The Python ide or development environment is a source code editor where programmers can write programs in Python programming language and see the results immediately. The ide or programming environment typically consists of a text editor, an interactive shell, and sometimes also a debugger that allows you to run and test programs.
Python IDE for beginners is all about the Python shell and the Python virtual machine. It contains advanced features that simplify your coding work and boost up your skills as a programmer.
An integrated development environment (IDE) refers to a software application that offers computer programmers extensive software development abilities. IDEs most often consist of a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger. Most modern IDEs have intelligent code completion.
In this article, you will discover the best Python IDEs currently available and present in the market.
What is an IDE?
- An IDE enables programmers to combine the different aspects of writing a computer program.
- IDEs increase programmer productivity by introducing features like editing source code, building executables, and debugging
Features of an IDE
1. Syntax Highlighting
An IDE that knows your language’s syntax can provide visual cues and keywords that are easier to read by visually clarifying the language syntax.
Code without Syntax
Code with Syntax
2. Building Executables
IDE takes care of interpreting the Python code, running python scripts, building executables, and debugging the applications.
3. Debugging
In the event that a program does not run correctly, programmers can easily detect their code eros using the debugging tools that IDEs offer.
4. Autocomplete
IDEs are generally really good at anticipating what you’re more likely to type next, making coding significantly faster and simpler.
Atom (CE)
Atom is a more out-of-the-box ready open-source CE that strikes a balance between Sublime’s performance/customization and a short setup time. Atom has a sleek look and is powered by Electron front-end framework, a tool for building desktop apps using JS, CSS, and HTML.
Atom has built-in support for beloved features like automatic code completion and find/replace. It is made by Github and can be easily integrated with Github and Git using built-in tools.
Atom features user plugins but allows you to quickly pick and integrate them hassle-free via Atom’s free package marketplace. This marketplace lets you browse the most popular plugins to expand or fine-tune Atom to your needs.
Atom’s main downside is that it is unpolished compared to other CEs. It has seen substantial updates since launch but still crashes occasionally. Unfortunately, updates have noticeably slowed since Microsoft acquired Github in 2018.
Pros:
- Usable out of the box
- Lightweight and Customizable through plugins
- Easy plugin integration
Cons:
- Slow startup time
- Still comparatively unpolished with performance issues
- Runs as a JavaScript process
- Some essential features (debugger, code building, etc) must be added via a plugin
Use Case:
You’re a multi-language developer who wants a free CE with extensive customization but doesn’t want to spend too much time fine-tuning it.
Codespaces (CE)
Developed by Microsoft and released in May of 2020, Codespaces is a new cloud-based cross-platform CE usable entirely in your browser. It includes a browser-based text editor and support for Git repositories, extensions, and a built-in command-line interface. It is even usable offline and will update once an internet connection is reestablished.
Codespaces can either be launched directly from Github or through a local install of Visual Studio. Codespaces is currently free but will include a paid option in the future.
Codespaces browser-based approach allows you to work from anywhere on any internet-capable device. This makes it excellent for team projects because you no longer need to have a shared tool or pass around file copies.
The biggest downside of Codespaces is that it is new and unrefined. As with any new product, you could easily find a bug that doesn’t have a fix yet.
Pros:
- Good for team projects
- Usable anywhere on any device
- No install or setup
- Integrated with Github from the ground up
Cons:
- New and unpredictable – 5 workspaces limit
- Limited customization
Use Case:
You’re a developer that often works on collaborative projects or contributes to open-source projects and doesn’t mind limited customization options.
Visual Studio (IDE)
Visual Studio is a general IDE that supports Python through a plugin called Python Tools for Visual Studio (PTVS). Visual Studio has extensive features, with built-in support for Git, a built-in terminal, comprehensive unit test tools. It also has an extension marketplace similar to Atom.
Visual Studio also comes with Intellisense, widely considered to be one of the best autocompletion systems available to developers today. You can also add plugins to allow support for web dev tools like Flask or Django.
