How to Install Code::Blocks on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04

A lightweight IDE still makes sense when you want to compile, debug, and test C or C++ projects without moving into a heavier editor stack. The choice to install Code::Blocks on Ubuntu usually comes down to whether you want the native Ubuntu package or the newer Flathub build instead of chasing old standalone downloads.

Code::Blocks on Linux is built for C, C++, and Fortran work, and these steps apply to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. The commands also work on server or minimal images, although launching the IDE still requires a graphical session. The Ubuntu package follows each release, while Flathub keeps the same current build across all three supported LTS versions.

Install Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

Two managed installation paths are worth considering for Ubuntu. The native package keeps Code::Blocks tied to Ubuntu’s own toolchain, while Flatpak gives every supported Ubuntu LTS release the same newer IDE build. The IDE is often searched as CodeBlocks or Code Blocks, but the Ubuntu package name is codeblocks.

Method	Channel	Build	Updates	Best For
Ubuntu repository	Ubuntu Universe	25.03 on Ubuntu 26.04, 20.03 on Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04	Integrated with regular APT maintenance	Native builds that should use Ubuntu’s own GCC, G++, GDB, and Make packages
Flatpak	Flathub	Current Flathub build with the Freedesktop SDK runtime	Independent via flatpak update	Users who want the same Code::Blocks build and SDK toolchain on every supported Ubuntu LTS release

For most users, start with the Ubuntu package if you want Code::Blocks to use Ubuntu’s native compiler stack. Choose Flatpak when you want the same newer Code::Blocks build on Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04, or when you prefer the separate SDK toolchain that ships with the Flathub build.

The official Code::Blocks binary download page currently lists Debian archive downloads and also points Ubuntu users to a Launchpad PPA. This guide stays with Universe and Flathub because those methods cover the supported Ubuntu versions here without adding a third-party APT source, while updates and removal remain tied to APT or Flatpak.

Ubuntu 26.04 installs Code::Blocks 25.03 from Universe, while Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 still install 20.03 from the same repository. Flatpak currently keeps all three supported Ubuntu LTS releases on the same Code::Blocks release.

These instructions cover Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS. The commands stay the same across all three releases, but the Ubuntu repository method follows each release’s packaged Code::Blocks version while Flathub stays on the same current build.

Update Ubuntu before installing Code::Blocks

Refresh the package index before installing desktop packages from Ubuntu repositories.

sudo apt update

These commands use sudo for operations that need root privileges. If your account does not have sudo access yet, add it first with this guide on how to add a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu.

Install Code::Blocks from Ubuntu repositories

The Ubuntu repository method installs the IDE, contrib plugins, a native C and C++ toolchain, and GDB in one pass. This is the easiest route when you want Code::Blocks to build against the same compiler packages your shell and other Ubuntu tools already use.

sudo apt install -y codeblocks codeblocks-contrib build-essential gdb

In that command, codeblocks installs the IDE, codeblocks-contrib adds extra plugins, build-essential provides GCC, G++, and Make, and gdb supplies debugger integration. The -y flag accepts APT’s confirmation prompt automatically. If a customized image reports Unable to locate package codeblocks, enable Universe with this guide to enable Universe and Multiverse on Ubuntu, then refresh APT and retry.

After installation, confirm that Ubuntu registered the native packages.

dpkg-query -W codeblocks codeblocks-contrib

codeblocks	25.03+dfsg-2.1
codeblocks-contrib	25.03+dfsg-2.1

That output matches Ubuntu 26.04. On Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, the same command reports Code::Blocks 20.03 instead, while the compiler toolchain still comes from your Ubuntu release.

Install Code::Blocks from Flathub

The Flatpak build currently keeps Code::Blocks on the same release across Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. It also brings its own Freedesktop SDK runtime, which is useful when you want a newer IDE on older Ubuntu LTS releases without changing host compiler packages.

Flatpak is still a desktop-app container, but this IDE needs broad development access. The current manifest grants home-directory, network, display, session-bus, and SSH-agent permissions, so treat Flatpak as a version and SDK choice here rather than a strict file-isolation boundary.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For the complete setup, follow this guide to install Flatpak on Ubuntu.

Add Flathub as a system remote first so Ubuntu can pull the Code::Blocks package and runtime.

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

With Flathub enabled, install the application at system scope.

sudo flatpak install flathub org.codeblocks.codeblocks -y

Verify the Flatpak metadata so you can confirm the installed version and origin.

flatpak info org.codeblocks.codeblocks

ID: org.codeblocks.codeblocks
Ref: app/org.codeblocks.codeblocks/x86_64/stable
Arch: x86_64
Branch: stable
Version: 25.03
Origin: flathub
Installation: system

Launch Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

Both installation methods create a normal desktop launcher, and both can also be started from the terminal. Use the command that matches the way you installed the IDE.

