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Are you a C++ programmer worried about the next development environment you will switch to, as Dev-C++ doesn’t work on MacBook? Well, you have nothing to worry about as we have got some attractive Dev-C++ alternatives for Mac to help you out.
Dev-C++, as you might already know, is an integrated development environment that combines the source code editor and compiler into one user interface. This platform is known for providing developers and programmers with an extensive list of tool options needed for developing a software product.
Dev-C++ is one of the most trusted platforms for developers to write and compile C and C++ programs. But unfortunately, it’s not available on macOS. Though users find it hard to move to another IDE (Integrated Development Environment), we have found some valuable alternatives you won’t mind switching to.
We have put together a detailed guide for you enlisting some of the best Dev-C++ alternatives for Mac. We have also included a list of all the features of Integrated Development Environment platforms we looked into while making our list.
6 Best Dev-C++ Alternatives for Mac
After going through multiple Integrated development environments or tools, we shortlisted 6 best Dev-C++ alternatives that are comparable to Dev-C++ and will work the best with your Mac computer. Let’s thoroughly look into these tools one by one so you can decide which one works best for you.
1. Eclipse
Eclipse is one of the most renowned Dev-C++ IDE software. Unlike other expensive software platforms in the market, this is entirely free of cost. It is a feature-rich platform with all the features you want from your C++ IDE.
Generally, with C++ IDEs that are free, it is believed that they might not be secure enough and lack significant features, but fortunately, that’s not the case with Eclipse. Be it a compilation of code, profiling, diffing files, autocorrection, or refactoring, you can do it all on this platform.
But the best part is that this is not all. In addition to the features that come in this tool by default, you can get a handful of other features and tools by using plugins. Though you get all the features you want from a C++ IDE on Eclipse, its interface is kept simple and doesn’t seem intimidating for beginners.
If you are on the hunt for a simple yet classy IDE, Eclipse might be the right option for you. Being an open-source platform, it keeps on getting updated frequently. You can use this development tool on your Mac computer and successfully run it on Windows and Linux operating systems.
On Eclipse, you get a wide range of configurable features from code compiling to debugging and auto code compiling. The best part is that C++ is one of many languages that work on Eclipse, as you can successfully make and run codes in some other languages, including Java.
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2. Visual Studio Code
If you have been coding for quite some years, there is no chance for you not to have heard of Visual Studio. It is the number one choice of programmers when it comes to IDEs, especially for C++ developers.
Like Eclipse, Visual Studio is also an open-source IDE and is available for multiple Operating Systems, including Mac and Windows. Being a modern platform, it is equipped with various valuable features for developing programs using C++.
Some of the features this platform comes equipped with include Autohide, auto-code completion, Annotations reporting, macro recording, schemas supporting, and code snippets. Though you will most likely get all the features you are looking for on this platform, you can add extensions to it if you need something else. Using the debugger of this tool, you can easily debug both the source and machine code.
On Visual Studio, as mentioned earlier, you will be able to get your hands on everything needed for developing a project. Be it database integration, server setup, or deployment tools, this IDE has it all. However, unlike Eclipse and Dev C++, this tool is not the usual IDE for auto-completion of the code.
The makers of Visual Studio believe in learning new things and taking help from suggestions. This is why it comes with a powerful component, IntelliSense, that uses your personal source code and language semantics to offer suggestions for completing the code.
You don’t have to look elsewhere if you are looking for a reliable IDE to develop your C++ programs. But if you want to develop commercial C++ apps, you have to pay for the Visual Studio license.
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3. NetBeans
The next Dev-C++ alternative for Mac on our list is NetBeans. On this platform, you will get all the features expected from IDEs, including bracket matching, smart code editing, automatic indentation, and code folding, among many others.
Using the extensive list of plugins available on this platform, you can easily customize the interface per your needs and liking. One of the most exciting features of NetBeans is its huge reliability.
As the company responsible for making this platform believes in providing users with the best and most updated interface, they ensure to keep the platform updated from time to time. So, once you decide to get your hands on this platform, be prepared to encounter new features over time.
Thanks to this platform’s rich set of plugins, you won’t miss out on any of the features you want from your IDE. Like Dev-C++ and other competitive IDEs for C++ in the market, this one also offers a wide range of features, including code templates, folding, and a significant project window.
If you want a Dev-C++ platform for debugging, this software’s huge list of debugging features won’t disappoint you. It also supports updated Java technologies and can efficiently handle multiple other coding languages.
The makers of NetBeans have primarily concentrated on the platform’s interface and have kept it simple, so it doesn’t intimidate newcomers. Though you might discover some excellent features and tools on this platform over time, it would initially seem too easy to use.
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4. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is another famous IDE for C++ in the market that many programmers and developers trust. On this platform, you get numerous languages to work around, and C++ is also one of them.
If you are searching for a Dev -C++ that, besides providing you with a base to work on your C++ projects, serves the purpose of a standard IDE, Sublime Text is the option you should consider for yourself.
Looking at the interface of this tool, you won’t find anything complicated, which means that this tool is perfectly suitable for beginners. However, it has numerous features that professional programmers want from their IDEs.
Some exciting options on Sublime Text include auto-completion of the code, a command palette, and Goto Definition. You also get your hands on several customization options on this platform. You can easily change the tool’s look for you using the JSON settings files.
