C and C++ Project Support

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.

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

Profiler Integration 

The Run Monitor displays information about the application runtime such as CPU, thread, and memory usage (under Linux and Solaris). This feature relies on D-Light and takes advantage of the Dynamic Tracing (DTrace) debugging and performance analysis functionality. No set-up required!

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.

Compiler Configurations

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

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.

The new Auto view shows only necessary variables. You can also debug core files, inspect macros in Watch view and tooltips, and see function arguments in the Call Stack view. The debugger also stops when signals are received and you can decide how to proceed.

Code Assistance 

Benefit from improved 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).

You can inspect the class inheritance hierarchy, a header's include hierarchy, the type hierarchy, and more.

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.

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.

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.

Makefile Support

The Makefile wizard lets you define and manage targets and configurations.

Remote Development 

Use the improved Development Host Manager in the C/C++ Options windows to define remote hosts. You can then use development tools on those hosts to build and run projects from your client system.

Packaging

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

Memory Window

The memory window displays the contents of memory addresses that are currently used by the project that is being debugged.

Classes Window

Use the Classes window to navigate class hierarchies: See all classes in your project, and also members and fields for each class.