Is Code::Blocks better than VS Code?

I'm gonna be the weird one and say Code::Blocks' simplicity is actually a huge benefit that makes it 'better' for the right person.

I know too many beginners who jump straight into VS Code, install a bunch of extensions they don't understand, and then when their code doesn't run, they have no idea if the bug is in their C++ code, their compiler settings, or one of the dozen JSON config files that VS Code uses.

Code::Blocks eliminates that whole layer of complexity. If your code compiles in Code::Blocks, the problem is almost certainly your code, not the environment. That straightforward feedback loop is invaluable for someone just starting out and trying to learn the syntax and logic of C++ itself. For that reason alone, it's better for pure, unadulterated learning.

You can't really say one is better without knowing the person's system and their project.

If your laptop is really old and slow, Code::Blocks is super lightweight and will load much faster than VS Code. VS Code, being built on Electron (which is basically a web browser running), can be a memory hog and slower on startup. So for low-end machines, Code::Blocks wins on performance and resource use.

But if you have a decent computer and you care about extensions, a dark theme that isn't terrible, and general aesthetics, VS Code is the clear winner. Code::Blocks looks ancient. It comes down to performance vs features/polish, really.

From a purely professional point of view, VS Code is the better bet long term. Code::Blocks development is kinda stalled, the last major release was ages ago, and it's not keeping up with the modern developer workflow like Git integration, modern C++ language server features, or multi-language support.

VS Code is updated almost every month. It's constantly getting better, faster, and more powerful for every language, C++ included. It has Microsoft backing it, which means the C++ extension (C/C++ Extension Pack) gets serious investment in things like IntelliSense and debugging. You won't find a professional C++ team using Code::Blocks, but you will find plenty using VS Code or a full IDE like Visual Studio (the big one) or CLion.