# Dev-C++
**Dev-C++** is a free, open-source integrated development environment (IDE) for C and C++ programming on Windows, first released in 1998 by Colin Laplace under the Bloodshed Software name[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/). It bundles the [MinGW](https://www.edgepedia.org/mingw) port of the GCC compiler with a lightweight editor, debugger, and project manager, and it has been used chiefly by beginners, students, and classroom courses[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First release | 1998, by Colin Laplace with Bloodshed Software[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/) |
| Platform and license | Windows only; free under the GPL[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/) |
| Compiler | Bundled MinGW GCC; the Orwell 5.11 release shipped with TDM-GCC 4.9.2[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/) • [3](https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/files/Source/) |
| Footprint | About 60 MB installed, against roughly 100 MB for Code::Blocks and 10 GB or more for Visual Studio Community[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/) |
| Orwell fork | Released 2011; last SourceForge update 29 November 2016[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/) • [4](https://sourceforge.net/directory/?q=orwelldevcpp) |
| Embarcadero fork | Version 6.0 released October 2020 with GCC 9.2.0 and C++17/C++20 support; version 6.3 released 30 January 2021[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/) • [5](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/releases) |
| Typical audience | Beginners, students, contest practice, and small quick projects[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/) |
## Features
Dev-C++ combines a source editor with the MinGW toolchain in a single Windows application. Documented capabilities include integrated GDB debugging for breakpoints, stepping, and variable inspection; AStyle code formatting; GPROF profiling; DevPak extensions that install preconfigured libraries such as SDL, OpenGL, or Boost in one click; project templates for console applications, Windows GUI programs, static libraries, and DLLs; and support for more than 30 interface languages[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/). An earlier feature list for the Bloodshed version also mentions customizable syntax highlighting, automatic Makefile creation, a setup creator, resource file editing, and a class browser with code completion drawn from header files[6](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?doi=99303ae2ccf5ad3f2f5525086f1ec729b11e48fc&repid=rep1&type=pdf) • [7](https://jack.hirschfelder.us/CMIS102Items/HowToUseDevCpp.pdf).
The IDE can also be run portably from a USB drive, which lets students code on school or library computers without administrator installation rights[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/).
## History and forks
**Bloodshed era.** Colin Laplace released the first Dev-C++ in 1998 under Bloodshed Software[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/).
**Orwell Dev-C++.** Johan Mes (writing as "orwelldevcpp") forked the project in 2011, and the fork's updates stopped in 2015[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/). Its [SourceForge](https://www.edgepedia.org/sourceforge) project page shows a last update of 29 November 2016 and offers version 5.11 as the latest release, a 50.4 MB installer bundling TDM-GCC 4.9.2[4](https://sourceforge.net/directory/?q=orwelldevcpp) • [3](https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/files/Source/). The fork's maintainer stated on the project forum that he would have no time to continue working on it[8](https://sourceforge.net/u/orwelldevcpp/profile/), and its tracker still lists open bug reports such as a 5.11 crash when executing a debug session[9](https://sourceforge.net/p/orwelldevcpp/tickets/?page=1). The 5.11 release remains widely downloaded and is the version most often referenced in classroom material[4](https://sourceforge.net/directory/?q=orwelldevcpp).
**Embarcadero Dev-C++.** In 2020 Embarcadero, the company behind RAD Studio and C++Builder, sponsored a modernization of the IDE. A July 2020 update migrated the [Delphi](https://www.edgepedia.org/delphi-software) 7 codebase to Delphi 10.4, and in October 2020 Embarcadero released version 6.0 with an updated GCC 9.2.0 compiler supporting [Windows 10](https://www.edgepedia.org/windows-10) and the C++17 and C++20 standards, high-DPI support, UTF-8 file handling, improved icons, and a dark theme[1](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/). Version 6.2 followed on 13 November 2020, adding five new UI styles, default document encoding options, font ligature support, and multiple simultaneous instances[5](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/releases). Version 6.3, released 30 January 2021, enabled parallel compilation by default for release builds through MAKE jobs and fixed several editor and debugger issues[5](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/releases). The source is published on GitHub under the Embarcadero organization, and the installer defines the product as "Embarcadero Dev-C++ 6.3" with TDM-GCC 9.2[5](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/releases) • [10](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/blob/master/devcpptdmgcc64.nsi).