Another feature of Sublime Text that you will hardly find in other Dev-C++ alternatives on our list is “Snippets.” Using this, you can save multiple blocks or parts of your code within the tool. You can use it in other programming projects and programs.
The Snippets features work wonders for professional programmers who must complete a lot of work simultaneously. Using this feature, they won’t have to do the part they have done in the past and can comfortably focus on the new block of the code.
Like Snippets, some other Sublime Text features also reduce your programming time. One such feature is simultaneous editing. This means you can simultaneously make similar changes to selected parts of your code.
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5. Code::Blocks
Code::Blocks is another great IDE option specially developed for programmers looking for IDEs for C and C++ languages. The best thing about this Dev-C++ alternative is that it can work efficiently with multiple compilers, so if you are looking for an IDE to work with a particular compiler.
Being an open-source option, one thing you can be sure about regarding Code::Blocks is that it will never get old. Various community members from across the globe keep working hard to introduce all the latest innovations and features on this platform.
Like Eclipse and other efficient IDEs, you can easily drag and drop elements on this tool and change its UI. This will make it easier for you to switch to some other IDE, as you can make your tool’s interface look as similar to Dev-C++ as possible.
On Code::Blocks, you will get all the features you want from a standard IDE, including auto-completion of code, its compilation, and debugging. Some additional features this tool comes with include code analysis, profiling, coverage, and dragging and dropping.
This tool won’t disappoint you, unlike some IDEs in the market that have all the customization options you want except plugins. You get many plugins, including some built-in plugins, to add or remove features from your software program you don’t use too often. This will help you make the interface look clutter-free and smooth.
Though you get numerously advanced and high-end features on this tool as well, making it an excellent option for professionals, it’s ideally the best choice for beginners, considering its simplistic features and design.
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6. Atom
The last Dev-C++ alternative we have picked out for you is Atom. It is one of the most modern IDEs and equally suitable for beginners and experts. Some of the main features of this program include auto-completion of codes, switching to different panes, and huge customization availability.
One feature of this program you will hardly find in other Dev-C++ alternatives out there is the availability of different panes. These panes allow you to switch tabs and work on different codes simultaneously. It also allows you to view and compare your codes and decide on the changes you want to make.
For users who are just starting out as developers and programmers and want a reasonably easy and lightweight software program, too, nothing can be better than Atom. Dragging and dropping elements around is much easier on this IDE than on other high-end IDEs.
In addition to being used for C++ programming language, you can also use it for a couple of other languages, making it the perfect replacement for Dev-C++. You can customize this program to a more considerable extent and make it look exactly like your user interface in the Dev-C++ software.
Once you get your hands on one of the package managers on this IDE, you can add thousands of plugins and use several editing and coding features you usually don’t find in such simple IDEs.
In addition to supporting easy navigation, the file system browser on this tool is good too. Using the file tree and fuzzy finder, you can easily open the projects from the past and can find the files easily.
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How We Chose the Alternatives?
Deciding on the right Dev-C++ alternatives that work well on Mac for you was an arduous task. It took us a lot of time and a great deal of research. We had to go through multiple IDEs in the market and install them on our Mac computer to understand the complexity of the installation process. After a lot of hassle, we finally picked out the top 5 Dev-C++ alternatives for you.
Though the process was quite complex, we made it easier for ourselves by starting out by making a list of all the features we couldn’t compromise on.
Here are the features we prioritized while making our list of the best Dev-C++ alternatives for Mac.
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Interface
One thing we noticed about different IDEs in the market is that most of these tool interfaces are intentionally kept a little complicated by some makers to make them look high-class and modern. However, this is not true for IDEs.
Fortunately, numerous professional IDEs in the market were made by high-end developers and companies that made sure to keep the interface as minimalistic and simple as possible. It’s because most of the users needing these IDEs are not experts, and onerous terms and expressions could intimidate them.
Keeping the users’ concerns in mind, we included only those IDEs in our list, featuring a simple and easy-to-use interface.
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Languages
Though, as evident from the title, our main target was finding IDEs that work well with C++ language, this wasn’t the only thing we stayed true to. As IDEs are usually needed for different programming tasks and C++ is not the only language you are going to deal with in the long run, we went for the options that can handle multiple different programming languages well.
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Customization
Having hands-on experience with numerous IDEs in the market, we truly understand how hard it is to switch to another tool just because your trusted IDE doesn’t work on your operating system.
Though this is one hard choice you have to make, we tried to reduce the pain for you by enlisting the options that allow huge customization. On going through these tools, you will notice how convenient dragging and dropping seems on these programs.
So, now you can change the interface or overall look of these IDEs and make them look as close to your prior IDE as possible.
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Availability
Although the main concern was finding the best and most reliable Dev-C++ alternatives for Mac, we went a step ahead. We included the options available on several other Operating systems, especially Linux and Windows.
This was an intentional decision, as we didn’t want you to make this tough choice of changing your IDE again in the future just because it’s not available on the Operating System you are moving to.
Conclusion – Dev-C++ Alternatives for Mac!
And there you have it. You now have many options with you, making the decision of a new IDE for C++ to work on macOS easier for you. Though we have taken care of the hard part for you, i.e., we did all the research and picked out the best options for you, you have to take care of your part well now.
Although all the options we have listed here for you are equally efficient, with each having qualities and features making it better than the other, it’s still important for you to go through all the detail above thoroughly and make the right decision for yourself.
We hope you end up picking the best IDE for yourself and will be able to make this transition pretty swiftly.
