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Code::Blocks VS wxFormBuilder

Compare Code::Blocks VS wxFormBuilder 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.

wxFormBuilder logo wxFormBuilder

wxWidgets is an excellent framework that enables the creation of multi-platform applications with...
  • Code::Blocks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15
  • wxFormBuilder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

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  • Interface Outdated
    The user interface may feel outdated and less modern compared to other IDEs, which might affect user experience for some developers.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.

wxFormBuilder features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    wxFormBuilder supports multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling developers to create applications for a wide audience without platform-specific changes.
  • Visual UI Design
    The tool offers a drag-and-drop interface to design application UIs, which makes it easier for developers to quickly layout components and visually organize the application's user interface.
  • Code Generation
    wxFormBuilder can automatically generate C++ or Python code for the designed interfaces, which saves time and reduces the potential for manual coding errors.
  • wxWidgets Integration
    As it is designed to work with wxWidgets, it seamlessly integrates with this popular C++ library for creating GUI applications, leveraging its capabilities and ensuring compatibility.
  • Extensible Plugins
    The architecture supports plugins, allowing developers to extend the functionality of wxFormBuilder based on specific project needs or to integrate additional features.

Possible disadvantages of wxFormBuilder

  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with wxWidgets or the nuances of wxFormBuilder might face a learning curve, as there are specific workflows and design patterns to understand.
  • Limited Documentation
    The available documentation may not cover all features comprehensively, requiring users to spend extra time seeking community help or experimenting to learn tool specifics.
  • Design Limitations
    While it supports a wide range of UI components, wxFormBuilder might not offer the same level of design flexibility for custom or modern UI elements as some other design tools.
  • Dependency on wxWidgets
    Since it heavily relies on wxWidgets, projects created with wxFormBuilder are inherently dependent on this library, which could be a limitation if future requirements shift away from it.
  • Stability Concerns
    As with many open-source projects, users may occasionally encounter stability issues or bugs that require troubleshooting or waiting for community-driven updates.

Analysis of Code::Blocks

Overall verdict

  • Code::Blocks is generally considered a 'good' IDE if your priorities include simplicity, ease of installation, and customization through plugins. It may not have as many advanced features as some other IDEs, but it is a solid choice for educational purposes and for those who need a lightweight, no-frills environment for C/C++ development.

Why this product is good

  • Code::Blocks is a popular open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that is favored for its simplicity, extensibility, and cross-platform support. It is particularly appealing to beginners and students due to its straightforward interface and setup process. The IDE is compatible with multiple compilers, including GCC and MSVC, and supports a variety of programming languages, though it is predominantly used for C, C++, and Fortran development. Additionally, its plugin-based architecture allows users to expand its functionality according to their needs.

Recommended for

    Code::Blocks is recommended for beginners, students, and hobbyists who are learning C or C++ programming. It's also suitable for developers who prefer a lightweight and customizable IDE without a steep learning curve. Users who need to work across different operating systems will appreciate its cross-platform capabilities.

Code::Blocks videos

How to use CodeBlocks IDE for C Programming

More videos:

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

wxFormBuilder videos

wxFormBuilder & wxPython Criando Interfaces De Forma Fรกcil 01

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Code::Blocks and wxFormBuilder)
IDE
75 75%
25% 25
Text Editors
87 87%
13% 13
Business Text Messaging
0 0%
100% 100
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0

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 wxFormBuilder

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

wxFormBuilder Reviews

We have no reviews of wxFormBuilder yet.
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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)

wxFormBuilder mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Zenity - Zenity is a tool that allows you to display GTK dialog boxes in commandline and shell scripts.

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.

VisualWX - Visualwx aims to be the ultimate RAD tool, designed for c++, python, perl, ruby, lua and wxWidgets.

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.

Yad - Yad (yet another dialog) is a fork of Zenity with many improvements, such as custom buttons...