C and C++ Projects

NetBeans IDE includes project types for C and C++ and appropriate project templates. You can work with and create C/C++ applications with dynamic and static libraries, and you can also create C/C++ projects from existing code. C/C++ projects also support Fortran files. The Makefile wizard lets you define and manage build targets and configurations.

Users can now easily create new projects from scratch by simply dragging-and-dropping a binary file to IDE. The project system automatically finds the source files, adds them to the project, configures code assistance and even explores project dependencies. Users also now have more flexibility in configuring the "Run" command and thus can run and debug static and dynamic libraries.

C and C++ Editor

The C/C++ editor comes with syntactic and semantic highlighting, automatic indentation and formatting (including a choice of formatting styles), bracket matching, code folding, and templates.

Terminal

Choose Windows > Output > Terminal from the menu to open a new a window that allows you to access local and remote terminals. The connection functionality is now better integrated with Remote Development and allows connection to known host in a couple of clicks. User can also assign a custom title to each terminal window.

Unit Testing

You can create and run C/C++ tests right from the IDE. Test results are displayed in a clear and user-friendly way.

Packaging

You can configure your project to have it automatically package your compiled applications as either TAR files, ZIP files, SVR4 packages, RPMs, or Debian packages.

GNU Debugger Integration

The C and C++ editor is well integrated with the multi-session GNU gdb debugger. You can set line and function breakpoints and view them in the Breakpoints window. Inspect the call stack and local variables, create watches, and view threads. You can evaluate a selected expression by moving the cursor over it and viewing the tooltip. The Disassembler window displays the assembly instructions for the current source file.

A new "Expression evaluation" window is introduced to allow users to evaluate any custom expression in the current program context.

Code Assistance

Benefit from faster code completion and refactoring for C/C++ and Qt files, including code completion and navigation for preprocessor directives and preprocessor blocks. Refactorings are available in the Editor, Class View and Navigator. Use them to change method parameters and to generate basic field encapsulation code (Alt+Insert). Spell checking is available in comments and literals.

Navigation

You can inspect the class inheritance hierarchy, a header's include hierarchy, the type hierarchy, and more. Use the Classes window to navigate class hierarchies: See all classes in your project, and also members and fields for each class. The Call Graph window shows all callers/callees of the selected function. You can choose between a direct call graph and a reverse call graph as well as change graph layout. Macroview is available to help understand how code would look after preprocessing. Use the Overrides/Is Overriden annotations to navigate between parent and descendant classes. Navigation between generic template and template specializations is also available through corresponding annotations.

Remote Development 

Use development tools on remote hosts to build, run, and even debug projects from your client system as simple as if it is done locally. Different methods of synchronization with the remote host provide necessary reliability, performance and simplicity. Navigation through remote file system is now straight forward and available where it is logically expected.

Explore a new feature that allows you to import a project from a remote host and work with the project seamlessly while keeping all the source files on the remote system.

Qt Toolkit Support

Use the Qt application development framework to create Qt files, such as GUI forms, resources, and translations. Standard Qt editing tools such as the Qt Designer for form files and Qt Linguist for translations are launched automatically as needed. Qt-specific project properties allow you to fine-tune the generated qmake project file.

File Navigation

Inspect the hierarchy of source and header files in the Include Hierarchy window. Inspect all supertypes and subtypes of a class in the Type Hierarchy window. Hyperlinks allow you to switch between corresponding source and header files with a single click.

The Usages window shows where a class (structure), function, variable, macro, #include directive, or file is used in your project's source code. Remote file systems are supported as well.

Compiler Configurations

The NetBeans IDE supports a variety of leading compilers, such as the GNU compilers, Cygwin, and MinGW. You can specify your compiler, pre-processor definitions, compile-time options, and much more.

Configuration Manager

Use the Configurations Manager in the Project Properties to save different sets of settings, for instance for debugging or for the release. Supply command line arguments, run directory path, console and terminal type. You can override the project compiler settings and other properties on a per file basis, and also exclude files from a build in a specific configuration.

 C and C++ Learning Trail