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VS Code VS Code::Blocks

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

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VS Code logo VS Code

Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Code::Blocks logo Code::Blocks

Code::Blocks is a free C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users.
  • VS Code Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-10-09
  • Code::Blocks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-15

VS Code features and specs

  • Cross-platform
    VS Code works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
  • Extensibility
    A vast library of extensions allows users to add functionalities like debuggers, linters, and themes, making it highly customizable.
  • Integrated Git
    Built-in Git integration makes it easy to manage version control tasks directly within the editor.
  • Performance
    Lightweight compared to full-fledged IDEs, ensuring good performance even on systems with limited resources.
  • IntelliSense
    Advanced code completion and refactoring tools help improve coding efficiency and reduce errors.
  • Community Support
    A strong and active community provides extensive support, tutorials, and third-party extensions.
  • Debugging
    Robust debugging tools for various languages and frameworks are available out of the box.
  • Free and Open-Source
    VS Code is completely free to use and open-source, which is beneficial for both individual developers and organizations.

Possible disadvantages of VS Code

  • Limited IDE Features
    While extensible, it may lack some advanced features found in dedicated IDEs out of the box.
  • Extension Management
    Managing and configuring a large number of extensions can become cumbersome and sometimes lead to performance issues.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its numerous features and customization options.
  • Memory Usage
    Despite being lightweight, it can consume a significant amount of memory when multiple extensions are installed.
  • Update Frequency
    Frequent updates may sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new changes quickly.
  • Internet Dependency
    Some features and extensions may require an internet connection to function optimally.
  • Telemetry
    By default, VS Code collects usage data, which might be a concern for users sensitive about data privacy. However, this can be disabled.

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.

Analysis of VS Code

Overall verdict

  • Yes, VS Code is generally considered a good choice for developers due to its flexibility, efficiency, and strong community support. It is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, catering to both novice and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • VS Code, developed by Microsoft, is a widely popular and versatile code editor. It offers a robust extension ecosystem, which allows developers to customize their workflow and coding environment extensively. Additionally, VS Code supports numerous programming languages right out of the box and provides features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and a built-in terminal, making it a powerful tool for developers.

Recommended for

  • Web developers looking for a comprehensive yet lightweight coding environment.
  • Software developers who need an editor with extensive language support and customization options.
  • Beginner programmers who would benefit from a feature-rich editor that can grow with their skills.
  • Developers interested in an open-source tool with continuous updates and community-driven enhancements.

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.

VS Code videos

+ Add

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

More videos:

  • Review - 7 reasons why I switched to Visual Studio Code from Sublime Text

Code::Blocks videos

+ Add

How to use CodeBlocks IDE for C Programming

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VS Code and Code::Blocks)

VS Code

Code::Blocks

Text Editors
96 96%
Text Editors
4% 4
IDE
93 93%
IDE
7% 7
Developer Tools
98 98%
Developer Tools
2% 2
Software Development
93 93%
Software Development
7% 7

User comments

Share your experience with using VS Code and Code::Blocks. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

VS Code Reviews

  1. dksinden
    · Working at SpeechKit ·
Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich ecosystem of extensions and features like IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration, VS Code enhances your coding productivity.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
Finally, the Visual Studio Code website has numerous tabs for you to learn about the software. The documentation page walks you through steps like the setup and working with different languages. You’re also able to check out some tips and tricks and learn all of the Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts. Along with a blog, updates page, extensions library and API...
Source: kinsta.com
Jupyter Notebook & 10 Alternatives: Data Notebook Review [2023]
Previously, VS Code was more suited to developers or engineers due to its lack of data analysis capabilities, but since 2020, the VS Code team has collaborated with the Jupyter team to create an integrated notebook within VS Code. The end result is a fantastic IDE workbook for data analysis.
Source: lakefs.io
The Best IDEs for Java Development: A Comparative Analysis
Overview: Although not a traditional IDE, VS Code has gained popularity as a lightweight code editor.
Source: dev.to
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Visual studio code is a code editor made by Microsoft. It supports several development operations like debugging, task running, and version control. It works on Linux, macOS and Windows operating systems.
Source: linuxopsys.com

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, VS Code seems to be a lot more popular than Code::Blocks. While we know about 1177 links to VS Code, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Code::Blocks. 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.

VS Code mentions (1177)

  • Improve Your Git Commit Messages with GitLens Tips
    To generate the commit messages, first of all, you have to change your codebase 😎 After that, when you are ready to commit, it’s time to generate the message. To do that, you need to go to the Source Control panel in VSCode, and if you have the GitLens extension installed, you can use the “Magic” icon to generate the message. - Source: dev.to / 1 day ago
  • How to upload SDI FatturaPA invoices with C#
    We use the dotnet tool and VS Code as they are available on most systems, but you can follow along with your favourite IDE (Visual Studio, Rider, etc.) if you prefer. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • An Experiment with AI Assisted Web Development
    As a productive learning exercise, I spent the last couple of evenings taking Cursor (the desktop code editor that is a fork of VS Code) for a spin to build a new web app I needed for a side project – a system to manage charity raffle tickets at the 2025 Melbourne Pen & Stationery Show I am helping to run soon. - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • Go (Golang) - Environment Setup
    Download: Get it from its official site: code.visualstudio.com. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Microsoft: An Open-Source Comedy
    Since the beginning of opensource ideology, Microsoft has been one of those companies that no one ever expected to join the cause. Weirdly enough, They did! By making PowerShell opensource, and more important than that: by introducing Visual Studio Code to the world of programming. Microsoft vscode is one the fastest text editors out there and, thanks to its massive list of extensions, one of the best most-used... - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
View more

Code::Blocks mentions (3)

What are some alternatives?

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

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

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

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

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.

Notepad++ - A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.

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.

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