If you are a data scientist who has been using R, MATLAB, or Python to process your data before ETL, then you will likely want to use Spark to perform your ETL tasks. However, if you want to use PySpark, then it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to also use PyCharm.
Yes, Jupyter Notebook is a great IDE for data scientists and engineers who use Python for data science and machine learning. But PyCharm is a paid tool which comes with a variety of advanced features that make the IDE more powerful for data science workflows. So let’s discuss the benefits of using PyCharm as your IDE for Spark development.
Python IDEs for Data Science
Data science is the topmost use case of Python which is then continued by web development and others. So, Here is the best Python IDEs for Data science applications. Find the reasons to choose the below Python IDEs along with their data-specific features. PyCharm and Thonny are also helpful for data scientists.
Spyder
Spyder IDE is one of the best Python IDEs for Datascience as well as machine learning. This supports in Data Analysis, MATLAB, RStudio, and comes with a specific feature “variable explorer”. This feature lets you display data inside your IDE using a table-based layout. You can integrate it with IPython/Jupyter. Most importantly, data scientists prefer Spyder for its convenience in working with numpy, scipy and matplotlib.
Atom
Using Atom along with Hydrogen is the perfect package that a data scientist can get. This package allows you to run your code directly using any Jupyter kernels. You can also download Atom Shell, a cross-platform desktop applications framework by using Chromium.
Jupyter Notebook
This open-source IDE was developed in 2014. The web-based application lets you create Jupyter documents or notebooks. It gives you an interactive data science environment for many languages including Python, Julia, Scala, R, etc. Jupyter is more than an IDE for data scientists and also as a presentation tool. It is suitable for both beginners and professionals. The code editor lets you create compelling presentations. It helps in data visualisation by supporting Matplotlib and Seaborn to show your graphs (within the document). Other than this, you can also export files easily in HTML, PDF and .Py formats. You can effortlessly download and install Jupyter.
PyCharm – A powerful Python IDE
PyCharm is designed for professional developers. JetBrains created it, a company that is renowned for creating great software development tools. It is available in two variants:
- Community version: It is a free version, lightweight, and ideal for python programming and scientific development.
- Professional version: As the name suggests, it’s a premium paid variant and comes with all the additional features of an IDE such as Python Profiler, Scientific tools, and Remote development capabilities, to name a few. What’s more? It also comes with a Web development support extension.
PyCharm has free cross-platform development that provides many useful features like auto-complete, code inspection, refactoring, unit tests, debugger, code analysis, documentation generation, intelligent code editor, project management, Git support, command palette, etc. It supports python web development frameworks, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, HTML5/CSS3, SQL, XML, XSLT, CSS, Groovy, Scala, Clojure, Go, TypeScript, Objective-C, Swift, and Kotlin, to name a few.
Source: JetbrainsDownload link:https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/
Advantages of PyCharm
- It is a comprehensive Python development tool and has active community support.
- Code verification and highlighting are performed live.
- Doesn’t need any external requirements to do edits and debug Python code.
- It’s compatible with the following: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- There is a smart code navigation system and auto-code completion feature.
- Code Refactoring with fast and safe methods.
- Standard Database tools are available.
Disadvantages of PyCharm
- It takes a long time to load.
- Before existing projects can be used, the default setting may need to be adjusted.
Sublime Text 3
- Category: Code Editor
- First Release Year: 2008
- Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
- Who It’s For: Beginner, Professional
- Supporting Languages: Python and C#
- Price: Freemium
- Download: Sublime text 3 Download Link
- Popular Companies using Sublime Text Python IDE-
Starbucks, Myntra, Trivago, Stack, and Zapier.
Sublime Text is one of the most commonly used cross-platform Code Editors and supports several programming languages, including Python. Sublime offers various features such as plenty of themes for visual customization, a clean and distraction-free user interface, and supports package manager for extending the core functionality via plugins. Other features include:
● Up-to-date plugins via Package Manager
● File auto-save
● Macros
● Syntax highlight and code auto-completion
● Simultaneous code editing
● Goto anything, definition and symbol
Advantages —
● Uncluttered user interface
● Split editing
● Fast and high-performance editor
Disadvantages —
● Annoying popup to buy sublime license
● Confusingly large number of shortcuts
Python IDEs for Mac
You can consider the following Python IDEs for MacOS are IDLE, Spyder, Atom, IntelliJ IDEA and Geany.
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is one of the most famous Java IDE developed by developers at JetBrain, the company that owns PyCharm.
Geany
It is a free text editor that supports Python software development and contains IDE features as well. It comes with features such as Symbol lists, Auto-completion, Syntax highlighting, Code navigation, Multiple document support, etc.
