Hear-C: A Browser-Based Development Environment for C++ Audio

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Hear-C is a browser-based IDE (integrated development environment) for writing digital audio synthesis and effects programs in C++. For those learning to code, browser-based IDEs simplify the development process by removing the requirement to set up developer tools locally, a task that varies by operating system and can be daunting for a beginner. While browser-based IDEs exist for a number of audio-specific languages such as Faust and ChucK, there is no major web app providing this functionality for C++, the lingua-franca of digital audio.

Features:

• Real-time audio synthesis using WebAssembly and the WebAudio API
• Client-side C++ compilation powered by wasm-clang — no server-side build step required
• LocalStorage persistence - your code is saved in your browser and persists between sessions, with offline fallbacks if storage is unavailable
• Monaco Editor - the same powerful code editor that powers VS Code, with full C++ support
• IntelliSense-like features - syntax highlighting, bracket matching, and intelligent suggestions
• One-click rebuilding - edit, compile, and hear your changes instantly

Getting Started:

🌐 Try Online (Recommended)

Visit hear-c.online - No setup required! Just open your browser and start coding.

🛠️ Run Locally

1. Clone this repo

2. npm start (or SHIFT+CMD+B with the source file open in VSCode)

3. Navigate to http://localhost:3000/ with your favorite browser

Note: C++ compilation happens entirely in the browser using wasm-clang. The first build may take a moment to download the compiler toolchain (~50 MB).