Best Embedded Software Development Tools for C++

A highly advanced text editor designed for coding, markup, and writing. With the Goto Anything feature, you can quickly access files using minimal keystrokes and effortlessly navigate to symbols, lines, or specific words. This editor allows you to make multiple edits simultaneously rather than repeating one change multiple times. Thanks to multiple selections, you can efficiently modify numerous lines at once, easily rename variables, and handle files more rapidly than you ever thought possible. The Command Palette provides access to less frequently used features, such as sorting, syntax adjustments, and indentation modifications. By entering just a few keystrokes, you can search for exactly what you need without the hassle of navigating through menus or remembering complex key commands. Additionally, Sublime Text boasts a robust Python API that enables the development of plugins to enhance its existing capabilities. With the ability to install Package Control through the command palette, you gain straightforward access to a wealth of community-created packages that can extend the editor's functionality even further. This makes it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to streamline their coding or writing process.

All your Python development needs are consolidated in one application. While PyCharm handles routine tasks, you can save precious time and concentrate on more significant projects, fully utilizing its keyboard-centric design to explore countless productivity features. This IDE is well-versed in your code and can be trusted for features like intelligent code completion, immediate error detection, and quick-fix suggestions, alongside straightforward project navigation and additional capabilities. With PyCharm, you can write organized and maintainable code, as it assists in maintaining quality through PEP8 compliance checks, testing support, smart refactoring options, and a comprehensive range of inspections. Created by programmers specifically for other programmers, PyCharm equips you with every tool necessary for effective Python development, allowing you to focus on what matters most. Additionally, PyCharm's robust navigation and automated refactoring features further enhance your coding experience, ensuring that you remain efficient and productive throughout your projects.

Eclipse IDE stands as the premier open platform tailored for professional developers engaged in computer programming, and it has never been better. This IDE provides essential tools to drive rapid innovation with a simplified configuration process, including the Eclipse IDE Installer 2020-09, which now incorporates a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in several of its packages. The enhancements also extend to theming and styling, featuring an improved dark theme for Windows and a refined light theme for GTK. Additionally, Eclipse IDE has transitioned to require Java 11 as its minimum operating version while maintaining the ability to compile older versions as desired. Among its new experimental features is support for aarch64, along with robust Linux support that has been integrated into this version. Furthermore, Node.js is now embedded within all LSP-based tools, facilitating seamless functionality from the start. Eclipse IDE remains free and open source, distributed under the Eclipse Public License 2.0, underscoring its commitment to community-driven development. The platform thrives on an extensive ecosystem of plugins, bolstered by an active and engaged community of contributors. This collaborative environment ensures that Eclipse IDE continues to evolve and meet the diverse needs of developers worldwide.

Apache NetBeans is a dynamic, open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that supports the development of applications in various programming languages, such as Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML5, and C/C++. Renowned for its modular framework, NetBeans equips developers with a comprehensive suite of tools and features tailored for creating desktop, mobile, and web applications. It boasts advanced code editing, debugging, and profiling functionalities, as well as an integrated visual GUI builder for crafting user interfaces in Java. Additionally, NetBeans provides support for multiple version control systems like Git, SVN, and Mercurial, enhancing collaborative efforts among teams. As a project under the Apache Software Foundation, NetBeans is continually refined by a vibrant community dedicated to expanding its capabilities, ensuring it remains a dependable and adaptable option for developers in numerous fields. Furthermore, its extensive documentation and tutorials make it accessible for both novice and experienced programmers alike.

Sourcery CodeBench offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to assist embedded software engineers in the effective development and enhancement of software across numerous targets and sectors, such as Automotive, Connectivity, Graphics, and Video applications. This suite extends beyond a mere compiler, equipping developers with robust open-source C/C++ development tools that facilitate the building, debugging, analysis, and optimization of embedded software within intricate heterogeneous architectures like Arm, IA32, MIPS, and Power Architectures. The integrated Eclipse-based IDE allows for tailored workspace configuration and efficient project management. Additionally, it features an advanced source code editor that includes syntax highlighting for improved readability. To further support custom hardware implementations, the Board Builder tool automatically creates linker scripts, debug configuration files, and startup code based on the specific memory layout of the board, streamlining the setup process for developers. Overall, Sourcery CodeBench significantly enhances productivity and efficiency for engineers working in embedded systems.

Qt Creator's sophisticated code editor supports a variety of programming languages such as C++, QML, JavaScript, and Python. It boasts features like code completion, syntax highlighting, and refactoring, while providing easy access to built-in documentation. This powerful tool seamlessly integrates with popular version control systems, including Git, Subversion, Perforce, and Mercurial. With integrated visual editors, you can create C++ widget-based applications or dynamic UIs using Qt Quick, complete with pre-built controls. Whether you're importing an existing project or starting from scratch, Qt Creator takes care of generating all necessary files for you. It also includes support for CMake and facilitates cross-compiling with qmake. You can build and execute your software on various platforms, including desktop, mobile, and embedded operating systems. The build configurations are user-friendly, allowing you to easily switch between different targets. Furthermore, you can thoroughly test and debug your applications under conditions that closely mimic those of your intended devices, ensuring a smoother development process. This versatility makes Qt Creator an invaluable tool for developers seeking efficiency and ease of use in their projects.

