Top 10 Arduino Embedded Development IDEs, Must-Haves for Hardware Engineers!

As we all know, Arduino is the most popular open source electronic prototyping platform when you want to play with hardware DIY. When developing Arduino projects, programmers who usually develop engineering skills tend to use Arduino IDE. But if you are not satisfied with the standard IDE, you may consider other Arduino IDE alternatives.

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Usually, Arduino IDE is the first IDE that programmers use when they first come into contact with Arduino. It is easy to use, it supports all Arduino boards, and it has a built-in library manager that is also easy to use. In addition, Arduino IDE is very user-friendly, there are not too many options, you don't have to worry about how it works, just focus on the development process. You write the Arduino code, Arduino IDE compiles it, and uploads the compiled code to the Arduino prototype board.

Moreover, it is open source and runs on multiple operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

There are some missing features in the Arduino IDE that may throw you off, especially if you are used to using an IDE such as Eclipse, Visual Studio, or IntelliJ. One missing feature in the Arduino IDE is the auto-completion feature. In addition, if you like to use some other features in the IDE, such as showing function parameters, hints related to syntax errors, etc., here are some alternatives to the Arduino IDE for you!

1. PlatformIO

One of the most famous Arduino IDE alternatives is PlatformIO. It has an integrated development environment for IoT. It supports not only Arduino boards but also many other boards like Raspberry, ESP32, ESP8266 and many more. The IDE supports all the features you expect like code completion and so on. It is not only an IDE but also supports CLI (Command Line Interface). Moreover, PlatformIO supports multi-project, theme, and library management. The interface is very attractive and easy to use. However, it is very different from the standard Arduino IDE. It is open source and you can download the source code from GitHub. It requires Python and runs on multiple operating systems. There are two different versions of this Arduino IDE: one built on top of Atom and the other built as a Visual Studio Code plugin.

2. Eclipse Arduino IDE

It is a plugin for Eclipse. We all know Eclipse. If you program in Java, then you are definitely familiar with it. It is almost the standard for IDEs. Eclipse is a very versatile environment that supports a wide range of programming languages, from Jave to C/C++ and more. The platform uses plugins to extend its functionality and add new platform support.

Being a plugin for Eclipse IDE, it helps in developing Arduino applications. The plugin can be downloaded directly from the Eclipse Marketplace. Of course, it requires the Eclipse C++ IDE to be installed. You have to choose the platform, in other words, the SDK that contains all the libraries required to build the application. Once the plugin is configured, you can start developing for Arduino. The IDE is essentially the Eclipse IDE, so if you are familiar with Eclipse, you will have no problem using it. This Arduino IDE has all the features that are present in the standard Arduino IDE, such as the serial monitoring feature for debugging Arduino sketches.

3. Programino IDE for Arduino

Programino Arduino IDE is an Arduino IDE alternative with multiple features. This Arduino IDE can be used with Arduino/Genuino boards or compatible microcontrollers. Programino supports C/C++ languages. It adds support for other languages ​​such as HTML, Javascript, and several others.

It is fully compatible with Arduino, and its main features include:

• Syntax highlighting
• Functional exploration
• Code Folding
• Hardware Viewer

This last feature is very useful because you can see what hardware you are using so that you don't have to remember the pin numbers.

4. embedXcode

This is a free Arduino IDE developed for Mac OS X. This IDE supports syntax highlighting, line numbers, etc. It is a template for XCode 5 and XCode 6. This IDE simplifies Arduino sketch development with a smart environment that helps you during the development process. This IDE can be used with several prototyping boards such as Arduino, ESP32, ESP8266, Adafruit, and Atmel and Cortex based boards. embedXcode is available in different versions and licenses. There is a free version that supports basic features, while if you want to unlock all its features, you should consider embedXcode+ which requires a license.

5. Ktechlab

KTechLab is an IDE for microcontrollers. This is more than just a simple IDE as it supports circuit simulation and can simulate microcontrollers and their circuits. It is capable of simulating both linear and nonlinear devices. Moreover, this IDE can display the voltage and current flowing in the circuit. This platform is open source and you can download the source code from GitHub. It runs on Linux and Windows.

6. Codebender

Codebender is a cloud Arduino IDE. It works online and there is no need to install the application locally. It is a web-based Arduino IDE that provides all the features you would expect from an IDE. It uses a cloud compiler to convert the source code and upload it into Arduino. It is an open-source platform and its code is available on GitHub. The Arduino IDE supports code highlighting and many other features. Also, the Arduino code is in the cloud, so it can be used and accessed from anywhere. It supports multiple boards and you can upload the board definition if you can't find your board. This feature makes the platform very versatile. Also, it has an important feature of being able to use Arduino code written by others on your board. This helps you improve your knowledge.

7. Visual Studio + Visual Micro

This is a plugin for Visual Studio. This Arduino IDE is fully compatible with Arduino. This IDE helps you write Arduino code easily and quickly, including syntax highlighting, code error prompts, etc. It supports multiple Arduino boards, so you can freely choose your board to write the code. It is very easy to use because it takes advantage of Visual Studio features, so you can use an integrated environment to write Arduino code. It supports serial debugging and can create diagrams. Another interesting feature is the ability to use Arduino libraries. Visual Micro Arduino IDE fully supports the Arduino library format, and you can easily add it to your Arduino code using the library manager.

8. Zeus IDE

Zeus IDE is an editor that supports multiple programming languages: C#, Lua, Go, etc. This IDE supports multiple features:

• C/C++ Code Completion
• Syntax highlighting
• Smart indent code

Even though it's not made specifically for Arduino, you can use it to develop Arduino applications.

9. Atmel Studio

This is a professional platform. This integrated platform supports SAM and AVR microcontrollers. Using Atmel studio, you can write, debug and upload your application. It is a complete solution that is not limited to Arduino, but also provides all the features to easily develop applications.

10. ArduinoDroid

This is a different Arduino IDE. It runs on Android devices and using it you can write your Arduino code. This is the first IDE that runs on Android OS. It is worth mentioning that it helps you to write code using your Android device. Using this application, you can write and upload sketches. It supports several Arduino boards. You can use Google drivers. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Summarize

This article lists several Arduino IDE alternatives that you can use if you are not satisfied with the standard Arduino IDE. You can choose the right option based on your needs and programming style. All of these platforms can help you write Arduino applications easily and quickly!