What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs?

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DevelopmentC++Compiler

What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs?

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Dec 11, 2021

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4 Options Considered

What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
-- Orwell Dev-C++	Free	Windows	Dec 10, 2021
-- Microsoft Visual C++	Free	-	Mar 30, 2021
-- GCC	-	-	Apr 29, 2016
-- Clang/LLVM	-	-	Apr 29, 2016

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score 1 · Answer 1

Orwell Dev-C++

Top Pro

Has portable versions with MinGW32 and TDM-GCC x64 compilers

Specs

Platforms:Windows

Top Pro

Lightweight

Not as bloated as other C++ compilers. See More

Top Pro

Simple

Often recommended for beginners. See More

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score 4 · Answer 2

Microsoft Visual C++

Top Pro

XCopy deployable

To get C++ running on a build machine, just copy the VC bin, and all the headers/libraries you'll need. Then set your PATH, INCLUDE, LIB, and LIBPATH environment variables, and you're ready. See More

Top Con

Not fully C++ standards compliant, especially olders releases

It still is only partially compliant with these features. See More

Top Pro

High quality implementation

MSVC provides a very high quality standard/implementation for free. See More

Top Pro

Included in Visual Studio IDE

Nothing extra to configure or install. See More

Top Pro

MSVC 2017 supports most C++ standards features

It supports features like C++03/11 Core, C++14 Core, C++17 Core, and C++20 Core language features. For full list of supported features click here. See More

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Answer 3

GCC

Top Pro

Default on many systems

GCC is the default compiler on several systems. Most of the time people have it installed on their machine without even knowing it's there. See More

Top Pro

Available for even the most obscure hardware

Since it's so old and very popular it has been ported to almost any architecture imaginable. This means that it's probably compatible with even the most obscure and unheard hardware. See More

Top Pro

Mature

GCC was first released in 1987 when it was called the GNU C Compiler, a couple of months after it was released it was extended to support C++ too. Nowadays it supports other languages than C or C++. Having been in use and constant development for more than 20 years it has reached a state of maturity and stability. The fact that it's so old also means that there are countless resources out there for people who want to use it. See More

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Answer 4

Clang/LLVM

Top Pro

Fresh take on open source toolchain

With GCC accumulating a lot of craft and development is being sluggish LLVM has a lot of steam and community support behind it. See More

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What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs?

4 Options Considered

Orwell Dev-C++

My Recommendation for Orwell Dev-C++

My Recommendation for Orwell Dev-C++

Has portable versions with MinGW32 and TDM-GCC x64 compilers

Lightweight

Simple

Microsoft Visual C++

My Recommendation for Microsoft Visual C++

My Recommendation for Microsoft Visual C++

XCopy deployable

Not fully C++ standards compliant, especially olders releases

High quality implementation

Included in Visual Studio IDE

MSVC 2017 supports most C++ standards features

GCC

My Recommendation for GCC

My Recommendation for GCC

Default on many systems

Available for even the most obscure hardware

Mature

Clang/LLVM

My Recommendation for Clang/LLVM

My Recommendation for Clang/LLVM

Fresh take on open source toolchain

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