As we step into 2024, the dynamic landscape of programming languages continues to evolve. In C and C++, the year brings with it not only the promise of new possibilities but also a noteworthy release – C++ 23. With the advent of this latest standard, it becomes crucial for developers to align their tools with the times. We recommend choosing a compiler that not only offers reliable performance but also supports the cutting-edge features introduced in C++ 23.
We present to you with a list of the best C/C++ compilers, IDEs and compare C++ compilers with their features. With a wide range of options to choose from, finding the right C++ compiler can be a challenge. We have done the research for you and compiled a list of the best C++ compilers available. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced full stack programmer, these top-rated C++ compilers offer unparalleled features and performance. From cross-platform compatibility to efficient debugging tools, these compilers have everything you need to take your C++ skills to the next level.
A C++ compiler is a computer application that translates C/C++ source code into machine code (binary) that a computer system executes directly.
An IDE, or Integrated Development Environment, is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to programmers for developing software applications.
Table of Contents
- What are the common uses of an IDE?
- What is C++ Compilation Process and steps involved?
- What are the main features of C++ Compiler?
- Best C++ Compilers/IDE
- Conclusion
What are the common uses of an IDE?
- Writing, editing, and debugging source code in different programming languages.
- Building and managing software applications and projects.
- Automating the software development process.
- Integrating with version control systems (such as Git and Subversion).
- Providing set of tools and resources to help programmers be more productive and efficient.
What is C++ Compilation Process and steps involved?
C++ Compiler transforms source code into machine readable code to execute directly by the computer. The following are the steps involved in the C++ compilation process:
- Pre-processing: First, the pre-processor reads the source code and performs macro expansions, inclusion of header files, and other operations as specified by pre-processor directives (#include, #define, #ifndef, etc.).
- Compilation: Second step performs the actual translation of the source code into object code. The object code is a machine-readable representation of the source code, but it is not yet executable.
- Assembly: The compiler then passes the object code to an assembler, which converts the object code into assembly code.
- Linking: The linker then combines assembly code with any library functions that are required by the program and resolves any references to external symbols/libraries. The linker produces an executable file to run on the target platform.
- Execution: Finally, the compiler produces and executable file that runs on the computer system.
Note that the exact steps involved in the C++ compilation process may vary slightly depending on the specific compiler and development environment. Some compilers, for example, may perform the pre-processing, compilation, and linking stages in a single step.
What are the main features of C++ Compiler?
- C++ Compiler translates C or C++ source code into machine readable code to execute directly by the computer.
- It optimizes the machine code to improve its performance by dead code elimination, register allocation, and instruction scheduling.
- Checks the source code for syntax and semantic errors before execution, and providing error/warning messages that helps programmer fix the issues.
- C++ Compiler proves a bridge between the high-level abstractions of C++ code and the underlying hardware.
Best C++ Compilers/IDE
Here is a list of the top ten C compilers to use in 2024, in no particular order:
1) GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
2) LLVM Clang
3) Microsoft Visual C++
4) C++ Builder
5) Dev-C++
6) Digital Mars C/C++
7) Eclipse IDE for C++
8) Qt Creator
9) Intel C++ Compiler
10) NetBeans IDE
The best choice of compiler for a specific task depends on the project’s requirements, including target platform, performance, and other factors.
1) GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) is a free and open-source compiler for various programming languages including C, C++, Objective-C, FORTRAN, Ada, and others. It is widely used for various platforms including Linux, UNIX, and macOS.
Main features of GCC:
- Cross-platform Compatibility: GCC supports multiple platforms and operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and various other Unix-like systems.
- High Performance: GCC uses advanced optimization techniques to produce highly optimized code, making it a popular choice for high-performance computing and embedded systems.
- Standard C++ Compliance: GCC implements a large number of language standards, including ISO C11, ISO C++17, and others, ensuring compatibility with the latest language specifications.
- Debugging and Profiling: GCC includes a powerful debugger, GDB, and a profiler, which can be used to analyze and optimize code performance.
- Inter-language Support: GCC provides support for compiling and linking code written in multiple programming languages, making it a popular choice for projects that involve multiple languages.
- Active Community: GCC is an active open-source project with a large and dedicated community of developers, ensuring that it continues to improve and evolve over time.
Homepage URL: GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
2) LLVM Clang
Clang is a C, C++, and Objective-C compiler that is developed by the LLVM Project. It is known for its high performance, good diagnostics, and compatibility with the latest language standards.
Main features of Clang:
- Fast Compile Times: Clang has a reputation for fast compile times, making it a popular choice for large, complex projects.
- High-quality Diagnostics: Provides clear and concise error messages, making it easier to identify and fix problems in your code.
- Standard C++ Compliance: It implements the latest language standards, including ISO C11, ISO C++20, and Objective-C, ensuring compatibility with the latest language specifications.
- Inter-language Support: Clang provides support for compiling and linking code written in multiple programming languages. This makes it a popular choice for projects that involve multiple languages.
