How to Set Up a C/C++ Development Environment on Arch Linux

Arch Linux is renowned for its simplicity, customization, and cutting-edge packages. It is a favorite among developers who want full control over their environment, including those working with low-level programming languages like C and C++. Setting up a C/C++ development environment on Arch is straightforward, thanks to the extensive Arch User Repository (AUR) and pacman package manager.

This guide walks you through setting up a complete and productive C/C++ development environment on Arch Linux. We’ll cover installing compilers, setting up a build system, selecting an editor or IDE, and configuring version control and debugging tools.

1. System Preparation

Before diving into package installation, ensure your system is up-to-date:

sudo pacman -Syu

Optionally, install base-devel if it’s not already present. This meta-package includes essential tools like make, gcc, binutils, and more.

sudo pacman -S base-devel

You’ll also want access to the AUR for certain development tools. While you can manually clone and build AUR packages, a helper like yay simplifies the process.

To install yay:

cd /tmp
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

2. Installing the C/C++ Compilers

Arch Linux provides the latest versions of GCC and Clang. You can install either or both depending on your preference.

Install GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)

sudo pacman -S gcc

You can check the installation with:

gcc --version

Install Clang (LLVM Compiler)

sudo pacman -S clang

Verify Clang with:

clang --version

Both compilers support C and C++, with g++ and clang++ handling C++ compilation respectively.

3. Essential Build Tools

To effectively compile larger projects, you’ll need additional build tools and utilities.

Make

Make is a classic tool for managing compilation via Makefiles.

sudo pacman -S make

CMake

CMake is a modern cross-platform build system used in many C/C++ projects.

sudo pacman -S cmake

Ninja (Optional)

Ninja is a fast build system that can be used with CMake for improved performance.

sudo pacman -S ninja

To use Ninja with CMake:

cmake -G Ninja .
ninja

4. Choosing a Text Editor or IDE

The choice of editor or IDE depends on your workflow. Arch offers a wide range of options from lightweight editors to full-featured IDEs.

CLI-Based Editors

Vim/Neovim

sudo pacman -S neovim

For a better C/C++ experience in Neovim, consider plugins like:

• coc.nvim with coc-clangd
• YouCompleteMe
• ALE for linting

Emacs

sudo pacman -S emacs

Install lsp-mode and ccls or clangd for language server support in C/C++.

GUI-Based IDEs

Visual Studio Code

yay -S visual-studio-code-bin

Install the following extensions:

• C/C++ by Microsoft (ms-vscode.cpptools)
• CMake Tools
• Clangd for LSP

CLion (JetBrains, commercial)

yay -S clion

CLion provides deep CMake integration and powerful refactoring tools.

Qt Creator

Great for C++ development, especially if you’re working with the Qt framework.

sudo pacman -S qtcreator

5. Language Server Protocol (LSP) Support

Using a language server like clangd can significantly enhance your development environment with features like autocompletion, go-to-definition, and diagnostics.

sudo pacman -S clang clang-tools-extra

Then, run:

clangd --version

Configure your editor to use clangd. For example, in Neovim with coc.nvim, install coc-clangd:

:CocInstall coc-clangd

6. Static Analysis and Formatting Tools

Static analysis tools help catch bugs early, and formatting tools enforce code style.

clang-tidy

sudo pacman -S clang

Example usage:

clang-tidy main.cpp -- -std=c++17

cppcheck

sudo pacman -S cppcheck

This tool performs static analysis of C/C++ code.

Clang-Format

To auto-format your code based on a .clang-format configuration file:

sudo pacman -S clang
clang-format -i main.cpp

7. Debugging Tools

No development setup is complete without debugging tools.

GDB (GNU Debugger)

sudo pacman -S gdb

To debug:

g++ -g main.cpp -o main
gdb ./main

LLDB (LLVM Debugger)

sudo pacman -S lldb

Useful if you’re using Clang or prefer LLVM tools.

8. Version Control

Most modern development requires version control, typically with Git.

Install Git

sudo pacman -S git

Basic setup:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"

You can use Git from the terminal or integrate it with your editor (e.g., GitLens in VS Code).

9. Useful Libraries and Headers

Depending on your projects, you may want to install common libraries:

Boost

sudo pacman -S boost

SDL2 (for multimedia/graphics programming)

sudo pacman -S sdl2

OpenGL and GLUT

sudo pacman -S mesa glu freeglut

Qt

sudo pacman -S qt5-base

Or use qt6-base for newer projects.

10. Setting Up a Sample Project

Let’s put it all together with a simple example using CMake:

Create a Project Directory

mkdir HelloCpp
cd HelloCpp

main.cpp

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, Arch Linux!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

CMakeLists.txt

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
project(HelloCpp)

set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 17)
add_executable(hello main.cpp)

Build

mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make
./hello

You should see:

Hello, Arch Linux!

11. Optional: Dockerized C/C++ Development

For a reproducible environment, you can use Docker. Example Dockerfile:

FROM archlinux:latest

RUN pacman -Syu --noconfirm && \
    pacman -S --noconfirm base-devel gcc cmake clang vim git

Build and run:

docker build -t cpp-dev .
docker run -it cpp-dev

Final Thoughts

Arch Linux is a developer’s paradise when it comes to setting up customized environments. Thanks to the rolling release model and a vibrant community, you’ll always have access to the latest compilers, tools, and libraries.

Whether you’re a beginner experimenting with C, or an experienced developer working on complex C++ projects, Arch provides a clean slate and complete flexibility. By setting up your environment as outlined above, you’ll be equipped with powerful tools that streamline your development workflow.