CDT 2.1 - New and Noteworthy

C and C++ developers are getting a brand new shiny toy for the winter holiday season this year ... CDT 2.1. The CDT 2.1 download is now available.

The CDT 2.1 release is compatible with the Eclipse 3.0.x stream and provides a number of enhanced features.

C/C++ User Interface

New Class Wizard

Creating new C++ classes continues to get easier with a number of enhancements to the C++ class creation wizard.

New C/C++ Wizards

A new toolbar has been created that facilitates the creation of a number of standard C/C++ objects:

  • Source and header files
  • Source folders
  • C++ projects (via the new class wizard)

Outline Filters & Groups

The Outline view now offers users the ability to filter out certain elements such as defines and namespaces as well as the ability to group all include statements together.

Code Folding

The C/C++ editor supports code folding for functions, methods, classes, structures and macros.

Makefile Editor

The Makefile editor has a whole new set of preferences and now supports code folding.

Managed Build System

File Specific Options

Managed Make Projects support file based options:

  • Specific files can be excluded from a build configuration
  • Individual files can use different tool options
These options are available by selecting the properties of the specific files in question.

New Tool Configuration Attributes

Managed Make toolchain providers have increased flexibility in how their toolchains are generated. Full details are in the the Managed Build System Extensibility document.

Modified UI

A number of small changes have been made to the Managed Make user interface to improve the developer workflow.

  • Error parsers selected by toolchain configuration automatically
  • All per-project based configurations available as project properties

C/C++ Debug & Launch

Thread Specific Breakpoints

The C/C++ Debugger now supports thread specific breakpoints. After placing a breakpoint, look at its Breakpoint Properties to see which threads or processes it is active for.

Breakpoint Filtering

The Breakpoints view now allows you to easily filter out all of the non-relevant breakpoints based on the specific process that is being debugged.

Variable Support

The C/C++ launch configurations now includes support for variables in the Environment, Argument and Working Directory tabs.

C/C++ Infrastructure

Formatter Ready

The groundwork has been laid for C/C++ code formatters to be added to the platform. An experimental implementation is available based on GNU indent but no standard implementation is yet available.

64 Bit Support

The binary parser, which assists with the C/C++ View object file outline, and debugger now support 64 bit binaries.

There have been a number of programatic changes that have been made from CDT 2.0. These changes that may affect developers.

Binary Parser Changes
New IAddress interfaces added to support 32/64 bit addressing schems.
Launch Changes
Deprecated CDT environment launch configuration in favor of debug core debug launch environment support.
Debugger Changes
New top level interface for creation of CDI session (ICDIDebugger) deprecated ICDebugger
Managed Make System
MBS uses a new model for defining tool-chain integrations. Refer to the Managed Build System Extensibility document for details. It can be found in the CDT on-line help at Concepts -> Build -> Managed Build