- Home
- IDE Software
- KDevelop
KDevelop
Berlin, Germany
What it is
KDevelop is a free, open-source integrated development environment for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its built-in language support covers C, C++, and JavaScript/QML; optional plugins add Python and PHP. For supported languages, it provides semantic syntax highlighting, code completion, and navigation tools such as symbol-use searches, jumps to declarations or definitions, Quick Open, and project, class, and function browsers. Build support includes CMake and QMake, with partial support for custom Makefiles and the ability to invoke make or ninja. Graphical debugging is available for C/C++ and Python, while PHP debugging requires an extra plugin. The IDE also integrates unit tests, code formatting, a filterable Problems view, and Vim-compatible input. Version-control integrations include Git, Bazaar, Subversion, CVS, and Perforce, with Mercurial available through an optional plugin. Users can arrange views, change color schemes, and set shortcuts. The Windows nightly build may be unstable or incomplete, and Chocolatey packages are developed independently and may not be current.
For and against
For
- Free and open source.
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Includes graphical debugging for C/C++ and Python.
- Integrates unit tests and code formatting.
- Offers multiple version-control integrations.
Against
- Python and PHP support require optional plugins.
- PHP debugging requires an extra plugin.
- Windows nightly builds may be unstable or incomplete.
- Chocolatey packages may not be current.
The verdict
KDevelop combines language-aware editing with build, debugging, testing, and version-control tools in a free IDE. Check the language and platform details, particularly the plugin requirements and Windows release caveats, before choosing it.
Who it suits
KDevelop suits developers who want a free IDE for supported languages on Linux, macOS, or Windows. It may also suit users who want configurable views, debugger support, and integrations for build systems and version control.
Plans and prices
KDevelop
Free IDE; no paid tiers stated
Read 4 Oct 2026 · kdevelop.org
On the record
- Build systems
- Supported build systems include CMake, QMake, partially supported custom Makefiles, and a generic build system.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Code intelligence
- For fully supported languages, KDevelop provides semantic syntax highlighting, code navigation, and completion.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Code navigation
- Navigation features include finding symbol uses, jumping to declarations or definitions, Quick Open, and project, class, and function browsers.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Code tools
- Supported languages include semantic syntax highlighting, code navigation and completion.kdevelop.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can arrange split views and tool views, configure color schemes, and assign shortcuts to almost every IDE action.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Debugging
- The IDE provides graphical debugger support for C/C++ and Python, with PHP support through an extra plugin.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- KDevelop integrates QtHelp documentation files, man pages, and CMake help pages.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page lists distribution packages and Snap for Linux, a nightly 64-bit build and Chocolatey package for Windows, and a release installer for macOS.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- KDevelop uses a plugin architecture, and the project site names Clang-Tidy, Heaptrack and Perforce support as examples of extensions.kdevelop.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Languages
- C/C++, Objective-C, Qt QML, and JavaScript are fully supported; Python and PHP support is provided through optional plugins.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Other features
- The feature list includes unit test integration, graphical debugging for C/C++ and Python, and code formatting support.kdevelop.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Other tools
- KDevelop includes unit test integration, code formatter support, a filterable Problems view, and Vim-compatible input mode.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The project describes KDevelop as extensible, with plugins such as Clang-Tidy, Heaptrack, and Perforce support.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- KDE says its hosted Matomo analytics immediately anonymizes IP records and automatically removes detailed records after 30 days.kde.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Product
- KDevelop is a cross-platform IDE for C, C++, Python, QML/JavaScript, and PHP.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Release caveat
- The Windows nightly build may be unstable and contain bugs or incomplete features, and the Chocolatey packages are developed independently from KDE and may not be up to date.kdevelop.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Release limitation
- The site says Windows nightly builds are compiled from the master branch and may be unstable or contain bugs or incomplete features.kdevelop.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- KDE directs users who find a security issue in KDE software to report it and says its security advisories are listed there.kde.org · read 3 Oct 2026
