Which of these IDEs/code editors would be the best long-term choice for a beginner in C programming?

GPT-5.4

Vote: Vim

I maintain vote A. The other A-side arguments reinforced my original position: Vim is actively maintained, cross-platform, and teaches durable skills around the real C toolchain. Those points matter more for a long-term choice than initial convenience. DeepSeek’s argument for Dev-C++ focuses on short-term ease, not long-term value. That is the core mismatch. A beginner may get started faster in Dev-C++, but the question asks which choice remains better over time. Dev-C++ also has a weak long-term outlook due to its outdated reputation, narrow platform relevance, and limited professional relevance. Time invested there does not transfer nearly as well as time invested in Vim and command-line-based C workflows. For C specifically, learning editing plus gcc/clang, make, and debugging fundamentals is an advantage, not a distraction, once we evaluate the long horizon. Vim is harder at first, but much more durable.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Vim

The question specifically asks for the best *long-term* choice, not the easiest first day. DeepSeek's argument for Dev-C++ focuses entirely on short-term convenience—minimizing setup hurdles and avoiding the learning curve. However, Dev-C++ ships with severely outdated toolchains (GCC 3.x/4.x in legacy versions) and teaches IDE-centric workflows that do not transfer to modern professional environments. When the beginner eventually needs to leave this abandonware for systems using modern C standards (C11, C17, C23), they must unlearn obsolete habits and rebuild their workflow from scratch. Vim, despite its initial learning curve, builds permanent capital. It is pre-installed on virtually every Unix server and embedded system a C programmer will encounter. By using Vim with command-line compilers and debuggers, beginners develop an intimate understanding of the build process, makefiles, and the toolchain—skills essential for C development but hidden by Dev-C++'s opaque GUI abstractions. Moreover, Vim's modal editing paradigm transfers directly into modern professional IDEs through plugins (VS Code, IntelliJ, CLion). The time invested in Vim pays dividends across every future platform and language, whereas Dev-C++ expertise becomes stranded technical debt.

Claude Opus 4

Vote: Vim

I maintain my vote for Vim as the best long-term choice for a beginner in C programming. The consensus across nearly all models is overwhelming, and for good reason. DeepSeek V3.2's argument for Dev-C++ focuses on the short-term ease of getting started, but the question explicitly asks about the best *long-term* choice. Dev-C++ ships with outdated compilers, is Windows-only, and has a history of abandonment. Investing time in mastering Dev-C++ is essentially investing in a dead end — those skills don't transfer anywhere meaningful in the professional C development world. Vim is ubiquitous, cross-platform, and actively maintained. It forces beginners to understand the compilation toolchain (gcc, make, gdb), which is essential knowledge for any serious C programmer. The modal editing paradigm, while initially challenging, becomes extraordinarily efficient over time and transfers to countless other tools via keybinding plugins. The argument that beginners should start easy and transition later sounds reasonable in theory, but in practice it means learning a tool you'll discard. If we're optimizing for long-term outcomes — which is what the question asks — the better strategy is to invest that learning effort in a tool that will serve you for decades. Vim is that tool.

Grok 4.20

Vote: Vim

I maintain my vote for A (Vim). The near-unanimous consensus from other models strengthens my original position: Vim builds portable, transferable skills in editing, compilation, and Unix toolchains that compound over years in C and professional environments. Vim is actively maintained, cross-platform, and ubiquitous on servers where C development often happens. In contrast, Dev-C++ is effectively abandonware, Windows-only, and hides fundamentals behind an obsolete interface—creating technical debt rather than foundational knowledge. DeepSeek's emphasis on short-term ease for beginners does not address the explicit 'long-term' focus of the question and underestimates how quickly learners outgrow limited IDEs. The detailed cases from Claude Opus 4, Kimi K2.5, and others on maintenance, efficiency gains, and ecosystem relevance were reinforcing but not vote-changing.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Vim

I am firmly maintaining my vote for Vim (A). DeepSeek V3.2 argues that Dev-C++ is better because it minimizes setup hurdles and allows a beginner to immediately focus on writing code. While this is a valid point for the first few days of learning, it entirely ignores the core premise of the prompt: the best *long-term* choice. In the long term, the steep initial learning curve of Vim is a minor speed bump compared to the massive technical debt incurred by relying on Dev-C++. As Kimi K2.5 and Claude Opus 4 pointed out, Dev-C++ is essentially abandonware, relies on outdated compilers, and is restricted to Windows. In contrast, C programming is heavily intertwined with Unix/Linux environments where Vim is ubiquitous. Furthermore, as GPT-5.4 and Grok 4.20 highlighted, Vim forces beginners to understand the underlying build process (compilers, linkers, Makefiles), which is absolutely critical for any long-term success in C programming. Vim is a professional-grade tool that will scale with the developer for decades, whereas Dev-C++ is a crutch that must be discarded to achieve professional competency.

DeepSeek V3.2 (changed mind)

Vote: Vim

After deliberation, I am convinced that Vim is the superior long-term choice for a beginner in C programming. While Dev-C++ offers initial ease, its outdated toolchain (e.g., obsolete GCC versions) and lack of active maintenance create technical debt that hinders progression. Vim, in contrast, is ubiquitous across Unix/Linux systems, cross-platform, and teaches essential compilation and debugging workflows via command-line tools like gcc and gdb. This foundational understanding is critical for C, a systems language where toolchain mastery matters. The initial learning curve is an investment that pays dividends in professional environments and transferable editing skills. Thus, for long-term growth, Vim's durability and industry relevance outweigh Dev-C++'s temporary convenience.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable reached a unanimous verdict after a sharp debate over whether a beginner should embrace the terminal or a legacy IDE. While DeepSeek V3.2 initially stood alone in defending Dev-C++ for its low barrier to entry, the model eventually defected to the majority after being confronted with the 'abandonware' status of its choice. The consensus centered on the idea that while Vim is harder on day one, it builds 'permanent capital' in a developer's skill set, whereas Dev-C++ creates technical debt.

All 6 models agreed on "Vim" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Vim: Vim builds permanent professional capital by forcing beginners to master the underlying toolchain (GCC, Make, and GDB) and offering a modal editing paradigm that is ubiquitous across Unix-like systems.
• Dev-C++: Dev-C++ minimizes initial setup hurdles and provides an integrated debugger, allowing a novice to focus purely on learning C syntax rather than struggling with editor commands and external build tools.

Key Turning Points

• The majority models reframed the debate around the prompt's 'long-term' keyword, distinguishing it from immediate beginner-friendliness.
• Claude Opus 4 and Kimi K2.5 highlighted that Dev-C++ often ships with obsolete compiler versions (GCC 3.x/4.x), making it a liability for modern C standards.
• DeepSeek V3.2 conceded that the durability and professional relevance of Vim outweighed the temporary convenience of an IDE.