Personalities

In Code::Blocks context, personalities are different sets of settings each tailored for a different workflow.

Creating a new personality

Let's assume that you want a more lightweight Code::Blocks to quickly work on testing single-source files. Most plugins are not needed for this kind of job so it would be wise to remove them from the loading process. You would also like the manager panes to be hidden by default.

To accomplish the above task, a new Code::Blocks personality should be created. Here is how:

1. Find the shortcut to Code::Blocks on your desktop. If there isn't any, create one.
2. Make a copy of this shortcut and rename it to "Code::Blocks Lite" (for example). You should now have two shortcuts to Code::Blocks on your desktop.
3. Right-click on the "Code::Blocks Lite" shortcut and choose "Properties". In the "Target" box, append the following magic words: --personality="Lite"

Tip: if you want to see a list of all defined personalities and select which one to use, replace the above with the following: --personality=ask

The currently used personality is displayed as last entry in the status bar.

This will cause Code::Blocks to use the "Lite" personality when it starts-up. But because we haven't defined the "Lite" personality, Code::Blocks will create a new personality for us.

After you've done the above changes to the "Lite" shortcut and saved it, launch Code::Blocks. Although you may see no changes, Code::Blocks will be operating under the personality "Lite". This means, that any personalities-aware configuration changes you make will be done on the "Lite" personality.

Next we make a light version of Code::Blocks by disabling plugins and hiding the manager panes:

1. Go to "Plugins->Manage plugins" and disable (uncheck) all plugins except the Compiler.
2. Now hide the "Manager" (Shift-F2) and "Messages" (F2) panes (in the "View" menu).
3. Exit Code::Blocks.
4. Launch Code::Blocks again, by clicking on the "Lite" shortcut. Everything should be as configured: no manager panes showing and just one plugin loaded.

To use Code::Blocks at full capacity again, use the shortcut that doesn't have the --personality="Lite" switch:

1. Close Code::Blocks.
2. Launch Code::Blocks by clicking on the standard shortcut (no "--personality" command-line option).