WebStorm serves as a comprehensive integrated development environment tailored for JavaScript and its associated technologies. Similar to other products from JetBrains, it enhances the development journey by automating mundane tasks and streamlining the management of intricate projects. The IDE continuously performs numerous code inspections during your coding process, enabling you to write more reliable and maintainable code by identifying potential issues early on. You can effortlessly refactor your entire codebase with just a few clicks, ensuring that no detail is overlooked during significant structural modifications. With all the essential tools for JavaScript development readily available from the start, you can dive right into coding. By allowing WebStorm to handle routine tasks, you can boost your productivity and dedicate more time to creative endeavors. If concerns arise about risking important changes in Git or inadvertently breaking components throughout your project, WebStorm is designed to make these challenging tasks more manageable, empowering you to concentrate on the broader objectives of your work. Ultimately, WebStorm not only facilitates a smoother coding experience but also fosters an environment where developers can thrive in their creativity.

Experience a comprehensive IDE designed for coding, debugging, testing, and deploying across various platforms. Enhance your coding speed and efficiency while shaping the future with a top-tier development environment. Utilize a complete suite of tools that guides you from the initial design phase all the way to the final launch. Benefit from enhanced IntelliSense functionality specifically for C++ files and enjoy local development with a wide array of popular emulators. Access testing features more easily through the Solution Explorer, and manage your Git repositories seamlessly within the IDE. Additionally, Kubernetes support is now integrated into the Microsoft Azure workload for added versatility. Regardless of the application you're creating, the programming language you choose, or the operating system you use, Live Share allows you to effortlessly collaborate with your colleagues directly from your own development environment. You can share your project instantly without the hassle of cloning a repository or configuring any settings, making teamwork and collaboration more straightforward than ever. This level of integration ensures that you can focus on what truly matters: developing exceptional software.

Who wouldn't want to write code at the speed of their thoughts while their integrated development environment (IDE) handles all the tedious tasks? But is such a feat achievable with a complex programming language like C++, especially considering its modern features and intricate templated libraries? The answer is a resounding yes! Witness it for yourself. Instantly create vast amounts of boilerplate code, easily override and implement functions with just a few keystrokes. You can swiftly generate constructors, destructors, getters, setters, and various operators like equality, relational, and stream output. Effortlessly wrap code blocks in statements or generate declarations from their usage. With the ability to craft custom live templates, you can efficiently reuse standard code snippets throughout your projects, saving time and ensuring a cohesive coding style. Additionally, you can rename symbols, inline functions, variables, or macros, reorganize members within the hierarchy, modify function signatures, and extract functions, variables, parameters, or typedefs with ease. With these capabilities at your fingertips, coding becomes not only faster but also significantly more enjoyable.

A comprehensive development environment tailored for Arm architecture, designed to produce efficient and streamlined code while granting you full authority over your programming projects. This all-in-one Integrated Development Environment features tools for project management and a built-in editor. It boasts an impressive library of 8,400 example projects, complete with configuration files, code snippets, and project templates, allowing for rapid project initiation. The IAR C/C++ Compiler, crafted by our team of compiler specialists, supports both C and C++ languages and provides sophisticated global and target-specific optimization techniques. Additionally, it accommodates a variety of industry-standard debugging and image formats, ensuring compatibility with most leading debuggers and emulators, including ELF/DWARF where applicable. This robust setup is complemented by a fully integrated linker and assembler, enabling the efficient creation of embedded applications. Supporting all 32-bit Arm cores from prominent vendors, as well as selected 64-bit Arm cores, our tools come with a flexible licensing model tailored to meet the unique needs of your organization. With this environment, developers can enhance productivity and streamline their workflow to achieve optimal results.

For more than three decades, Helix QAC has established itself as a reliable static code analyzer specifically designed for C and C++ programming languages. Renowned for its thoroughness and precision, Helix QAC has become the go-to choice in highly regulated and safety-sensitive sectors that must adhere to strict compliance standards. This often entails ensuring alignment with coding standards like MISRA and AUTOSAR, as well as functional safety regulations such as ISO 26262. The tool boasts TÜV-SÜD certification for functional safety compliance, encompassing standards like IEC 61508, ISO 26262, EN 50128, IEC 60880, and IEC 62304. Furthermore, it holds ISO 9001 | TickIT plus Foundation Level certification, a widely recognized standard that guarantees not only the fulfillment of requirements but their surpassing as well. By allowing users to prioritize coding issues according to risk severity, Helix QAC enables efficient targeting of critical defects through various tools, including filters, suppressions, and baselines, enhancing overall code quality and safety. This commitment to excellence solidifies Helix QAC's reputation as an essential asset in the development process.