The download is quite large but is worth it if you use it for multiple languages. There is a free version (Community) and paid versions (Business/Enterprise) that offer extra perks like customer support and DevOps tools.
Visual Studio also has a lightweight CE called Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
Pros:
- Full of features off the bat
- Usable for many platforms and languages
- Easy to add plugins
- Intellisense autocomplete
Cons:
- Extra resources behind a paywall
- Heavy footprint for use with just Python
- Not available for Linux operating system
Use Case:
You’re a dedicated developer who changes languages regularly, wants to learn one tool for all your programming needs, and isn’t too interested in visual customizations.
Spyder
Type: IDE.
Price: Open Source
Platform Support: QT, WINDOWS, LINUX, MAC OS, etc.
Screenshots For Reference:
SPYDER is another big name in the IDE market. It is a good python compiler.
It is famous for python development. It was mainly developed for scientists and engineers to provide a powerful scientific environment for Python. It offers an advanced level of edit, debug, and data exploration features. It is very extensible and has a good plugin system and API.
As SPYDER uses PYQT, a developer can also use it as an extension. It is a powerful IDE.
Best Features:
- It is a good IDE with syntax highlighting, auto code completion feature.
- SPYDER is capable of exploring and editing variables from GUI itself.
- It works perfectly fine in multi-language editor along functions and auto code completion etc.
- It has a powerful integration with ipython Console, interacts and modifies the variables on the go as well, hence a developer can execute the code line by line or by the cell.
Pros:
- It is very efficient in finding and eliminating the bottlenecks to unchain the code performance.
- It has a powerful debugger to trace each step of the script execution smoothly.
- It has a good support feature to instantly view any object documents and modify your own documents.
- It also supports extended plugins to improvise its functionality to the new level.
Cons:
- It is not capable of configuring which warning the developer wants to disable.
- Its performance reduces when too many plugins are invoked at the same time.
Official URL: SPYDER
Eric Python
Type: IDE.
Price: Open Source.
Platform Support: WINDOWS, LINUX, MAC OS, etc.
Eric is powerful and is rich in feature Python IDE and editor which is developed in Python itself. Eric can be used on the daily activity purpose or for the professional developers as well.
It is developed on a cross-platform QT toolkit that is integrated with a flexible Scintilla editor. Eric has an integrated plugin system that provides a simple extension to the IDE functions.
Best Features:
- ERIC has many editors, configurable window layout, source code folding and call tips, error high lighting, and advanced search functions.
- It has an advanced project management facility, integrated class browser, version control, cooperation functions, and source code.
- It offers cooperation’s functions, inbuilt debugger, inbuilt task management, profiling and code coverage support.
- It supports application diagram’s, syntax highlighting and auto code completion feature.
Pros:
- ERIC allows integrated support for unittest, CORBA and google protobuf.
- It has a lot of wizards for regex, QT dialogs, and tools for previewing QT forms and translations by making the developer’s task easier.
- It supports web browsers and has a spell check library which avoids errors.
- It also supports localization and has a rope refactoring tool for development.
Cons:
- ERIC installation becomes clumsy sometimes and it does not have a simple and easy GUI.
- When the developers try to integrate too many plugins the productivity and performance of the IDE decreases.
Official URL: Eric Python
Conclusion
Python is a computer programming language. It has a reputation for being easy to learn and use, as well as powerful. In this article, we’ll look at the best Python IDEs. An IDE is a tool that allows you to edit, compile, and debug your program.
Python is a very powerful language and there are a lot of libraries to help you in your projects when it comes to data analysis or other process automation when writing code. I have been trying to find the best ide for python in order to be able to work with this language in a better way without having any problems in using a specific IDE.
You’ve decided to learn Python. Awesome! Python is an incredibly versatile tool that can open up doors in many different industries. It’s also often the preferred language for manipulating data, solving problems, and making apps in both web and app development projects.