What (in your opinion) is the best c++ IDE and why?

I do a lot more Java programming than C++, but recently I've had some schoolwork that requires C++. I use Eclipse for Java and I find it amazing. I know there's an add-in for C++ in Eclipse, but I've heard that it's not quite as nice as Java. I've tried Visual Developer and quite frankly couldn't stand the look. I was just wondering what most other programmers use for C++ and what they likes about their IDEs.

What (in your opinion) is the best c++ IDE and why?
“The best IDE” question is one of those that elicits a flamewar. That's because people tend to have their own opinions.





Visual Studio is actually very high quality. Of importance is its debugger. It's simply amazing. The alternative is GDB, which is very powerful, but not exactly intuitive. Of course, VS is also a great IDE, so there's that.





On Windows, I use Code::Blocks. It's a solid IDE, although nothing like VS. But it's definitely something you can rely upon.





I hear people recommending Dev-C++. I used that before. The project is abandoned, and has been taken up under wxDev-C++. You may want to look at wxDev-C++ because it has a GUI designer, supports multiple compilers, and is under active development.





Linux people have Kdevelop, Anjuta, and so on.





There's also editors. Don't underestimate the power of vim or emacs. They are extremely powerful editors. You could also use UltraEdit, or Notepad++, or so on.
Reply:i prefer to use the Visual Studio tools from Microsoft when developing for windows/.net. on the other hand, i work for a company that can afford the sometimes $2500 package price to obtain a copy of this suite legally.





For the more frugal among us, there is Dev-C++ which is free-ware/open-source. it looks like the classic Visual Studio IDE from before .net. it has a lot of good debugging tools including watch, breakpoints, step, trace, ....





The compiler and debugger tools used behind this IDE are the open-source gcc and gdb tools, so updates to these systems are readily available and if an issue is found, there are lots of forums to search for tips and tricks to make your perfectly good code compile like you know it should.
Reply:Visual Studio is the best one ( And I am not a Windows fan!) but it is true, a little expensive though.





There is a free IDE base on visual c++, it is called visual c++ express edition ( it a light version ) , but for school work it is more than enough. Just google it.





Good luck!
Reply:Whenever I work on a project at home (not for school or "work" (I'm an independent developer)), I use Dev C++ because of the reasons (whoever it was above me) said.





Still, VS.NET isn't bad (the one I use for school and work), and I do like its simple to use debugger and how easy it is to organize things. Aside from standards issues (generally it's more difficult to make a VS project run on multiple platforms than it is with Dev or something else (sometimes it's downright impossible)), it's a good developer. Unfortunately it costs too much, and if I didn't get mine free (from my school, and not Limewire University), I'd probably not use it at all (having not been exposed to it).





However, when I'm having fun trying out new concepts, I'll do the dangerous task of using Sally. I consider it the "Real Programmer's" C++ IDE. It doesn't have a debugger, and none of that fancy CVS stuff (at least the version I have doesn't). It's got color-coded text, can interface with most compilers, and it has the ability to manage your project visually (ie like Dev and VS's tree folder view for your project). I do this because every now and then, it's nice to remember a time when your program either worked, or it didn't, and all you had was a stop point to tell what went wrong.





Sometimes I use the Programmer's Notepad, but that's just Notepad with colored text (not near IDE status).