Python IDEs for Ubuntu
Python IDEs such as Thonny, Sublime Text 3, Eclipse and Komodo Edit are suitable for Ubuntu.
Komodo Edit
Supported Languages: Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Tcl, SQL, Smarty, CSS, HTML, and XML
Supported Platforms: Linux, OS X, and Windows
It is a commercial Polyglot IDE supporting 100+ languages and available cross-platform. You can also get a trimmed version for performing simple tasks. Its professional version comes with all the advanced features and a 21day free trial. It is recommended for professional use, learners (or freelancers) can get it for half the price and it is free of cost for teachers (Universities). Not to mention that Komodo IDE is feature-rich, its list of features goes long from package manager to viewers(DOM, CSS), intelligent (RegEX) editors, (Http) inspectors, highly useful integrations and support for emulators.
- Code browser, go to definition
- Code refactoring
- Brace matching
- Code auto-completion
- Call tips
- Multithreaded debugging
- Code profile/coverage
- Breakpoint configuration
- Inbuilt unit testing support
- Integration with 3rd party modules like PyWin32.
Python IDEs for both Beginners and Professionals
Spyder
Supporting Platforms: Qt, Windows, macOS, Linux
It is a Python-specific, scientific IDE meant for catering to the requirements of data scientists. Being an open-source IDE, it is simple for beginners and has got all the powerful features required for professionals. It is known for its advanced editors, computing environment, testing and debugging features. In addition to that, it works cross-platform and supports multiple Python consoles and plugins.
- Syntax highlighting
- Code completion
- File Navigation
- Integrated documentation browser
Sublime text 3
Supporting Languages: Python and C#
Supporting Platforms: Linux, Windows, OS X,
This lightweight Python IDE is a highly customizable and suitable for professionals to build full-fledged Python development. With a minimalistic look, it is suitable for beginners and, but has extreme speed, powerful features, and active community support. It works flawlessly for handling huge projects and files. The new features of the IDE support not just Python, but also for its frameworks (Django and Flask) and others such as Javascript, CSS and HTML5. It has a package control or manager to manage add-ons, plug-ins and extensions.
By installing packages, you will get the following.
- Debugging
- Auto-completion
- Code linting
Being developed by a Google engineer, Sublime Text has built-in support for Python code editing and a rich set of extensions (called packages).
Note: As there is no direct support for executing or debugging code from within the editor, installing extensions can be complicated.
Atom
Supporting Languages: Python, HTML, Java and 34 other languages.
Supporting Platforms: MacOS, Windows, Linux
This open-source code editor developed by Github is excellent for Python development. Similar to Sublime Text, it is customizable, and you can install packages. Most popular packages are autocomplete-python, linter-flake8, and python-debugger. Being built with Electron, it supports python language support only through an extension. It is lightweight and loads quicker. Atom can be readily integrated with Git and it lets you use multiple panes to manage projects effortlessly.
- Sleek interface
- File system browser
- Marketplace for extensions
Note: There is no in-built debugging support present, but add it as an extension. It runs in a Javascript process and not as a native application.
Python IDEs for Windows
Most of the IDEs mentioned above are cross-platforms. So, it is available for most of the major OS including Windows, MacOS and Ubuntu. Other than the above mentioned Python IDEs, when considering the convenience, some of Best Python IDEs for Windows are PyDev (Eclipse), Wing IDE, and Eric.
PyDev (Eclipse)
Supporting Languages: Python, (Eclipse supports Java and many other programming languages)
Supporting Platforms: MacOS, Linux, Windows
The best Python plugin for developers from Java background which is why it is the most popular plugin in Eclipse. It comes with top-notch features and integrations for source code control, UML views and code editing. This fully functional IDE also supports CPython, Jython and IronPython. Django integration is also possible with the help of another plugin called LICLIPSE which supports Dart, HTML, CSS and Javascript. As you guess, it costs a license to use this. It also comes with useful keyboard shortcut keys to help you code faster.
- Django integration
- Python debugging (also remote)
- Auto code completion
- Code inspection
- Go to the definition
- Error marking
- Integrated unit testing
- Refactoring
- Interactive console
- Code coverage
- PyLint integration.
This IDE is recommended if you have already installed Eclipse on your PC. In that case, installing PyDev is very accessible.
Conclusion
Python is a general-purpose programming language for developing virtually any kind of application. It’s used frequently in the fields of education, open source, web development, data science, and the financial sector. Python supports multiple programming paradigms due to which it can be used to develop applications using procedural, object-oriented or functional styles.