Looking for C++ IDE for Windows

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Can someone point me to where I can find a C++ IDE for Windows development?

Embarcadero won't let you install C++ Builder if you have the Delphi community edition installed. When I run it, it just asks me to install Delphi again.

I have an old Borland C++ Builder install that is corrupt and won't install. I tried installing on a Windows XP virtual machine to eliminate operating system incompatibility as the source of the problem, and got the same failure.

I tried installing DevC++, but that fails out of the box.

I've been doing Java, Perl and Delphi development for most of the last 15 years, and I have two weeks till my start date at a C++ shop and I'd like to do some serious brushing up.

Thanks in advance!

Personally, I would go with Visual Studio 2019 Community.
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/
Hi Robert

On Windows 10

I am using MSYS2 project https://www.msys2.org/
You can install the compiler with it.

Then you need a code editor. I am using Visual Studio Code.
https://code.visualstudio.com/
MSYS2 ain't an IDE, the OP asked for an IDE.

In addition to VS there is Code::Blocks.
https://www.codeblocks.org/
MSVC++ can do builds on the command-line as well as from the IDE.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/building-on-the-command-line?view=msvc-160
The best IDE I could ever recommend you is Visual Studio, the 2022 beta is running super smoothly for me and you can try it, or you can get the non-beta one 2019.

There'll be more options than you know what to do with - just learn how to start a project. That'll be all you need to get started. Once you can make a new project (only a few clicks), you'll be ready to code and running code is easy as Ctrl+F5.
Red Panda Dev-C++ is a nice light-weight IDE.
https://royqh.net/devcpp-en/

No need to download several GB for Visual Studio, no need for MS account.
Making an MS account takes 3 minutes tops, and I don't think you need one to use Visual Studio. Also, Visual Studio doesn't take up that much space if you simply install the regular C++ compiler, but you can always go back to get the extra languages and features.

I'm sure Red Panda Dev-C++ is fine as a light-weight IDE, but in the long run VS would likely be the better option.
and I don't think you need one to use Visual Studio.


You do. I can't remember if you initially need one for Community Edition or not - but you certainly do after a period.

Visual Studio is a beast...but then it can do a lot of things for you.

There are good arguments for going with smaller IDEs, after all when you are stating out what do you need to do? Start a project, edit code, compile and run...and debug. Debugging seems to be one of the least taught skill and Visual Studio has the best tools/experience that I have experie...used.

Yes Visual Studio is a beast and takes a bit of figuring out (I'm sure there are tutorials out there to get new users up to speed) but for what you can get out of it, free of charge, it is worth a bit of time investment.
I've tried Red Panda, and it is nearly as out of date as Orwell's last Dev C++ it replaces. And just as buggy.

RE: MS account for VS...

Sign up for a hotmail email account. That is all that's needed to register VS for the Community edition.

Never use the hotmail account for anything else.
install C++ Builder

The strength of C++ Builder is being a RAD tool to create Win GUI apps, using a custom framework. It has problems with creating "pure" C++ console or WinAPI apps.

Even then the app has framework bloat added to the exe.
@Furry Guy,
I've tried Red Panda, and it is nearly as out of date as Orwell's last Dev C++ it replaces. And just as buggy.


What bugs have you discovered?
BTW The latest release was 14 days ago on github
You like Red Panda, fine.

Lack of a decent, robust debugger, and bloated exe files are some of the bugs for me. Easy configuring for C++17 or C++20 was a lost cause in my experience.

I also experienced a "phone home to China" situation periodically when I used it. I'd call that a major bug.
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Visual Studio, the 2022 beta is running super smoothly for me and you can try it, or you can get the non-beta one 2019.

Problem with VS 2022 is that it doesn't yet support any extensions that I'm using in VS 2019.

Otherwise it's not bad, except black theme become worse compared to 2019, in particular it's hard to close tabs because little "X" is invisible until you hover your mouse over it.
Problem with VS 2022 is that it doesn't yet support any extensions that I'm using in VS 2019.

What kind of extensions do you use??

in particular it's hard to close tabs because little "X" is invisible until you hover your mouse over it.

I haven't had that issue - I'm just using the regular dark theme. Its something you can change in the settings I'm sure.

I couldn't stick with 2019 version any longer, it would randomly crash too much for me, especially when pasting code into it. No one else seemed to have that issue, but it happened pretty often for me.
zasphe,

Screenshots of extensions that I'm using, (only 2 of them are available in VS 2022):
https://i.imgur.com/GAKsL50.png
https://i.imgur.com/cvGmFfe.png

I haven't had that issue - I'm just using the regular dark theme. Its something you can change in the settings I'm sure.


There is no way to adjust this, I'm referring to inactive source file tabs, in sample screenshot below only active tab has the "X", other 2 don't, so you have to click on them or mouse hover to see the "X"

https://i.imgur.com/vRFOvUO.png

Dark theme in VS 2022 is worse also in general, it's hard to click on things I want to click without additional clicking or eye picking.
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That's a lot of extensions!

I see, mine is different. There's actually no box around other tabs at all until you hover over it. But since you have to hover over it to click the X anyway, I don't really mind it.


A little bit of digging showed me that you can get an extension that easy lets you customize the Tabs in VS. One is called "Tabs Studio" which has a trial? There's a more popular one but it doesn't seem to be available for 2022 yet.
But since you have to hover over it to click the X anyway, I don't really mind it.

Problem is this issue is not present in VS 2019, and I usually have 10-30 source tabs open, and often need to close some of them during debugging as new sources get open or pinned, without that X visible productivity is getting worse.

That's a lot of extensions!

This are all must have stuff!

I suggest you search google for things such as: "Must have Visual Studio extensions"
There are many awesome lists, for C++ those enabled from my screenshots are absolute must, I can't live without them :)
That's a lot of extensions!

I have over twice as many plugins and extensions. Every single one of them essential for what I want to do.

Cleaning up badly formatted code, untabifying code, aligning multiple assignment statements so the equals look neater, etc.
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