Dev-C++

Download Details

Version

6.3 (latest)

File size

70.66 MB

License

Free

Security scan

VirusTotal: 62 of 62 engines say OK (0 flagged)

SHA-256 checksum Copy

9EA2F0237E5C72D485F9FA29DEF3F0A11C51F8B252F650BE533E09A5E2ADA247

Developer

Embarcadero Technologies Inc.

Supported OS

Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8.1

Installers

64-bit (x64), 32-bit (x86), Portable, Offline

Downloads

12750

Rating

4.6 out of 5 · 47 reviews

File name(s)

Embarcadero_Dev-Cpp_6.3_TDM-GCC_9.2_Setup.exe, Embarcadero_Dev-Cpp_6.3_TDM-GCC_9.2_Portable.7z

Reviewed by Ali Mohamed
Tested on Windows 11 and 10 · November 4, 2026 · How we review

Screenshots

Dev-C++ is a small, free C and C++ IDE for Windows that leans on the GCC compiler to build your code.

It is a native Windows app with a low memory footprint, which suits students, coursework and quick console programs where a heavy IDE only gets in the way.

It is worth downloading for that: the installer on this page includes the GCC compiler, so you can write and run a program right after setup.

The editor is plain and the newest release dates from January 2021, so pick Code::Blocks or Visual Studio for larger projects.

What is Dev-C++?

Dev-C++ is a free integrated development environment (IDE) for C and C++ on Windows.

Colin Laplace released the first version in 1998, later forks (Orwell, then Embarcadero) kept it going, and Embarcadero, the company behind Delphi, now sponsors the current line.

The program bundles a code editor, project manager, class browser and debugger front end, and it hands the actual compiling to GCC.

It is built with Delphi as a native Windows application and does not use Electron, so the memory footprint stays small. The newest Embarcadero release dates from January 2021.

Editor and code completion

The editor handles syntax highlighting, tabbed files, code completion and a built-in formatter (Artistic Style). It keeps up with the single-file programs most people write.

Code completion is basic next to a modern IDE, and there is no rename refactoring, so renaming a function across a project means find and replace.

Tip: open Environment Options for the interface theme and Editor Options for the color scheme. The bundled Monokai schemes and the dark interface styles are easier on the eyes in a long session.

Compiling and running code

Press F11 to compile and run the current file. Errors and warnings land in the compile log at the bottom, and double-clicking one jumps to the offending line.

The compiler flags in version 6 cover C++17 and the C++2a draft, and parallel builds (several make jobs at once) are on by default for release builds, which helps in projects with many source files.

Tip: after any change to the compiler setup, run a Hello World with F11. It takes ten seconds and tells you whether the toolchain works before you debug your own code.

Debugger

Dev-C++ drives GDB through a graphical front end. Click the gutter to set a breakpoint, add watches for variables and step through the code line by line. A CPU window shows the assembly view for lower-level digging.

The catch: debugging only works when the program is built with debug info. Switch on debugging information in the linker settings of Compiler Options before you start a session, or the debugger has no symbols to work with.

Projects and the class browser

Project templates cover console apps, Windows GUI apps, static libraries and DLLs. The class browser lists the functions and classes in your files, and the project manager builds through generated Makefiles.

That works well for small programs and coursework. A project that relies on CMake has to be built from the command line, because Dev-C++ has no CMake support of its own.

Tip: start with File > New > Project and choose Console Application, so the compiler settings travel with the project instead of a single file.

Built-in CMD and PowerShell tabs

Version 6 added CMD and PowerShell tabs inside the IDE, plus buttons for setting up your own shell tabs. You can run git, test a program with command-line arguments or call make without leaving the window.

Tip: run the compiled program from the CMD tab, which also avoids the console window that closes the moment a program ends.

Themes, fonts and high-DPI screens

Version 6 added a high-DPI icon set, several interface styles (including a Visual Studio Dark look), Monokai editor colors and the Source Code Pro font with optional ligatures.

The interface still looks dated next to Visual Studio Code, though the icons scale properly on high-DPI screens.

Dev-C++ compiler not found: the fix

This means the IDE cannot find the GCC it should call. It usually happens after the compiler folder is moved or deleted, after a custom compiler set is added with wrong paths, or when a no-compiler build was installed instead.

Open Tools > Compiler Options, check that the folders in the Directories and Programs tabs still exist, or reinstall from the setup on this page to restore the bundled compiler.

Dev-C++ console window closes immediately

A console program ends as soon as it finishes, so double-clicking the compiled .exe shows a brief flash.

Run it from the IDE or from a CMD tab, or end main with std::cin.get(); to hold the window open.

Errors about C++ standards or unsupported features

Code that uses newer language features fails with errors that do not look like a settings problem.