Launch Code::Blocks from the terminal

For the Ubuntu repository package, start the IDE with the native launcher command.

codeblocks

For the Flatpak build, use the application ID with flatpak run.

flatpak run org.codeblocks.codeblocks

Launch Code::Blocks from the applications menu

Ubuntu also adds Code::Blocks to the normal applications view after installation.

Activities > Show Applications > Code::Blocks

On first launch, Code::Blocks usually prompts you to confirm the compiler toolchains it detected. Once the welcome flow is out of the way, the main workspace opens and you can create a console, wxWidgets, or other supported project type.

Verify compiler support for Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

Checking compiler access before your first project saves time, especially when you switch between the Ubuntu package and the Flatpak build. The two methods expose compilers differently, so verify the path that matches your install.

Verify the Ubuntu repository toolchain for Code::Blocks

The native package should use the same compiler and debugger binaries that your shell sees.

command -v gcc g++ gdb make

/usr/bin/gcc
/usr/bin/g++
/usr/bin/gdb
/usr/bin/make

That check confirms that Code::Blocks can use Ubuntu’s native development tools. With build-essential installed, Ubuntu 26.04 tracks GCC 15.x, Ubuntu 24.04 tracks GCC 13.x, and Ubuntu 22.04 tracks GCC 11.x. For a deeper look at Ubuntu’s native compiler stack, see this guide to install GCC on Ubuntu.

Add extra compilers only when your projects need them.

sudo apt install -y clang gfortran

After installing either package, reopen Code::Blocks and switch profiles from Settings > Compiler. Ubuntu’s Code::Blocks package already ships the matching Clang and GFortran profile definitions.

Verify the Flatpak toolchain for Code::Blocks

The Flathub build uses its own SDK runtime, so check the compiler paths from inside the sandbox instead of from the host shell.

flatpak run --command=sh org.codeblocks.codeblocks -c "command -v gcc g++ gdb make"

/usr/bin/gcc
/usr/bin/g++
/usr/bin/gdb
/usr/bin/make

The current Flathub build uses the Freedesktop 25.08 SDK runtime for its compiler and debugger tools. That makes Flatpak the easiest way to run the current Flathub build with a consistent bundled toolchain on older supported Ubuntu LTS releases.

Manage Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

Update and removal commands depend on the method you chose. Use the APT workflow for the Ubuntu package and the Flatpak workflow for the Flathub build.

Update Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

For the Ubuntu repository build, upgrade only the Code::Blocks packages without touching unrelated packages.

sudo apt install --only-upgrade -y codeblocks codeblocks-contrib

For the Flatpak build, update the application directly from Flathub.

sudo flatpak update org.codeblocks.codeblocks -y

Remove Code::Blocks on Ubuntu

Remove the Ubuntu repository package

Remove the IDE and contrib plugins first.

sudo apt remove -y codeblocks codeblocks-contrib

Preview dependency cleanup separately because reused systems can have unrelated packages marked as autoremovable.

sudo apt autoremove --dry-run

If the preview only lists Code::Blocks libraries and helper packages you no longer need, run the cleanup without automatic confirmation.

sudo apt autoremove

Check that the Ubuntu packages are gone before you move on. The grep '^ii' portion filters for installed package rows only, and our guide to the grep command in Linux explains the pattern syntax if you want to adapt the check.

dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev} ${binary:Package}\n' codeblocks codeblocks-contrib 2>/dev/null | grep '^ii' || echo "packages removed"

packages removed

This removal leaves build-essential and gdb in place, which is usually the right choice if you still compile or debug outside Code::Blocks.

Remove the Flatpak package

Remove the application first. The --delete-data option requests cleanup of Flatpak app data, but review unused runtimes separately instead of accepting a blind prune.

sudo flatpak remove --delete-data org.codeblocks.codeblocks -y

After the app is removed, review unused runtimes interactively. This can include the Freedesktop SDK runtime installed for Code::Blocks, but reused systems may have runtimes needed by other Flatpak apps.

sudo flatpak uninstall --unused

Verify that the same Flatpak scope no longer lists the application.

sudo flatpak list --app | grep -F org.codeblocks.codeblocks || echo "not installed"

not installed

If you opened Code::Blocks before removing it, check whether per-user Flatpak data still exists under ~/.var/app/org.codeblocks.codeblocks/. If the directory remains, remove it only when you want a clean reset. This does not touch projects you saved elsewhere on disk.

Check for the directory first.

test -d ~/.var/app/org.codeblocks.codeblocks && echo "data remains" || echo "removed"

If the command prints data remains, remove the directory manually.

rm -rf ~/.var/app/org.codeblocks.codeblocks/

Confirm that the leftover Flatpak data directory is gone.

test -d ~/.var/app/org.codeblocks.codeblocks && echo "data remains" || echo "removed"

removed

Conclusion

Code::Blocks is ready on Ubuntu with either the native repository build tied to your release or the Flatpak build that ships the same newer IDE across supported LTS versions. For a fuller native C and C++ toolchain, install GCC on Ubuntu next. For larger multi-file projects, install CMake on Ubuntu pairs well with Code::Blocks.