C++ Formatting like visual studio c# formatting

Question

I like the way Visual studio (2008) format C# code; unfortunately it seems it doesn't behave in the same way when writing C++ code.

For example, when I write a code in this way:

class Test {
public:
    int x;
    Test() {this->x=20;}
    ~Test(){}
};

in C# (ok this is C++ but you can understand what I mean), this part:

Test() {this->x=20;}

Will become

Test() { this->x=20; }

This is obviusly a stupid example, but there are a lot of things where putting brackets in correct position, indenting code and other things with my own hands becomes boring.

I can obviusly change editor if you suggest me a good one for C++ code, I would like to find something with these features:

• Intellisense (like vs, at least similiar)
• Custom class coloring (in c# they are cyan, why are they black in c++?)
• Wordwrap (possibly)
• Documentation when you mouse over a method/variable
• Auto formatting (when you close a bracket like "}" in c# you'll get everything well formatted)

obviusly I can find other features, but this is what is in my mind at the moment.

Thanks for any suggestion

Answer 1

You'll struggle to find a much better editor than Visual Studio for writing c++ code. You will get used to it eventually. If you really cannot cope, then take a look at Visual Assist. It is a little pricey but it will beautify your code colours.

Answer 2

If you look at the Tools->Options->Text Editor settings you can control some of what you want, but I don't think as much as you'd like. Instead of changing editors, if the code style is that important, why not run it through a pretty printer? Check out this thread for ideas.

Answer 3

Visual SlickEdit is a highly configurable editor and offers tagging functionality (what VS calls "Intellisense") that blows VS and Visual Assist out of the water. Plus there's a cool preview window that shows you the definition for the thing under the cursor, which is lightning fast (and you can turn off if you want).

I use vim these days, though, which is even more highly configurable, and I'll never go back. It's a little trickier to get configured well, though.