## Comparison with other IDEs
Dev-C++ occupies the lightweight end of the Windows C/C++ IDE range. Compared with [Code::Blocks](https://www.edgepedia.org/code-blocks), it is easier to install and lighter on resources, but Code::Blocks is cross-platform, supports several compilers including GCC, Clang, and MSVC, and sees more active development[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/). Compared with Visual Studio Community, Dev-C++ has a very low learning curve and a footprint measured in tens of megabytes rather than gigabytes, while [Visual Studio](https://www.edgepedia.org/visual-studio) offers the broader debugging, testing, and build tooling used in professional Windows development[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/). Comparison tables list Dev-C++'s active development as "forks only", meaning the original line is not maintained and users must choose a fork for current versions[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/).
Its limitations follow from the same design. The IDE offers limited debugging and project management tools, receives infrequent updates, and is not well suited to large-scale or modern C++ projects[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/).
## Use in education
Dev-C++ has a long record as a teaching tool. University surveys of student environments list it alongside Code::Blocks, Geany, and Visual Studio as an IDE students install on their own machines[12](https://www.tud.ttu.ee/im/Vladimir.Viies/materials/L%C3%95PETAMINE/MAGhannesele/JanToodrethesis.pdf), and introductory course materials at institutions such as [Brooklyn College](https://www.edgepedia.org/brooklyn-college) (CUNY) include step-by-step Dev-C++ installation instructions[13](https://www.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~jones/cisc1110/STARTDev.pdf). Its simplicity is the usual reason given: it installs quickly, needs little configuration, and lets beginners focus on syntax and basic programming concepts rather than toolchain setup[2](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/).
## References
1. [Eli M. (2020). Embarcadero Dev C++: Successfully Modernizing A Popular Windows C++ IDE. Embarcadero Blogs.](https://blogs.embarcadero.com/embarcadero-dev-c-successfully-modernizing-a-popular-windows-c-ide/)
2. [Dev-C++ Download 2026: Complete Guide to Safe, Up-to-Date Installs. CodeGenes.](https://www.codegenes.net/blog/dev-c-download/)
3. [Dev-C++ Files (Source), SourceForge, orwelldevcpp project.](https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/files/Source/)
4. [orwelldevcpp free download, SourceForge directory.](https://sourceforge.net/directory/?q=orwelldevcpp)
5. [Releases, Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp, GitHub.](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/releases)
6. [C++ Programming HOW-TO, CiteSeerX.](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?doi=99303ae2ccf5ad3f2f5525086f1ec729b11e48fc&repid=rep1&type=pdf)
7. [How to Use Dev-C++, CMIS 102 handout.](https://jack.hirschfelder.us/CMIS102Items/HowToUseDevCpp.pdf)
8. [orwelldevcpp profile, SourceForge.](https://sourceforge.net/u/orwelldevcpp/profile/)
9. [Dev-C++ Tracker, SourceForge.](https://sourceforge.net/p/orwelldevcpp/tickets/?page=1)
10. [devcpptdmgcc64.nsi, Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp, GitHub.](https://github.com/Embarcadero/Dev-Cpp/blob/master/devcpptdmgcc64.nsi)
11. [How to Run Turbo C++ on Windows 10/11: Retro Guides & Modern Alternatives. Position Is Everything.](https://www.positioniseverything.net/how-to-run-turbo-c-on-windows-10-11-retro-guides-modern-alternatives/)
12. [Jan Toodre (c. 2016). Comparison of classroom and student environments. Tallinn University of Technology thesis.](https://www.tud.ttu.ee/im/Vladimir.Viies/materials/L%C3%95PETAMINE/MAGhannesele/JanToodrethesis.pdf)
13. [Section 3: Downloading and Installing Dev-C++. Brooklyn College, CUNY, CISC 1110 handout.](https://www.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~jones/cisc1110/STARTDev.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Computing and digital systems › Software and programming › Development tools and collaboration infrastructure › Build, deployment, and development tooling*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license