The C++ Builder Community Edition has been updated to version 13, giving eligible users free access to the modern Win64 toolchain. It is designed for students, hobbyists, freelancers, and small teams that meet the Community Edition license requirements. Review the license agreement for complete eligibility and usage terms.

Clang 20 as the Foundation

RAD Studio CE upgrades the Win64 Modern compiler (bcc64x) from Clang 15 to Clang 20. That narrows a significant gap with upstream LLVM. Embarcadero’s VCL/FMX integration and platform-specific patches now layer on top of a compiler that’s much closer to what the broader C++ ecosystem tests against – which matters when you’re trying to build a third-party library that assumes a recent stock Clang.

Five upstream Clang releases separate 15 from 20, and the cumulative effect on diagnostics is noticeable: error messages are more precise, template instantiation traces are easier to read, and a broader range of warnings fires by default. Overall, the new Windows 64 bit toolchain makes open-source development easier, more predictable, more unified across the field.

C++23 Support

New Win64 Modern projects in C++Builder 13 default to C++23. You can switch to C++17 or C++20 in project settings. Clang 20 has substantial C++23 language coverage — here are the features with the most practical impact:

Deducing this (P0847) lets you write a single member function that works for both const and non-const access, and for lvalue and rvalue qualifications:

CRTP hierarchies that previously needed static_cast<Derived&>(*this) can now express the same thing directly. Recursive lambdas become natural too.

[assume(expr)] gives the optimizer a portable way to declare preconditions:

Unlike __builtin_assume, this is standard C++23 and portable across compliant compilers.

Lifetime extension in range-for (P2718) fixes a long-standing undefined behavior trap. Before C++23, this code was UB if getWidget() returned a temporary:

The temporary was destroyed before the loop body ran. C++23 extends the lifetime of temporaries created in the range initializer to cover the entire loop — code that was silently broken is now defined.

static operator() (P1169) and static operator[] (P2589) — stateless functors and index operators no longer need an implicit this parameter, which lets the compiler skip the pointless pointer argument entirely.

if consteval (P1938) provides a clean way to branch between compile-time and runtime paths without the if constexpr(std::is_constant_evaluated()) workaround.

LLDB 20: Debugger Update

RAD Studio 13 moves to LLDB 20 as the debugger backend. Upstream LLDB 20 release notes document parallel shared library parsing — a significant reduction in attach and launch times on large projects — and corrected breakpoint placement on inlined call sites, where prior versions would silently shift the breakpoint to the next real instruction.

CMake and Third-Party Libraries

CMake support via GetIt was introduced in C++Builder 12.2 and carries forward into 13 with some improvements. The setup:

1. a patched CMake build with a toolchain file for bcc64x;
2. Ninja as the build runner;
3. function-style API — set_embt_target(<target> ...) – that supports multiple CMake targets in a single project.

The practical payoff of the Clang 20 upgrade is felt here most directly: many third-party libraries that previously needed patches to compile under C++Builder now work without modification. Confirmed working:

• OpenCV;
• Google Test;
• VTK;

and many others.

Technology updates

The new Community Edition has the same VCL and FMX that you love, with all new features of the RAD Studio 13. Please refer to RAD Studio release notes for more details.

FireMonkey Enhancements

FireMonkey is one of two application frameworks available to C++Builder developers. The updates introduced since C++Builder 12.1 include:

• Improved animation timing and visual stability through the new Display Link service;
• Broader control over touch gestures, scrolling behavior, and bounce effects;
• GPU-assisted bitmap transfers for better graphics performance;
• New TApplicationEvents and TMaskEdit components;
• Additional alignment modes that simplify precise control centering;
• Enhanced built-in spell-checking capabilities;
• A refreshed integration with Skia4Delphi;
• Numerous performance optimizations and quality improvements.

VCL Enhancements for Windows

C++Builder 13 delivers further updates to VCL development for native Windows applications, including:

• Support for scrolling within TActionMainMenuBar;
• More flexible styling of custom form title bars;
• A newer WebView2 runtime integration for TEdgeBrowser;
• Usability and visual improvements across TControlList, TFormTabsBar, and TToggleSwitch.

64 bit IDE

The C++Builder IDE is now a native 64-bit application, providing access to more memory and improved stability when working with large projects and complex development environments.

Known issues

We are aware of an issue affecting the installation of the French language pack in C++Builder 13 Community Edition. Until this issue is resolved, please do not select or install French language support, as it may cause the installation to fail. We are working on a fix.

Who can use C++Builder Community Edition?

C++ Builder Community Edition is designed for:

• Students learning C++ and native application development;
• Hobby developers creating applications for personal or non-commercial use;
• Freelancers and independent developers earning less than US$5,000 annually from their applications;
• Startups and organizations with annual revenue below US$5,000 and development teams of no more than five people.

C++ Builder Community Edition is available free of charge under a one-year term license and permits limited commercial use. Developers who are uncertain about their eligibility should consult the Community Edition License FAQ.

The Community Edition is not intended to serve as a long-term trial and should not be used by organizations that already hold standard commercial C++Builder licenses.

When a project, team, or business grows beyond the Community Edition limits, C++Builder Professional, Enterprise, and Architect provide unrestricted commercial licensing and a broader set of development capabilities.

What’s Next

C++Builder 13 CE brings the Florence toolchain to Community Edition users, giving eligible developers access to the same modern C++ foundation introduced in the commercial release. 

Looking ahead, RAD Studio 13.2 will continue advancing C++ productivity in the paid editions, with quality-of-life improvements designed to add up across a full workday. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the release.