CLion 2023.2

Key updates

• AI Assistant [Limited access] - In C and C++, it explains the selected code, suggests how to better refactor that code fragment, or finds potential problems with it. It also generates commit messages and explains CMake errors.
• Debugger update - Low-level debugging is now easier with this release, which brings the ability to inspect the registers of the current frame. You can also see register values inlined right in the disassembly view. A major update to the Attach to Process dialog enables attaching to remote and Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) processes.
• PlatformIO integration - The IDE works directly with the platformio.ini file, tracking changes in it and updating the project information accordingly.
• vcpkg integration - When working with vcpkg, there are two approaches - Classic mode and Manifest mode. CLion now supports both. You can clearly distinguish them in the CLion UI and switch easily to the Manifest mode using a dedicated button.

AI Assistant [Limited access]

• Chat with AI Assistant - AI Assistant prefers programming topics and benefits from project-specific context. Iterate in the new dedicated tool window, and when you're happy with the result, use Insert Snippet at Caret to put the AI-generated code in the editor - or just copy it over manually.
• AI Actions... menu - Select a specific code fragment in the editor and invoke an action from the AI Actions... context menu. AI Assistant can help you:
  • Find potential issues in a selected code fragment.
  • Suggest how to better refactor that fragment.
  • Explain the selected code.
  • Start a new AI chat about the selected code.
• Commit message generation - Let AI Assistant help you describe the changes you made. Clicking the Generate Commit Message with AI Assistant button in the commit message dialog will send the diffs of your changes to the LLM, and it will generate a commit message describing your changes.
• Explain CMake errors - When CMake execution fails on your project, click Explain with AI in the CMake tool window to get a better understanding of what's gone wrong and how to fix it.

Debugger

• Attach to Process dialog - The new Attach to Process dialog allows users to debug processes launched outside of CLion, locally or remotely, and also benefit from the IDE's debugger integration. From this release you can:
  • Attach to local, remote, and WSL processes.
  • Select any debugger configured in the toolchains.
  • Attach to processes launched remotely with administrative privileges.
• Registers in debug - Low-level debugging is easier when you have the ability to inspect the registers of the current frame. CLion now shows register values in the Variables tab of the debugger tool window.
• ARM assembly - CLion now supports ARM assembly languages, which means you'll see code highlighting for ARM assemblers in the disassembly view.
• Assembly registers in debug - When debugging disassembly code, CLion now shows register values inlined right in the disassembly view.
• Other debugger improvements:
  • CLion now bundles LLDB v16 and GDB v13.1.
  • Memory View now supports on-the-fly memory editing and displays the value right after editing.
  • To improve debugging of external libraries for remote toolchains, CLion now correctly handles breakpoints set in them and downloads missing source files on demand.

Embedded development

• Native integration with PlatformIO - In this release, the intermediate CMake level was removed from the integration with PlatformIO. The IDE now works directly with the platformio.ini file, tracking changes in it and updating the project information accordingly.
• PlatformIO actions and tool window - Some pio commands can now be invoked directly from the IDE (Tools | PlatformIO), no need to switch to the terminal. This includes project reloading, running static code analysis on the project, invoking the device monitor, and more. The PlatformIO tool window gives quick access to the most used commands and project actions.
• Other improvements:
  • To make sure CLion can debug with the Segger J-Link GDB Server correctly, it now handles the SIGTRAP signal in addition to the usual SIGINT and SIGSTOP.

vcpkg

• Manifest mode - When working with vcpkg, there are two approaches - Classic mode and Manifest mode. You can now clearly distinguish them in the CLion UI and switch easily to the Manifest mode using a dedicated button.
• Console tab - To make vcpkg's Classic mode more convenient, a Console tab has been added to the vcpkg tool window to show all commands and output.

CMake

• Creating CMake targets when adding new files to a project - This release improves the new C/C++ file creation dialog in cases when there is no CMake target to add the new file to. The new 'Add new target...' action creates a new target and adds it to the selected CMakeLists.txt file. After adding a target, you can then add new files to it.
• CMake 3.25 and 3.26 support - This release adds highlighting and completion for new parameters from CMake 3.25 and for the new block command used to execute a group of commands in a requested scope. In CLion, the new command is now highlighted, formatted, folded, and documented correctly. This release comes with CMake 3.26 bundled.
• CMake Parameter Info - The Parameter Info popup shows signature variants as you type and is now available for CMake commands. It helps you figure out which parameter to enter next, especially with commands that have multiple variants.

Docker in Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

• If your project contains a Docker file with a Linux-based environment and you want to develop your application in it from a Microsoft Windows machine, you can now set this up in CLion using WSL and Docker.

Terminal in the output console

• Terminal emulation in the output console is now enabled or disabled separately for each configuration. It's disabled by default, and the setting that controls it has been moved from Advanced Settings to the Run Configuration section. On Windows, it now works for MSVC LLDB-based debugging with both regular and administrative privileges.

User experience

• Light theme with light header - The user experience with the Light theme has been refined by introducing the alternate Light with Light Header option, featuring matching light colors for window headers, tooltips, and notification balloons.
• Pinned run configurations - To make managing multiple run configurations easier, the option to pin preferred configurations in the Run widget has been implemented.
• Updated window controls on Apple macOS - When working on macOS in full screen mode using the new UI, the window controls are now displayed right in the main toolbar - not in the floating bar as before.
• Removed title bar on Linux - For the convenience of Linux users, the native header of the operating system has been removed in the new UI, resulting in a cleaner interface. By default, you will now see the custom IDE header, which offers a range of customization options to tailor your workspace.
• Colored project headers - CLion introduces colored headers to simplify navigation between several open projects. You can now assign a unique color and icon to each of your projects, making it easier to distinguish between them in your workspace.
• Main toolbar customization - The customization options for the new UI's main toolbar have been expanded. You can now use a dropdown menu to quickly choose actions that you want to add to the toolbar.
• Text search in Search Everywhere - Search Everywhere is primarily used for searching through files, classes, methods, actions, and settings. With this update, it now includes text search capabilities similar to Find in Files.

Other enhancements

• CLion and other IntelliJ-based IDEs have introduced initial integration with GitLab in this release, allowing you to work with the Merge Request functionality right from the IDE and streamline your development workflow.
• On Windows, CLion now defaults to amd64 Microsoft Visual Studio toolchain architecture on non-ARM machines instead of x86.