- Active Community: It has an active open-source project with a large and dedicated community of developers, ensuring that it continues to improve and evolve over time.
- Clang Static Analyzer: It includes a static code analyzer tool, which can be used to analyze your code and identify potential problems such as memory leaks and undefined behavior.
- Auto Code Format: It includes a tool called Clang-Tidy, which can be used to automatically format and clean up code, making it easier to maintain and improve.
- Integration with other Tools: Clang integrates well with other development tools, such as IDEs and build systems, making it a popular choice for many developers.
- Open-source and Cross-platform: Makes it accessible and usable on a wide range of systems and platforms.
- Optimizing Code Generation: By using advanced code generation techniques of the tool, it is possible to produce highly optimized code.
Homepage URL: LLVM Clang
3) Microsoft Visual C++
Microsoft Visual C++ is a C and C++ compiler that is part of Microsoft’s Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Some of its key features related to C++ compilation are listed below.
Main features of Microsoft Visual C++:
- Code Editing: Visual Studio provides a rich code editor that supports syntax highlighting, code navigation, and IntelliSense, making it easier to write, debug, and maintain C++ code.
- Build System: Build system automates the process of compiling, linking, and building C and C++ applications.
- Debugging: Integrated debugger makes it easy to find and fix bugs in your code. The debugger supports breakpoints, watches, and other advanced debugging features.
- Standard Library Support: Microsoft Visual C++ includes Standard Library, which provides a comprehensive set of classes and functions for C and C++ development. Some are containers, algorithms, strings, and more.
- Standard Compliance: Visual Studio implements the latest C standards, including ISO C11 and C++17, ensuring compatibility with the latest language specifications.
- Cross-platform Development: Programmers use it to develop code for a variety of platforms. For example, Windows, iOS, and Android.
- Advanced Code Generation: Visual C++ uses advanced code generation techniques to produce highly optimized code, ensuring that your code runs as fast as possible.
- Support for Parallel Programming: VC++ includes support for parallel programming, making it easier to write code that takes advantage of multi-core processors and hardware acceleration features.
- Dynamic Memory Management: Visual C++ includes support for dynamic memory management, making it easier to write code that is both efficient and robust.
Homepage URL: Microsoft Visual C++
Download Free Microsoft Visual Studio IDE with C++
4) C++ Builder
C++ Builder is a rapid application development (RAD) environment for developing applications in the C++ programming language. It is developed by Embarcadero Technologies and is part of the RAD Studio suite. Some of its main features include:
Main features of C++ Builder:
- Modern C++ language Support: Supports the latest version of C++, including features such as C++11, C++14, and C++17.
- Visual Component Library (VCL): C++ Builder has a collection of visual and non-visual components for building Windows applications.
- Cross-platform development: Allows you to develop applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
- High-performance UI: Includes visual design tools for creating high-performance and visually appealing user interfaces.
- Database Support: Integrates with popular database systems such as SQL Server, Oracle, and InterBase.
- Debugging and Profiling Tools: Includes integrated debugging and profiling tools for optimizing application performance.
- Cloud and Web development: Includes support for developing cloud and web-based applications, including RESTful services and web-based user interfaces.
Homepage URL: C++ Builder
Download Free Trial of C++ Builder
5) Dev C++
Dev-C++ is a free, open-source integrated development environment (IDE) for the C++ programming language. It is developed by Bloodshed Software and runs on Windows operating systems. Some of its main features are listed here.
Main features of Dev C++:
- Syntax Highlighting: Automatically highlights C++ keywords, comments, and other language elements for improved code readability.
- Code Completion: Dev C++ suggests code snippets based on the context of what you are typing, making it easier to write code quickly and efficiently.
- Integrated Debugger: A built-in debugger that allows you to step through your code and inspect variables, making it easier to find and fix bugs.
- Project Management: Lets you organize and manage multiple projects within the same IDE, making it easy to switch between different projects.
- Compiler Support: Includes support for the GCC compiler, which is widely used for compiling C++ code.
- Plug-in Support: Dev C++ supports plug-ins, which are programs that extend the IDE to provide additional functionality.
- Source Code Control: Includes support for version control systems such as Git, making it easier to manage and track changes to your code.
- Active Community: Has a large and active community of users and developers who provide support and resources for using Dev C++.
Homepage URL: Dev-C++
6) Digital Mars C/C++
Digital Mars C/C++ is a fast and efficient C++ compiler for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is developed by Digital Mars Company and multiple tools are available for C and C++ Development. Here are some of the main features of Digital Mars C/C++.
Main features of Digital Mars C/C++:
- Fast Compilation: Known for its fast compilation speed and often used for large projects where quick build times are important.
- Standard Compliance: It follows the ANSI standard for the C and C++ programming languages, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of systems and applications.
- Portability: Supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it easy to write and maintain cross-platform code.
- Optimization: It includes several optimization options for generating high-performance code such as minimizing code size and maximizing runtime performance.
- Standard library Support: Includes support for the Standard C++ Library, making it easy to use common functions and data structures in your code.