Set the language standard in Compiler Options (the code generation settings) to C++17 or whatever your code expects, then rebuild.

Who should skip Dev-C++

Skip it if you work on large multi-file projects, rely on CMake or integrated Git, or want a rename refactoring tool and frequent updates.

It also runs on Windows only, so macOS and Linux users need another IDE. Code::Blocks and Red Panda C++ cover that case, and Visual Studio fits big Windows projects.

Bloodshed vs Embarcadero Dev-C++: What Changed

Two projects share the Dev-C++ name. Bloodshed Dev-C++ is the original, written by Colin Laplace and abandoned after a release in February 2005.

Embarcadero Dev-C++ is a fork that picked up the code in 2020, after the Orwell fork had gone quiet (its last SourceForge update was in 2016).

The Bloodshed build still circulates on old tutorial sites, so check the publisher before you install anything with this name.

For anything written after 2011, take the Embarcadero edition.

A 2005 compiler cannot build code that uses range-based for loops, auto or smart pointers, which is why old Bloodshed installs produce confusing errors on modern examples.

How to Download & Install

Click the green download button at the top of this page and save the setup file. It is a standard Windows installer (.exe), so nothing needs unpacking.

Online, offline and portable versions

Dev-C++ has no web installer that fetches files during setup. The setup file here is a complete offline installer, so you can copy it to a USB drive and install on a PC without internet access.

Embarcadero also publishes a portable 7z build: extract it to any folder and run devcpp.exe.

Embarcadero ships the installer in two flavors, one with the TDM-GCC compiler bundled and one without a compiler.

The file on this page is the bundled one, so the download is larger but you can compile code straight after installing. TDM-GCC 9.2 builds both 32-bit and 64-bit programs.

System requirements

Embarcadero lists Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 as supported, and Dev-C++ also runs on Windows 11 as a normal desktop app.

The IDE itself is a 32-bit program, and it runs fine on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. It builds Windows programs only.

No RAM or CPU minimums are published, and any PC that runs a supported Windows version handles it.

License and activation

Dev-C++ is free and open source under the GNU GPL v2. There is no activation, license key, account or trial period.

Install Dev-C++ step by step

1. Click the download button at the top of this page and run the setup file.

2. Pick the installer language.

3. Accept the license agreement.

4. Choose the components to install. The defaults work for most people.

5. Pick the install folder and click Install.

6. Press Finish when setup completes.

6. On the first launch, Dev-C++ opens a first-time configuration window. Choose your language and interface theme, then confirm.

Test the compiler after installing

Dev-C++ edits and organizes your code, and GCC does the compiling. This installer includes TDM-GCC, so there is nothing to configure.

Create a new source file with a short Hello World and press F11 (Compile & Run) to confirm the toolchain works.

Use a newer GCC instead (optional)

The bundled TDM-GCC 9.2 dates from 2020. If you need a newer C++ standard, install a newer GCC such as MinGW-w64, open Tools > Compiler Options and add a compiler set that points to its folder.

The Directories tab takes the bin, lib and include paths, and the Programs tab takes gcc, g++, make and gdb.

How to update Dev-C++

Dev-C++ has no built-in updater. When a newer build appears on this page, download it with the button and run the installer over your current copy.

Your settings live in the Documents folder under Embarcadero\Dev-Cpp, outside the program folder, so back that folder up first if you have customized themes or shortcuts.

Pros & Cons

Best Dev-C++ Alternatives

• 
  Anaconda Navigator

  A data science environment packed into a single installer.

• 
  Arduino IDE

  Free code editor for writing, compiling and uploading sketches to microcontroller boards.

• 
  Visual Studio 2019

  Free Microsoft IDE for C#, C++ and Python with a built-in debugger.

• 
  Eclipse IDE

  Free open-source IDE for Java, C++ and PHP with plugin-based customization.

Conclusion

4.6★★★★★out of 5 · 47 user ratings

Dev-C++ remains a sensible starting point for C and C++ on Windows. It installs from a small file, the interface fits on one screen and the debugger handles coursework-size programs.

The trade-offs are an old interface, basic code completion and an update history that stops in January 2021. The table shows where the alternatives pull ahead.

Final verdict: download Dev-C++ if you are learning C or C++ or want a light Windows IDE, and add a GCC compiler first.

Move to Code::Blocks or Visual Studio when your projects outgrow it. GramFile also has pages for Visual Studio 2019 and Eclipse IDE if you want something heavier.

FAQ

Found a problem with this download? Report an outdated version, broken link, suspicious installer or incorrect information.

Changelog - What's new in version 6.3

Must-Have Windows Apps

• Zoom Workplace
• Nitro PDF Pro
• Sumatra PDF
• IrfanView
• K-Lite Codec Pack
• WinRAR