IDE for Win/Raspberry Pi/Linux/Arduino

[eugenedakin]

Hello Everyone,

Just a general question - Is there an IDE which programs in C/C++ that works across these various platforms: Windows, Raspberry Pi, Linux, Arduino. Meaning to write the code once and compile for other operating systems?

After trying many languages and writing many books on the topics, I am tending to see the trend that each platform tends to have its own preferred language. Example, Raspberry Pi tends to favour Python, Arduino tends to use C, Windows/Linux uses C/C++ and many other possible languages.

Visual Studio 2019 is pretty good, and I haven't performed much work with cross-OS compiling yet, and have used the local programming languages for each system.

I am just reaching out to the community for your thoughts, as there is no need for me to reinvent the wheel. Is there an IDE that can perform a code-once and compile to many other operating systems?

Thanks a bunch!

[George P]

Visual Studio 2017/2019, for one. Have to manually set up the install packages for mobile and C/C++ desktop development. That can be done during the initial installation or as a modification later.

C# and Windows Forms looks to be a better bet for cross-platform development, mobile/desktop, though I don't do that so have zero experience in the particulars.

Arduino AFAIK is a one-off platform that pretty much requires its own stripped-down compiler.

[eugenedakin]

Thanks @Furry Guy,

I'll look into manually setting up the install packages and try a few 'Hello World' programs just to make sure I get the concept of Visual Studio 2019 with mobile programs.

I have heard that C# is good at cross-platform work, although I have had problems supporting the latest versions of OpenGL/Vulkan and DirectX with C#. There are good libraries for both OpenGL/Vulkan and DirectX with C++. I have only made a few simple graphics programs with C# as most people tend to use Unity with C# and the Unreal Engine with C++. I haven't seen support directly for OpenGL/Vulkan or DirectX in C#, at least not the latest versions.

I have been getting many requests for embedded systems where electronics are designed and talk to computer programs, and C/C++ is the programming language that tends to be heavily used. One request is to design sensor inputs, retrieve Transistor-Transistor-Logic data, and then show the data in Virtual Reality. As you mentioned, I may just need to use Arduino's stripped-down compiler, as the running code is very efficient.

Tanks for your helpful comments!

[George P]

You might look at Universal Windows Platform (UWP) development, that is the latest shiny object that MS is pimping.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/get-started/universal-application-platform-guide

With a UWP app you can use DirectX to create games it seems.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/gaming/directx-programming

Even port OpenGL to Direct3D.

[eugenedakin]

Yes, UWP looks good and I'll need to learn a little more about it. The sales-like information seems nice, just not sure how it programs in the real-world :) When programming cross-platform there are always a bunch of unique programming-gotchas.

Your answers are very helpful. Thanks again.

Edit: Remove grammatical errors