (IDE). A lot of top blogs suggest Visual Studio (IDE) for Linux OS, however, that is not the case. As of now, Visual Studio (IDE) is not compatible with Linux. It is Visual Studio Code (Code Editor) that is compatible with Linux and of course, Windows or macOS.

Though Visual Studio Code or VSC is developed by Microsoft, you can even use it for Linux OS for developing your C/C++ projects. The support for C/C++ is provided by a Microsoft C/C++ extension for all the platforms. Moreover, this code editor is known for its combination of simplicity and powerful developer tools. Other than VSC is lightning fast and is an option of choice for day-to-day usage.

Advantages:

Fast & Powerful
Supports multiple languages & platforms
Integrated debugging
Easy editing, building & debugging
Intelligent code completion, code refactoring and snippets
Syntax highlighting
Easy customization & portable

Disadvantages:

Embedded git isn't powerful enough
Slow launch time & file search
Bad auto import
Not an IDE but a code editor

To know more about Visual Studio Code , you can read " Visual Studio Code Is So Popular, But Why ?"

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NetBeans

Type: IDE

License: Free & Open-Source

This IDE is another open-source tool for C/C++ development over Linux. It was developed by Apache Software Foundation, Oracle Corporation. As it also supports PHP & front-end development, NetBeans has gained its popularity among web developers. But actually it is its file navigation and remote development features that make it a good IDE for C/C++ programming in Linux. In the majority of the cases, programmers use NetBeans for Java development along with C/C++.

Advantages:

Supports multiple languages and different platforms
Debugger & intelligence code completion
Can create C/C++ apps with static and dynamic libraries
Code refactoring & unit testing
Qt toolkit support & is preferred for large-scale projects
Multiple compilers support like Oracle Solaris Studio, MinGW, GNU, Clang/LLVM & Cygwin
File navigation & source inspection
Support for code assistance & remote development

Disadvantages:

Heavy software
Takes time to load

Download Link

Atom Code Editor

Atom Homepage

Type: Text Editor

License: Free & Open-Source

Atom is a text editor that looks very minimal and supports various languages. This tool is open-source, highly customizable and modern. Its feature can be enhanced by adding and using any 3 rd party packages. It can be done via the Atom's package manager app. Just like Linux, Atom is equally used for Mac & Linux for C language programming.

Advantages:

Open-source & easy to use
Built-in package manager
Smart auto-completion
Developer tools
Find & replace functionality
Integrated file browser
Github support

Disadvantages:

Not ideal for large-scale projects
Cannot handle large files

Download Link

Sublime Text Editor

Sublime Text Homepage

Type: Text Editor

License: Free & Paid

Despite being a text editor instead of an IDE, it includes several features and is well-refined. It is designed for code, prose and markup. Programmers regularly use Sublime Text Editor for writing C/C++ code using Linux. Furthermore, it also offers great UI and allows users to add various community-built plugins for enhancing the existing functions.

Advantages:

Supports multiple languages & multi-platform compatible
Split editing
Fast & highly customizable
Supports many plugins
Multiple selections
Command palette
Distraction-free mode
Goto anything functionality
Project switching

Disadvantages:

Stability issues
It's not an IDE but a text editor
Inadequate language support

Download Link

CodeLite

codelite

Type: IDE

License: Free & Open-Source

CodeLite is an IDE that is known for its simplicity and lightweight. Some even consider it as the best C++ IDE as it is specifically developed for C/C++, PHP & JavaScript (Node.JS) programming. It gets regular updates and has good support on GitHub. This tool is also packed with 2 code completion engines that provide improved code completion and better suggestions.

Advantages:

Open-source & free
Supports different platforms
Lot of plugins to choose from
Spell checker & supports static code analysis
Easy to find installed compilers like clang/VC++, GCC & others
Code navigation
Refactoring support
Built-in SFTP for remote development
Rapid development cycle
Modest memory footprint
Support for LLDB next generation debugger

Disadvantages:

Boring UI
Limited customization options

Download Link

Brackets

Type: Text Editor

License: Free & Open-Source

It was developed by Adobe and is truly a modern, open-source text editor that understands web design. Though it is an editor, it is packed with several features similar to an IDE. Initially, it looks simple but you can easily extend its functionality by adding plugins. For C language, it comes with an extension pack that of course works more as an editor. Brackets is a perfect IDE for developers who are looking for all the features like any other IDE but also want a lightweight tool.