- Large project Support: Designed to handle large projects, it can compile and link code with many thousands of lines of code with ease.
- Modern C++ Support: Supports the latest C++11 and C++14 language features, allowing you to write modern, efficient code.
Homepage URL: Digital Mars C/C++
Download Free Digital Mars C/C++
7) Eclipse IDE – CDT (C/C++ Development Tools)
Eclipse IDE is a free, open-source integrated development environment (IDE) for the C++ programming language. It is part of the Eclipse platform and is developed by the Eclipse Foundation.
Main features of Eclipse IDE for C++
- Cross-platform Compatibility: Eclipse runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a popular choice for cross-platform development.
- Code Editing: Eclipse IDE has an advanced code editing features, such as syntax highlighting, code folding, and code completion, to help you write code more efficiently.
- Integrated Debugger: Includes an integrated debugger that allows you to step through your code, inspect variables, and find and fix bugs.
- Project Management: This IDE lets you manage multiple projects at once, making it easy to switch between different projects.
- Plug-in Support: Supports plug-ins, which are small programs that can be added to the IDE to provide additional functionality.
- Version Control: Includes support for version control systems, such as Git and Subversion, making it easier to manage and track changes to your code.
- Build and Deployment: Includes a powerful build system that can handle complex build and deployment processes.
- Active Community: Has a large and active community of users and developers who provide support and resources for using Eclipse IDE for C++.
Homepage URL: Eclipse IDE for C++
8) Qt Creator for C++
Qt Creator is a free, open-source, and cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) designed specifically for the development of applications using the Qt framework. It is written in C++ and provides a wide range of features to help developers create applications quickly and efficiently.
Main features of Qt Creator include:
- Code Editor: Qt Creator provides a code editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and refactoring support.
- Debugging: The IDE has an integrated debugger that allows you to debug your application as you develop it.
- Project Management: Qt Creator provides a project management system that makes it easy to organize and manage your code.
- UI Design: The IDE includes a drag-and-drop interface designer for creating user interfaces for your applications.
- Efficient Build System: Qt Creator provides a flexible build system that supports multiple compilers and build configurations.
- Version Control: Qt Creator integrates with popular version control systems, such as Git, Subversion, and Mercurial, to provide an integrated development workflow.
- Cross Platform Support: Qt Creator supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and others.
Homepage URL: Qt Creator
9) Intel C++ Compiler
The Intel C++ Compiler, also known as the Intel oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler, is a commercial-grade compiler that is designed to optimize C++ code for Intel architecture. It is part of the Intel open oneAPI industry standards initiative and is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.
The main features of the Intel C++ Compiler include:
- OpenMP support: The compiler supports the OpenMP programming model for shared memory parallel programming.
- High-level optimizations: The compiler includes optimizations for performance-critical libraries, such as the Intel Math Kernel Library and Threading Building Blocks.
- Floating-point precision: The compiler provides flexible floating-point precision options, allowing developers to choose the level of precision for their application.
- Code optimization: The compiler uses the latest Intel processors, vectorization, and auto-parallelization capabilities to improve code performance.
- Compatibility: The Intel C++ Compiler is compatible with the latest C++ standard and supports both Microsoft Visual Studio and GCC development environments.
- Debugging and Profiling: The Intel C++ Compiler includes tools for debugging and profiling, including Intel VTune Amplifier, Intel Advisor, and Intel Inspector.
- Vectorization Advisor: The Vectorization Advisor helps developers identify and optimize loops in their code to take advantage of vector processing capabilities.
Homepage URL: The Intel C++ Compiler
Download oneAPI DPC++ compiler
10) NetBeans IDE for C++
NetBeans IDE is a free, open-source, and cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) designed for C++ development, as well as other programming languages such as Java, PHP, and HTML5. It is written in Java and provides a range of features to help developers create applications quickly and efficiently.
Main features of NetBeans IDE for C++ include:
- Code Editor: NetBeans provides a code editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and code folding.
- Debugging: The IDE has an integrated debugger that allows you to debug your application as you develop it.
- Project Management: NetBeans provides a project management system that makes it easy to organize and manage your code.
- Refactoring: NetBeans provides code refactoring support, which makes it easier to restructure your code and make it more maintainable.
- C++11 Support: NetBeans supports the latest C++11 standard, as well as earlier versions of the language.
- Cross-platform Compatibility: NetBeans supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and others.
- Version Control: NetBeans integrates with popular version control systems, such as Git, Subversion, Mercurial, and others, to provide an integrated development workflow.
- Plug-in Support: NetBeans has a plug-in architecture that allows you to extend its functionality by installing additional plug-ins from the NetBeans plug-in portal.
Homepage URL: Apache NetBeans IDE
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have listed the best C++ Compilers that are available in the market. For those who want to learn C++, utilizing a free C++ compiler is a great place to start developing their programming skills and writing efficient code. When choosing a C++ compiler, it is essential to consider factors such as the speed of code compilation and the efficiency in handling larger projects and cross-platform support.