As a lightweight C/C++ IDE, Code::Blocks has the following features in addition to basic editing, compiling, and debugging capabilities:
- Free and open-source. Code::Blocks is a free open-source compiler that can be downloaded and used on any operating system without any cost.
- Ease of use. Code::Blocks provides an intuitive user interface that is easy to use, making programming easier and faster.
- Cross-platform and supports Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. There is no need to worry about changing devices in the future. It also supports multiple compilers, making it easy to switch between over 20 compilers, such as gcc/g++, Visual C++, Borland C++, and Intel C++, with simple configurations.
- Plugin-based framework. It has a plugin-based framework, which may be difficult for beginners to understand. In simple terms, it makes it easy to add various features.
- A workspace that combines multiple projects.
- Written in C++ and has a very simple runtime environment, no additional libraries are needed
- Updated Frequently and well-maintained. Updates and feature packages provided by enthusiastic community members almost every month.
- Debugging functionality. Code::Blocks provides a powerful debugger that helps programmers find and fix errors in their code. Full breakpoint support, for easier debugging.
- Syntax highlighting.
In summary, choosing the Code::Blocks compiler can improve programming efficiency and quality, making it an excellent choice for a compiler.
Code::Block Plugins
Code::Blocks’ features can be extend by using plugins, most of them listed on this page.
There are generally three types of plugins:
- Core plugins – developed and maintained by the core C::B team.
- Contrib plugins – developed and maintained by the community and proven to be very valuable. So they are integrated into the C::B SVN.
- 3rd party plugins – developed and maintained by the community but not (yet?) in the C::B repository. Theses plugins often have their own repository or are being posted (including the source code) in the forums.
Core Plugins
The core plugins are installed by default and offer the basic functions of Code::Blocks. The core plugins are maintained / developed by the official development team.
- Code::Blocks AutoComplete plugin.
- Saves project files between intervals.
- Provides wizard for creating new classes.
- Provides code completion functionality and class browser.
- Provides code completion functionality and class browser by Clangd through LSP.
- Provides support for various compilers in one interface.
- Provides support for various debuggers in one interface.
- Adds extra file extension handlers.
Header Guard (Disabled by default.)
- Create header guards (if needed) on file save.
LogHacker (Disabled by default.)
- Manipulate loggers.
ModPoller (Disabled by default.)
- Frequently check for external modification.
- Manages a list of all opened files (editors).
- Imports projects from other IDE’s, e.g. MS Visual Studio and DevC++.
- Provides scripted wizard functionality.
Source Code Formatter (AStyle)
- Formats source code files with specific style.
Tidycmt (Disabled by default.)
- Formats comments on file save.
- Adds to-do items to source code.
- Creates manifest file which enables the version 6.0 of the Common Controls on Windows XP.
Contrib Plugins
The user-contributed plugins are not installed by default and offer extended functionality for Code::Blocks. The contrib plugins are maintained / developed by third-party developers.
- Code alignment.
- Helps you keep track of your project version and status.
- Browse to previous source positions.
- Games in a integrated development environment? You bet.
- Integrates CCCC tool for measurement of source code metrics (http://sourceforge.net/projects/cccc/) into Code::Blocks.
- Provides graphical interface to GNU GProf profiler.
- Manages small pieces of code (i.e. snippets).
- Shows various statistics from source code files.
- Copies literal strings from the current editor to clipboard.
- Integrates the static code analyzer Cppcheck into Code::Blocks.
- Integrates Cscope (http://cscope.sourceforge.net/) into Code::Blocks.
- Installs and updates DevC++ DevPaks.
- This plugin provides doxygen integration for Code::Blocks.
- Enables dragging and scrolling with mouse.
- This plugin implements the http://EditorConfig.org/ file format.
- This plugin provides some additional tweaks for Code::Blocks editor.
- Sets environment variables within the focus of Code::Blocks.
- This plugin provides a simple file manager as a tab in the Code::Blocks management pane.
- Adds missing includes/forward declarations to C++ source files.
- Integrates third-party help files to the interface.
- Opens files in a Code::Blocks integrated HexEditor.
- Searches and highlights a marked text incrementally within the open editor.
- Manages menu shortcuts.
- Queries the Koders webpage for keywords.
- Tool for automatically searching for installed libraries, and adding them to the project.
- Allows the creation of Nassi Shneiderman diagrams within Code::Blocks.
- Regular expressions testbed.
- Reopen a closed editor via hotkey, menu-item, or from a list.
- Generates random values (numbers or strings) when saving a file.
- A suite of plugins that supply smart indenting for various languages.
- Exports source code files to other formats such as HTML and PDF.
- A plugin to check the spelling of strings and comments.
- A simple graphical interface to the GNU symbol table displayer (nm).
- Multi-threaded ‘Search in files’ with preview window.
- Creation and management of custom tools.
- Valgrind analysis tools integration. (Valgrind does not run on Windows)
- RAD tool for creating wxWidgets dialogs.
3rd Party Plugins
3rd party plugins – developed and maintained by the community but not (yet?) in the C::B repository. The contrib plugins are maintained / developed by third-party developers.
- Display events that are registered with RegisterEventSink, in the Code::Blocks Debug log.
- This plugin provides symbol browser and code-completion for Fortran files.
- This plugin enables creation of a licensed application in an easy way. Available at [1]
- KeyMacs (or Keyboard Macros) plugin enables Recording, Playback, and editing of keystroke macros.
- This plugin highlights all occurrences of keywords on a list.
- A set of plugins that provide a user interface for debugging python programs, completion hints for python code, and a python interpreter in a dockable window.
- This plugin is an rss feeds reader. Available at sourceforge/rssblocks
- Extends the Debugger plugin of Code::Blocks to work with the TRACE32 Debuggers. TRACE32 documentation “int_codeblock.pdf” and debuggert32.cbplugin are located on the enclosed SW CD on purchase of TRACE32
- Developing embedded applications for STM32 with ST Link 2. Available at [2]
- Emulate the Vim’s shortkeys in Code::Blocks editor. Available at cbvike on Github
If you have questions -> ask in the [/index.php/board,14.0.html forums].
- Enhanced version of the OpenFilesList plugin. Available at on Github
- Interface to on SourceTrail. Available at on Github
If you have questions -> ask in the [/index.php/topic,23588.0.html forums].
- A plugin to use SVD files for embedded development. Available at on Github
- A plugin to view memory locations with multiple tabs. Available at on Github
- A little plugin that displays the targets in a tree, for easy building. Available at on Github