Alternatives to KDevelop
A cross-platform open-source IDE from KDE for C, C++, Python, QML/JavaScript and PHP. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
KDevelop
A cross-platform open-source IDE from KDE for C, C++, Python, QML/JavaScript and PHP.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as KDevelop.
Qt Creator
A cross-platform IDE for building C++ and Qt applications, maintained by the Qt project.
Qt Creator is a C++ IDE built specifically for Qt and QML projects, with a published release cycle and licensing that depends on how Qt is used.
CodeLite
A free, open-source cross-platform IDE for C, C++, Rust, Python, PHP and Node.js.
CodeLite is a lightweight GPL-2.0 IDE covering C, C++, Rust, Python, PHP and Node.js, with a smaller plugin ecosystem.
Code::Blocks
A free, plugin-based IDE for C, C++ and Fortran with a consistent interface across platforms.
Code::Blocks is a free plugin-based IDE for C, C++ and Fortran on Windows and Linux, with long gaps between major releases and no macOS build.
Visual Studio
Microsoft's integrated development environment for .NET, C++ and Windows development, with a free Community edition.
Visual Studio is Microsoft's Windows-only, proprietary IDE for C++ and .NET with a free Community edition and paid Professional and Enterprise editions.
GNOME Builder
An IDE for building GNOME and other Linux applications, with debugging, profiling and Flatpak support.
GNOME Builder is a Linux-only IDE focused on GTK and GNOME apps, with an integrated debugger, profiler and Flatpak builds.
Apache NetBeans
An open-source IDE for Java, PHP, JavaScript, HTML and other languages from Apache.
Apache NetBeans is an Apache-licensed IDE that runs anywhere Java runs, stronger for Java and PHP than for C and C++ work.
Theia IDE
An open-source IDE for desktop and browser from the Eclipse Foundation that runs VS Code extensions.
Theia IDE is an Eclipse Foundation editor for desktop and browser that runs VS Code extensions from Open VSX, rather than a C++-focused IDE.
Xcode
Apple's IDE for developing, testing and distributing apps for all Apple platforms.
Xcode is Apple's free macOS-only IDE, suited to C, C++ and Swift work aimed at Apple platforms rather than Qt or KDE projects.
Also worth comparing
These listings name KDevelop as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
CLion
C and C++ IDE with CMake integration and deep static analysis.
KDevelop is a free open-source KDE IDE with semantic C and C++ completion and CMake and QMake support, best suited to Qt and KDE work.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
CMake
The de facto standard build system generator for C and C++, producing native build files for whatever toolchain is on the machine.
GDB
The GNU Project debugger for inspecting running or crashed programs written in C, C++, Rust and more.
LLVM
A collection of modular compiler and toolchain technologies, including the Clang C and C++ compiler.
GCC
The GNU Compiler Collection, compilers for C, C++, Fortran, Ada, Go, Rust and other languages.
Meson
An open-source build system for C, C++, Rust and other languages focused on speed and readability.
Ninja
A small, fast build system designed to run build files generated by tools such as CMake.
