GNOME Builder
GNOME Builder is a free Linux integrated development environment for creating applications for the GNOME platform.
What GNOME Builder is
GNOME Builder is a free Linux integrated development environment for creating applications for the GNOME platform. It brings together editing, Git version control, build integrations, code assistance, debugging, and profiling, with support for GTK+, GLib, and GNOME APIs. Editors include syntax highlighting, side-by-side views, multi-monitor support, and a code overview mini-map. Builder can clone Git projects and integrates with Autotools, Cargo, CMake, Gradle, Meson, Maven, Make, PHPize, and Waf. Its code assistance includes completion and diagnostics for Clang, Python, and Vala, as well as semantic highlighting for Clang and Python. Live previews cover HTML, Markdown, reStructuredText, and Sphinx, and optional editing modes resemble Vim, Emacs, or SublimeText. The integrated debugger and profiler are for native applications. Builder also supports jhbuild and Flatpak runtimes and integrates with arduino-cli. The app page describes a six-month release cadence alongside GNOME releases. Desktop builds are listed for x86_64 and aarch64.
Good
- Free plan for Linux desktops.
- Integrates with GTK+, GLib, and GNOME APIs.
- Git integration includes project cloning.
- Includes debugger and profiler for native applications.
- Live previews cover HTML, Markdown, reStructuredText, and Sphinx.
Watch out
- Desktop-only availability.
- Linux is the only listed platform.
- Six-month release cadence follows GNOME releases.
Who it suits
Builder suits developers creating software for GNOME who want editing, build, version-control, and debugging tools in one Linux IDE. Its listed integrations also make it relevant to projects using the supported build systems or runtimes.
Verdict
GNOME Builder combines GNOME-focused development features with support for a wide set of build systems and editing workflows. It is a fit for Linux developers targeting GNOME, rather than a cross-platform IDE option.
Plans and prices
From GNOME Builder's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Desktop only · x86_64 and aarch64 |
The facts
Each one read from GNOME Builder's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build systems
- It lists integrations with Autotools, Cargo, CMake, Gradle, Meson, Maven, Make, PHPize, and Waf.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Code assistance
- It provides Clang- and Python-based auto-completion, semantic highlighting, and diagnostics, plus Vala-based auto-completion and diagnostics.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Debugging and profiling
- Builder includes an integrated debugger and software profiler for native applications.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Features include syntax highlighting, side-by-side editors, multi-monitor support, and a code overview mini-map.checked 7 Oct 2026
- GNOME technologies
- It integrates support for GTK+, GLib, and GNOME APIs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Help and contributions
- The app page links to online help, contribution guidance, and an issue tracker for feedback and bug reports.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Preview and editing modes
- It offers HTML, Markdown, reStructuredText, and Sphinx live preview, plus optional Vim, Emacs, and SublimeText-style editing.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Builder is an actively developed integrated development environment for creating applications for GNOME.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Release cadence
- The app page says Builder releases predictably with each GNOME release every six months.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Runtimes and other tools
- It supports jhbuild and Flatpak runtimes and integrates with arduino-cli.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Version control
- Builder integrates with Git, including cloning projects.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- The documentation describes Builder as a project for creating software for the GNOME platform.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform availability
- Flathub lists Builder as desktop-only and provides x86_64 and aarch64 builds.checked 7 Oct 2026
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