Setting Default NetBeans Options (-std=c99, -Wall) for C programs

Question

I have NetBeans 6.9 installed and working fine on Ubuntu Linux 11.10. My goal is to set compiler options like -Wall and -std=c99 to be used by default. Currently, I have to right click on my project -> Properties -> C Compiler -> Warning Level to "More Warnings" and add -std=c99 to Additional Options. This is obviously a pain when creating many projects, and I'm sure there is a way to make all of this the default.

I found this thread which relates closely to my question. However, the only answer involves installing Code::Blocks and MSYS 1.0.11, which doesn't make much sense to me. I don't see how installing another IDE will help me, and MSYS seems unnecessary, as I am already using Linux.

I have tried every reasonable search term I can imagine, and am very surprised how little info I have turned up. It seems like most everyone who uses NetBeans should have to change this type of thing at some point. Terms I'm searching for: 'NetBeans -std=c99 default', 'NetBeans set default compile options', 'how to make NetBeans use c99 by default' and 'Code::Blocks settings into NetBeans'.

Rife

I'm still not aware of an answer to this question, and I would still love to know if anyone has any info, btw. This question is very much still open. – Rife

Please don't use link shorteners. Using link shorteners will prevent Stack Overflow from linking to related questions in the sidebar. – Sanitation

What link shorteners? If any existed, you've already removed them or I'm somehow missing them. – Rife

just a note: while XP1 is totally correct, in simple cases you may make do with just CFLAGS – Aribold

Answer 1

Here are some different things that you can do:

1. Copy and share the configuration files between projects, so you won't have to set every setting.
2. Create a default project, and configure however you like it. When you want to create a new project, just copy the default project and rename it to something else.
3. Modify your toolchain properties.

For details, see here:

NetBeans settings for GCC

Sanitation

Answer 2

You can create a Project Template Module. I was aware this is possible but didn't try it before, and this link is explaining how to do it;
https://blogs.oracle.com/seapegasus/entry/tip_create_your_own_project

(First you need NetBeans with platform SDK, not just C/C++ Bundle.)

I followed steps;

• Open/Create your project with settings you want to use.
• Create a NetBeans module project, choose a Code Base Name, i gave my.templates.ctemplate1
• Add "Module Development > Project Template" to the module project. Choose your C project in "Select Project" step.
• At next step select the Category as C/C++ and give a name for template i used MyCTemplate1.
• Right click on module project and select "Create NBM", it will create my-templates-ctemplate1.nbm in the build folder of the module project.
• Tools > Plugins > Downloaded , click "Add Plugin" and point to the nbm file in the build folder. Select install, it will give warnings because it's not signed.
• When you want to create a new C/C++ project you will see your template in the wizard which will have all the settings as your first C project has.

Enjoy other possibilities; files, folders in original project will be there.

Chiquitachirico

Answer 3

Have you tried editing your netbeans.conf file (for me, it's in /usr/local/netbeans-7.0.1/etc/netbeans.conf) and adding the options you need to the netbeans_default_options line? From looking at my version of the file, you might need to prepend -J to the switches (hence -Wall would become -J-Wall.)

Hatteras

Thanks for the response! I tried appending -J-std=c99 -J-Wall to the end of the netbeans_default_options line. With that style, NetBeans would not launch. I then removed the -J options, so that I had appended -std=c99 -Wall. NetBeans would then launch, but no options had changed. I could not compile a for(int i = 0;;); loop, for example. My guess is that netbeans.conf is for Java options. There are lots of references to JVM and Sun, and none to C things. Tomorrow, I will look around for a .conf file I can use to modify C default options. Thank you for putting me on a fresh track! – Rife

Sorry that didn't help you. I assume that you've already seen the Netbeans C/C++ Trail? – Hatteras

I hadn't seen the trail, thanks for linking to it. I will have to explore it more later. I found a page about [bit.ly/tqQxqP netbeans.conf]. It seems that only [bit.ly/tsEGRl](these) start up parameters can be passed to NetBeans, either by the command line or the global or local version of netbeans.conf. None of those seem helpful, for this particular problem. – Rife