Software Alternatives & Startups

VS Code VS Qt Creator

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

VS Code

Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Rating
5.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
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.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, VS Code seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 1218 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1,218 vs 0
Text Editors popularity
94% vs 6%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

VS Code
Qt Creator
Website code.visualstudio.com qt.io
Pricing
Open source
—
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

VS Code 8 features
Qt Creator 6 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • 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

  • 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.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

VS Code
Qt Creator

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.

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Qt Creator is considered a good choice for developers who are working within the Qt framework. It combines functionality with a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. While it excels in Qt-focused development, it might not provide the same level of convenience for projects outside of this framework.

Why this product is good

  • Qt Creator is a well-regarded integrated development environment (IDE) primarily used for developing cross-platform applications with the Qt framework. It offers a robust set of features including a powerful code editor, GUI design tools, integrated debugging and profiling, and excellent support for C++ and QML languages. The IDE supports version control systems such as Git and offers various plugins and extensions, enhancing its capabilities. Its cross-platform nature allows developers to compile applications for multiple operating systems with relative ease, making it a versatile tool for application development.

Recommended for

  • Developers working with the Qt framework.
  • C++ programmers looking for an integrated design and development environment.
  • Teams developing cross-platform applications.
  • Those seeking an all-in-one IDE capable of handling both development and design aspects of software creation.
  • Individuals interested in developing applications with a graphical user interface using QML.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

VS Code 2 videos + Add
Qt Creator 1 video + Add

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

More videos

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

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
VS Code
Qt Creator
94% 94%
6% 6%
88% 88%
IDE
12% 12%
96% 96%
4% 4%
88% 88%
12% 12%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

VS Code 5.0 · 1 review
Qt Creator no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

VS Code 1218 mentions
Qt Creator 0 mentions

View more

Tracking Qt Creator since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to VS Code and Qt Creator

When comparing VS Code and Qt Creator, you can also consider the following products.