Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

clang VS GNU Compiler Collection

Compare clang VS GNU Compiler Collection and see what are their differences

Hive
Seamless project management and collaboration for your team. featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

clang logo clang

C, C++, Objective C and Objective C++ front-end for the LLVM compiler.

GNU Compiler Collection logo GNU Compiler Collection

The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting...
  • clang Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-01
  • GNU Compiler Collection Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-12

clang features and specs

  • High Performance
    Clang is known for its fast compilation time and efficient use of memory, which makes it ideal for large projects that require frequent builds.
  • Modular Design
    The modular design of Clang allows developers to easily integrate it with other tools and projects. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for custom compilers and IDEs.
  • Expressive Diagnostics
    Clang provides highly detailed and easy-to-understand error and warning messages, which help developers quickly identify and fix coding issues.
  • LLVM Infrastructure
    Being a part of the LLVM project, Clang benefits from a robust and active community. It gets frequent updates and improvements, keeping it at the forefront of compiler technology.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Clang supports multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This makes it a versatile choice for cross-platform development projects.

Possible disadvantages of clang

  • Limited Legacy Support
    Clang may not support some older or obscure language extensions that other compilers, like GCC, might handle. This can be an issue when working with legacy codebases.
  • Evolving Ecosystem
    As part of a rapidly evolving ecosystem, Clang can introduce breaking changes or deprecations that require developers to frequently update their code.
  • Resource Intensive
    Although Clang is efficient, the compilation of very large codebases might require significant system resources, potentially straining less powerful systems.
  • Less Mature in Certain Areas
    Compared to GCC, Clang can be less mature in handling certain language features or optimizations, especially in newer or less common use cases.

GNU Compiler Collection features and specs

  • Open Source
    GCC is free software and its source code is open to the public, allowing developers to contribute, modify, and distribute it.
  • Cross-Platform
    GCC supports a wide range of hardware architectures and operating systems, making it highly versatile for different development environments.
  • Multi-language Support
    It supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, Ada, Go, and more, providing flexibility for developers working in different contexts.
  • Optimization
    GCC provides powerful optimization capabilities that can improve the performance of the compiled code significantly.
  • Strong Community
    There is a large and active community of users and developers that contribute to the project's continuous improvement and provide extensive support.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Compiler Collection

  • Complexity
    GCC can be complex and somewhat daunting for beginners due to its wide array of command-line options and settings.
  • Compilation Speed
    In some cases, GCC can be slower to compile compared to some commercial compilers, particularly at high optimization levels.
  • Error Messages
    The error diagnostics can sometimes be cryptic or less user-friendly, which can make debugging difficult for less experienced programmers.
  • Default Settings
    GCC defaults might not always be the most optimized for every use case, requiring users to manually configure options for best performance.

clang videos

+ Add

Use Clang on Windows, Linux, and macOS

More videos:

  • Review - The Clang Swordsman
  • Review - CLANG AND BANG: BI'S AND TRI'S FOR DAYS!

GNU Compiler Collection videos

+ Add

The GNU Compiler Collection, Dr Jeremy Bennett at Manchester Free Software

More videos:

  • Review - What's New in the GNU Compiler Collection

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to clang and GNU Compiler Collection)

clang

GNU Compiler Collection

IDE
39 39%
IDE
61% 61
Text Editors
43 43%
Text Editors
57% 57
Email Marketing
36 36%
Email Marketing
64% 64
Project Management
0 0%
Project Management
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using clang and GNU Compiler Collection. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GNU Compiler Collection should be more popular than clang. It has been mentiond 41 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

clang mentions (13)

  • dotnet cross-platform interop with C via Environment.ProcessId system call
    I want to compile C program for various operating systems from one machine, that's why on macOS M1 I use zig drop-in replacement compiler (can be used on Linux, Windows too) for cross-platform compilation. There are also clang, gcc (usually pre-installed on macOS and Linux). For Windows there are Visual Studio installer or mingw (which installs gcc). - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • S2S Compilers: Understanding Switch Case Statements
    If you are turning your source code into languages such as C or C++, it is required to have great understanding and knowledge of C/C++. Since these languages also have compilers be it GNU Compiler Collection or Clang, we have to do a lot of digging and researching around their features and functionalities. There is a lot of benefit in that once the target codebase grows and developers start reusing the target... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Ready to miss a semi colon and spend the next hour stressing over what went wrong?
    Clang is an LLVM based C compiler that "allows better diagnostics, better integration with IDEs, a license that is compatible with commercial products, and a nimble compiler that is easy to develop and maintain," compared to other options. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Alternatives of MinGW for MacOS
    VS Code is not an IDE. It's simply an editor without any built-in compiler tools. So you MUST use "other compiler" (and bintools) anyway. As I said, Apple's official C/C++ compiler is LLVM-Clang, which offers even better optimization in some tasks. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is the point of free and open source software?
    One illustration of this came in 2015 when Stallman decided he Would rather prevent the Gnu Compiler Collection from supporting modern IDE features like symbol completion, than allow GCC front ends to be paired with free-but-not-copyleft backends like LLVM and Clang: "Since LLVM and Clang are not copylefted, they invite nonfree extensions. They are a gaping hole in the defensive wall around our city." Allowing... - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
View more

GNU Compiler Collection mentions (41)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing clang and GNU Compiler Collection, you can also consider the following products

LLVM - LLVM is a compiler infrastructure designed for compile-time, link-time, run-time, and...

Tiny C Compiler - The Tiny C Compiler is an x86, x86-64 and ARM processor C compiler created by Fabrice Bellard.

PyCharm - Python & Django IDE with intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error checking, quick-fixes, and much more...

SonarQube - SonarQube, a core component of the Sonar solution, is an open source, self-managed tool that systematically helps developers and organizations deliver Clean Code.

Portable C Compiler - pcc is a C99 compiler which aims to be small, simple, fast and understandable.

Emscripten - Emscripten is an LLVM to JavaScript compiler.

Loading...