Install and set up CLion

Installation requirements

Download and install CLion

To install CLion

1. Download CLion for your operating system.
2. Do the following depending on your operating system:
   • Windows installation:
     1. Run the *.exe file you've downloaded.
     2. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard.
   • macOS installation:
     1. Open the CLion-*.dmg package that you've downloaded, and drag CLion to the Applications folder.
   • Linux installation
     1. Unpack the CLion-*.tar.gz file you have downloaded to a different folder if your current Downloads folder doesn't support file execution:
        tar xfz CLion-*.tar.gz <new_archive_folder>

        The recommended install location according to the filesystem hierarchy standard (FHS) is /opt. For example, it's possible to enter the following command:

        sudo tar xf -*.tar.gz -C /opt/
     2. Switch to the bin directory, for example:
        cd /opt/-*/bin
     3. Run CLion.sh from the bin subdirectory.

Earlier CLion versions are available for download on the Previous CLion Releases page.

Run CLion for the first time

Import CLion settings

When you start CLion for the first time, or after you have upgraded it from a previous version, the Complete Installation dialog opens where you can select whether you want to import the IDE settings:

If this is your first instance of CLion, choose the Do not import settings option.

Select the user interface theme

Next, you will be prompted to select the UI theme. You can choose between the Default and the Darcula themes:

Configuring Toolchains

On this stage, specify your preferred environment, CMake and GDB executables.

Select the proper installation and make sure there are no red exclamation marks. Refer to toolchains configuration manual and reference information for direct instructions.

When ready, click Next.

If a certain component (compiler, GDB, etc.) is missing, CLion shows a corresponding error:

Note that Next button is still available; however, you might have problems while creating or opening without properly a configured toolchain. You can configure toolchain anytime later.

Disable the unnecessary plugins

CLion is shipped with a variety of plugins that provide integration with different version control systems and application servers, add support for various frameworks and development technologies, etc.

On the next step you can disable the plugins you do not need to increase CLion performance. If necessary, you can re-enable them later in the Settings dialog ( Ctrl+Alt+S under Plugins).

You can click the Disable All link for each group of plugins to disable them all, or Customize to disable individual plugins.

Download and install additional plugins

On the next step, you are prompted to download additional plugins that are not bundled with the IDE from the CLion plugins repository:

Start a project in CLion

After you have completed initial CLion configuration, the Welcome screen will be displayed. It allows you to:

• create a new project
• open an existing project
• or check out an existing project from a version control system (clone from a remote repository)

Register CLion

To try and evaluate CLion, you can download and install its trial version for free. The trial version is available for 30 days, whereupon you need to obtain and register a license.

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Welcome screen, click Configure | Manage License
   • Select Help | Register from the main menu

   

2. Select how you want to register CLion:
   • JetBrains Account: select this option if you have a JetBrains Account that allows you to access your purchases and manage licenses (see What is JetBrains Account? to learn more).
   • Activation code: select this option if you have an activation code for CLion, and paste it to the text area.
   • License server: select this option to register CLion through the License Server web application that allows you to manage floating licenses and issue licenses to users who do not have direct internet access.

Update CLion

1. the latest version of CLion.
2. Launch the setup as described in Download and install CLion.
3. Choose whether you want to uninstall the existing CLion version together with its settings, caches and local history and follow the instructions of the installation wizard.

Manage CLion through Toolbox App

Toolbox App is a control panel that allows you to manage all JetBrains developer tools, including CLion, as well as your projects, from a single point of access. It lets you maintain different versions of the same tool, install updates and roll them back if needed. It also remembers your JetBrains Account and uses it to automatically log you in when you install and register new tools.

1. Download Toolbox App.
2. Launch the setup file.
3. When the installation is complete, accept the JetBrains privacy policy and sign in to your JetBrains Account.

Now you can manage existing tools, install new tools and download updates:

Perform silent installation on Windows

Silent installation is performed without any user interface. It can be used by network administrators to install CLion on a number of machines and avoid interrupting other users.

To perform silent install, run the installer with the following switches:

• /S: Enable silent install

• /D: Specify the path to the installation directory

• /CONFIG: Specify the path to the silent configuration file

For example: