Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Code::Blocks VS Qt Creator

Compare Code::Blocks VS Qt Creator and see what are their differences

Code::Blocks logo Code::Blocks

Code::Blocks is a free C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users.

Qt Creator logo Qt Creator

Qt Creator is a cross-platform C++, JavaScript and QML integrated development environment. It is the fastest, easiest and most fun experience a C++ developer could wish for.
  • Code::Blocks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15
  • Qt Creator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21

Code::Blocks features and specs

  • Open Source
    Code::Blocks is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This makes it accessible to a wide audience, including students and hobbyists.
  • Cross-Platform
    It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing developers to maintain a consistent development environment across different operating systems.
  • Plug-in Extensibility
    The IDE supports plugins, enabling users to extend its functionality easily. This provides flexibility and customization to meet specific development needs.
  • Lightweight
    Code::Blocks is relatively lightweight compared to some other IDEs, leading to faster load times and less resource consumption on the host machine.
  • Multiple Compiler Support
    It supports multiple compilers, including GCC, Clang, and MSVC, giving developers the freedom to choose their preferred tools.

Possible disadvantages of Code::Blocks

  • Interface Outdated
    The user interface may feel outdated and less modern compared to other IDEs, which might affect user experience for some developers.
  • Limited Language Support
    While it supports multiple languages, Code::Blocks primarily focuses on C, C++, and Fortran. This may not be suitable for developers working with other languages.
  • Infrequent Updates
    Updates and new feature releases are not as frequent as some competing IDEs, potentially leading to slower adoption of new development trends and tools.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    For beginners, the setup and configuration can be more complex compared to other, more user-friendly IDEs, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Code::Blocks may lack some advanced features found in other IDEs, such as built-in support for advanced debugging tools, integrated version control, and sophisticated refactoring capabilities.

Qt Creator features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    Qt Creator allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, saving time and resources.
  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
    It provides a comprehensive IDE with features like code completion, syntax highlighting, and integrated debugging that streamline the development process.
  • Rich Library of Widgets
    Qt Creator includes a wide range of widgets for UI development, making it easier to build complex user interfaces.
  • Strong Community and Documentation
    The tool is backed by a robust community and extensive documentation, providing valuable support and resources for developers.
  • Native Performance
    Applications built with Qt Creator often exhibit near-native performance due to its effective use of C++ and platform-specific optimizations.
  • Designer Tool
    Qt Creator features a visual designer that helps developers create and modify UI components through drag-and-drop functionality.

Possible disadvantages of Qt Creator

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users might find Qt Creator challenging to learn due to its comprehensive set of features and the intricacies of C++ programming.
  • License Cost
    While Qt is free and open-source under the LGPL, for commercial use or access to additional features, the licensing fees can be quite high.
  • Heavy Resource Usage
    The IDE can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down development on less powerful machines.
  • Limited Non-C++ Language Support
    Qt Creator is primarily designed for C++ development, and although it supports other languages, the support is not as robust.
  • Deployment Complexity
    Deploying applications across multiple platforms can sometimes be complex and require significant configuration.
  • Large Binary Size
    Applications built with Qt often have a larger binary size compared to those built with some other frameworks, which might be a concern for resource-constrained environments.

Code::Blocks videos

How to use CodeBlocks IDE for C Programming

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Use CodeBlocks
  • Review - 1. C++ Review - Codeblocks Install

Qt Creator videos

Introduction to Qt - Qt Creator IDE Overview and Examples {tutorial}

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Code::Blocks and Qt Creator)
IDE
32 32%
68% 68
Text Editors
33 33%
67% 67
Software Development
34 34%
66% 66
Developer Tools
28 28%
72% 72

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Code::Blocks and Qt Creator

Code::Blocks Reviews

What's The Best C++ IDE? Our Top C++ IDEs & Editors In 2024
Customizability is another strong suit of Code::Blocks, as you can enhance your development experience with various plugins. Whether it's additional language support, enhanced editing capabilities, or other tools, the extensibility of Code::Blocks ensures it can adapt to a wide range of development needs.
Source: hackr.io

Qt Creator Reviews

Top 10 Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
Qt Creator is an IDE for programmers that is used to create multiple applications and eases GUI application modifications or designs. It is the best tool for creating Qt applications.
9 Of The Best Android Studio Alternatives To Try Out
Qt Creator is a QMl, javaScript, and C++ integrated development environment for the Qt framework. It comes equipped with a visual debugger and forms designer and also has a GUI layout.
What's The Best C++ IDE? Our Top C++ IDEs & Editors In 2024
Another standout feature of Qt Creator is its design tools. This C++ IDE offers an intuitive and powerful drag-and-drop interface for designing user interfaces. This level of integration between UI design and code development can streamline your workflow, making it easier to transform your visual designs into functional code.
Source: hackr.io
10 Best Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
QT Creator is another SDK for QT Framework. It is a cross-platform development application with integration to C++, QML, and Javascript. It comes with an integrated GUI platform that lays a perfect environment for Android app development.
Source: techdator.net

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Code::Blocks seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 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.

Code::Blocks mentions (3)

Qt Creator mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Qt Creator yet. Tracking of Qt Creator recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Code::Blocks and Qt Creator, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

Eclipse - Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle.

IntelliJ IDEA - Capable and Ergonomic IDE for JVM

Netbeans - NetBeans IDE 7.0. Develop desktop, mobile and web applications with Java, PHP, C/C++ and more. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. NetBeans IDE is open-source and free.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Xcode - Xcode is Apple’s powerful integrated development environment for creating great apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 includes the Xcode IDE, instruments, iOS Simulator, and the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs.