# clangd

15 Hacker News commenters recommended clangd and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Free C++ language server that gives editors completion, navigation and code actions, often working with no configuration. Critics say it is unreliable at times and struggles with C++ modules and templates.

## Why people recommend it

- Works with no configuration (2 comments): "it just detected clangd and I was off to the races with no config" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49472472)) "Otherwise it took zero configuration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47961778))
- Reliable for years, well liked (2 comments): "has been working wonderfully for a few years. I really, really like it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47216794)) "clangd is all I need for an IDE." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46103184))
- Helpful code actions and features (2 comments): "Replacing auto with deduced type is one of my favorite clangd code actions." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46276167)) "clangd has such feature and it's super helpful" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50174243))

## What people warn about

- Sometimes works, sometimes fails (3 comments): "Days fucking around with clangd for jump to definition to sometimes work." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46365544)) "when clangd starts throwing one of its fits" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46165324)) "clangd sometimes works, sometimes doesn't" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49532865))
- Struggles with C++ modules (2 comments): "I rely on clangd as LSP for working with C++ but I read that clangd still fundamentally struggles with C++ modules" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47216633)) "last time I checked neither IntelliSense nor clangd worked with modules" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48422853))
- Fails inside templates and complex queries (2 comments): "IntelliSense also often succeeds at queries that stump clangd" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49646402)) "clangd gives up (when inside a template for example)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46045352))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [rust-analyzer](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rust-analyzer.md): 19 recommend
- [Rust Glancer](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rust-glancer.md): 10 recommend
- [gopls](https://hackerapproved.com/p/gopls.md): 9 recommend
- [markdown-oxide](https://hackerapproved.com/p/markdown-oxide.md): 6 recommend
- [ruby-lsp](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ruby-lsp.md): 6 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "clangd", https://hackerapproved.com/p/clangd/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).