Klocwork is a static code analysis and SAST tool designed for languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, and JavaScript, effectively pinpointing software security, quality, and reliability concerns while supporting adherence to various compliance standards. Tailored for enterprise-level DevOps and DevSecOps environments, Klocwork is capable of scaling to accommodate projects of any magnitude, seamlessly integrating with complex systems and a variety of developer tools, while also facilitating control, collaboration, and comprehensive reporting across the organization. This capability has established Klocwork as a leading static analysis solution that maintains rapid development cycles while ensuring ongoing compliance with security and quality protocols. By utilizing Klocwork's static application security testing (SAST) within DevOps practices, users can identify and rectify security vulnerabilities early on, maintaining alignment with globally acknowledged security standards. Furthermore, Klocwork's integration with CI/CD tools, cloud services, containers, and machine provisioning simplifies the process of automated security testing, making it accessible and efficient for teams. As a result, organizations can enhance their overall software development lifecycle while reducing potential risks associated with security flaws.

The µVision Integrated Development Environment (IDE) brings together various functionalities such as project management, run-time environment, build tools, source code editing, and program debugging into one robust platform. User-friendly and efficient, µVision enhances the speed of embedded software development processes. It also accommodates multiple screens, enabling users to customize their workspace with unique window layouts across the interface. The µVision Debugger offers a comprehensive setting where you can test, validate, and fine-tune your application code effectively. It features an array of traditional debugging tools, including both simple and complex breakpoints, watch windows, and control over execution, ensuring complete access to device peripherals. By leveraging the µVision Project Manager and Run-Time Environment, developers can construct software applications using pre-assembled software components and device support sourced from Software Packs. These software components encompass libraries, source modules, configuration files, templates for source code, and thorough documentation, providing a well-rounded foundation for development. This holistic approach not only streamlines the development process but also significantly reduces the time taken to bring projects to completion.

Static analysis is a valuable technique for identifying possible problems within your code by examining it at the source code level. C-STAT offers nearly 700 different checks, many of which adhere to guidelines outlined in MISRA C:2012, MISRA C++:2008, and MISRA C:2004, in addition to more than 250 checks that correspond to issues recognized by CWE. Furthermore, it assesses adherence to the CERT C coding standard, which focuses on secure coding practices. C-STAT operates swiftly and provides extensive and detailed error reports, allowing for effective troubleshooting. There’s no need to be concerned about complicated tool configurations or dealing with language support and overarching build challenges. Fully integrated into the IAR Embedded Workbench IDE, C-STAT empowers you to effortlessly maintain code quality throughout your development processes. This tool is compatible with a wide range of IAR Embedded Workbench products. By utilizing static analysis, not only can potential code issues be detected, but it also facilitates compliance with established industry coding standards. Ultimately, this enhances overall software reliability and maintainability.

With over thirty years of dedicated customer use and ongoing improvements, the MULTI Integrated Development Environment (IDE) stands unparalleled in the realm of embedded software. Developers trust MULTI to assist them in crafting superior code and accelerating their product launches. From identifying elusive bugs to fixing memory leaks and enhancing system performance, MULTI is consistently effective. Each aspect of our groundbreaking Debugger is tailored to swiftly address issues that often confound conventional tools. Problems such as inter-task corruptions, unmet real-time requirements, and external hardware events can typically take weeks or even months to resolve. However, with Green Hills' TimeMachine tool suite, these challenges can often be addressed in mere hours or even minutes. The TimeMachine suite automatically records program execution data, seamlessly integrating the MULTI Debugger interface with advanced replay debugging features, making it a vital resource for developers. This innovative approach not only saves time but also enhances the overall debugging process significantly.

The AdaMULTI IDE offers Ada developers access to the top-notch debugging and development capabilities found in the Green Hills MULTI IDE. For many years, users have relied on our tools and optimizing compilers to significantly enhance their debugging efficiency. The outcome? A more dependable product that reaches the market faster and incurs lower development expenses. AdaMULTI encapsulates nearly thirty years of debugging knowledge into an all-encompassing toolbox for embedded software development, equipping you with everything necessary to produce reliable software effectively. Our innovative debugger is tailored to swiftly address challenges that conventional tools struggle with. Bugs that once required weeks to resolve can now be tackled in mere hours or even minutes with the TimeMachine tool suite. Adhering to clean coding standards helps eliminate the risk of introducing new bugs through overly complicated code. Furthermore, a straightforward build configuration and seamlessly integrated tools allow developers to concentrate more on their core development tasks. This combination of features ensures that developers can optimize their workflows and achieve higher productivity levels.

In the realm of ensuring software quality, reliability, and security amid complex code bases, the conventional methods of debugging and testing are increasingly proving inadequate. Automated solutions like static source code analyzers excel in identifying defects that could lead to issues such as buffer overflows, resource leaks, and various other security vulnerabilities that often escape detection by standard compilers during regular builds, run-time tests, or typical operational conditions. These defects typically go unnoticed, underscoring the limitations of traditional methods. Unlike other standalone source code analyzers, DoubleCheck stands out as an integrated static analysis tool that is woven into the Green Hills C/C++ compiler. It employs precise and efficient analysis algorithms that have been refined and validated through over three decades of experience in developing embedded tools. By using DoubleCheck, developers can seamlessly conduct compilation alongside defect analysis in a single pass, streamlining their workflow and enhancing overall code integrity. This integrated approach not only saves time but also significantly improves the identification of potential issues within code.