Advantages:

Open-source, free & cross-platform
Small size
Quick editing & highly extendable
Code completion
Easy to use the split window
Integrated built-in live browser

Disadvantages:

Some basic features are missing like indentation guides & automatic matching tags editing.
Can also be slow at times but no big deal
Not as actively updated

Download Link

KDevelop

Type: IDE

License: Free & Open-Source

It is a cross-platform IDE designed specifically for programming languages like C/C++, Python, JS & PHP. It is heavily used by Linux IDE users for development purposes. This tool offers a seamless development environment for programmers regardless of their project size.

Advantages:

Highly extensible & feature-rich
A lot of plugins option
Clang-based C/C++ plugin Support
Supports different line editing & Grep view
Uses widget for saving vertical space
Version Control Systems Support
Unit Test Integration & debugger support
Build Systems Support
Quick Code Navigation & Semantic Highlighting
Semantic Code Completion & Split Views

Disadvantages:

It only supports six programming languages.
Not very customizable

Download Link

GNAT Programming Studio

Type: IDE

License: Free & Paid

This tool is a complete IDE that is specially created for languages like Ada or C/C++. It comes with a wide range of tools that you can integrate without any difficulties. GNAT Programming Studio offers high-level programming for creating comprehensive systems.

Advantages:

Versatile & extensible
Highly customizable & developer-friendly
Intuitive user interface
Flexible multiple document interface
Debugger & built-in support for remote programming
Along with C/C++, it supports other languages like Python, Ada and others
Advanced code intelligence & navigation features
Easy integration of third-party version control systems

Disadvantages:

Difficult to find tutorials
Not good user community

Qt Creator

Type: IDE

License: Free & Paid

It is a cross-platform IDE designed for creating UIs, applications and connected devices. It helps you to create more rather than just coding for the application. You can use it for creating desktop and mobile applications along with connected embedded devices.

Advantages:

Well-designed IDE for C++
Excellent documentation
Stable on all platforms & supports different languages
Version control & sophisticated code editor
Project & build management tools
Great syntax highlighting and auto-completion
Supports CMake & built-in Qt GUI editor

Disadvantages:

Complex build process
Poor refactoring & multi-window mode support

Download Link

VIM Editor

VIM Homepage

Type: Text Editor

License: Free

This tool is an advanced & highly configurable text editor that is written in Vim Script & C language. Initially, it was mainly created for Unix but now, it supports various other platforms like Windows and others. Various programmers around the world consider Vim as the perfect tool for all kinds of text editing, from editing configuration files to composing emails. Lastly, it also offers many exciting features to Unix or Linux users and is considered good for programming in C/C++ language.

Advantages:

Free and open-source
Lightweight and fast
Powerful plugin model
Configuration portability
Keyboard-based, mouse-free interface
Great productivity tool

Disadvantages:

Difficult learning curve
High effort to customize
Poor support for external tooling
Poor Feature Discoverability
Doesn't play nice with the system cut/paste mechanisms

Download Link

EMACS

Type: Text Editor

License: Free

Emacs is a text editor that is known for its extensibility. It is highly customizable, free, powerful and works on various platforms like Linux, Solaris, NetBSD, Mac, Windows or others. It is packed with some notable features that are liked by programmers all over the world.

Advantages:

Extensively customizable & extensible
Powerful editing capabilities
Full Unicode support
Good documentation
Content-sensitive editing modes
Packaging systems for downloading extensions & their installation

Disadvantages:

The steep learning curve for newcomers
Questionable ergonomics
You have to learn Emacs Lisp for making any customization
Not available everywhere by default

Download Link

Also Read: C++ Books- 13 Proven Books To Get Into C++ Programming

Conclusion

final thought

With all this, let's end this list of the best Linux C/C++ IDE for Linux in 2020. Apart from the IDEs, this list also covered some of the top C/C++ Code Editors for Linux. All the tools mentioned above offer numerous exciting features that often confuse programmers to choose anyone for their project. However, if the requirement is clear then I don't think there will be any difficulty while choosing the right one. Lastly, of course, there are various other IDEs & Editors that programmers are using for development and if you think that we missed the important ones then do mention them in the comment section below.

Till the next time, Keep Reading, Keep Learning & Keep Questioning!

Happy Reading!

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