For Python Developers, IDE is very useful when it comes to maintaining, testing, or debugging your Python Code. Most of the Programmer also use Code Editor, which are generally used for syntax highlighting and editing a Code.
With Python IDE (Integrated Development Environment), you will get all the features of Code Editor as well as tons of other resourceful features which makes the overall Development much more easy and quick.
So, if you are working on a small project, then you can go with the Code Editor. However, if you are working on a big project and looking forward to scaling it in the future as well, then you should definitely go with IDE.
So, Here is the list of some of the best IDE and Code Editor for Python:-
1. PyCharm:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux.
PyCharm is one of the best Python IDE available having a number of amazing and powerful features that allow you to develop a variety of Python Applications.
PyCharm IDE provides you a lot of resourceful features, like Advance Debugging, Code Completion, Smart Code Navigation, Error Highlighting, Refactoring, and many more.
For a beginner programmer, using PyCharm can be a little challenging. However, PyCharm has a great Community Support. So, troubleshooting in PyCharm will be very easy and quick for you.
You can choose the pre-built theme or you can also customize the IDE of PyCharm based on your need or requirement.
There are 2 versions of PyCharm available for download. One is PyCharm Community, which is free and dedicated to Python Development.
Whereas the other one is PyCharm Professional is paid and has built-in support for a number of other technologies.
Features: Here are some of the Top Features of PyCharm IDE.
- Built-in Terminal – PyCharm IDE comes with a Built-in Terminal. So, can Compile, Debug, and Test your code without leaving the PyCharm Environment.
- Code Completion – In PyCharm, you will also get amazing features called Code Completion which will speed up your overall Software Development Process.
- Support various Web Technologies – PyCharm supports various Web and Database Technologies and Python Web Framework, like – Django, Flask, and many more.
- Create Your Own Plugin – You can also develop your own Plugin in PyCharm, which will help you in extending the functionality of the IDE and make your project development much faster.
2. Spyder:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Spyder is a cross-platform IDE, so it is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
It is dedicatedly designed for Data Scientists and Engineers. As it is very well integrated with the libraries like – Numpy, Pandas, Matplotlib, SciPy, and many more.
So, if you are into Data Science or Machine Learning, then Spyder is the IDE you should go with.
People often compare Spyder with PyCharm. Spyder IDE has fewer features compared to PyCharm.
However, Spyder is a lightweight IDE, as a result quite fast as compared to PyCharm IDE.
For installing Spyder, you have to firstly install the Anaconda Distribution on your computer. Spyder is an IDE that comes as a part of an Anaconda Distribution.
Features: Here are the Top Features of Spyder IDE.
- Autocompletion – Spyder comes with the Code Completion tool which will make the development process much easier.
- Scientific Development Tools – Spyder comes with pre-installed packages, like – Numpy, Pandas, Matplotlib, SciPy, and many more, which will help in performing a Scientific Operation.
- Advance Debugging – It also provides a lot of tools that make testing and debugging of code really easy.
- Great Community Support – Spyder has great community support, as it is maintained by a team of Scientific Python Developers since 2012.
- Syntax and Error Highlighting – Syntax and Error Highlighting is a great feature that is available in Spyder IDE.
3. PyDev:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
If you know Eclipse, which is one of the most popular IDE among Java Developers. Now, with the help of PyDev(Eclipse Plugin), you can create the Environment for Python Development as well.
With PyDev, you will get lots of features, like – Advance Debugging, Django Integration, Auto Code Completion, Syntax, and Error Highlighting, and many more.
So, if you already an Eclipse user, then PyDev is the best IDE you should go with.
Features: Here are the Top Features of PyDev IDE.
- Syntax and Error Highlighting – It comes with the feature of Syntax as well as Error Highlighting.
- Auto Code Completion – Code Completion features are also available in PyDev IDE.
- Support most of the Languages – PyDev supports most of the popular Programming Languages.
- Refactoring and Code Analysis – Advance refactoring and code analysis feature is also available in PyDev.
4. Atom:-
Category: Code Editor
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Atom is a cross-platform Code Editor, which was developed by Github using the popular framework Electron.
Atom is really easy to use because of its simple User Interface and You can also customize the UI according to your need.
Atom is a Code Editor, however, it has all the basic functionality of an IDE as well. It supports most of the popular Programming Languages, like – PHP, Java, Python, JavaScript, C++, and many more.
Features: Here are the Top Features of the Atom Code Editor.
- Integrated Package Manager – Atom comes with an Integrated Package Manager which makes the installation of Packages very easy.
- Smart Autocomplete – Autocomplete is a feature available in Atom Code Editor, which makes the development much faster and easy.
- Syntax Highlighting – Like other Coder Editors, it also has a feature called Syntax Highlighting for all the popular Programming Languages.
- Community Support – It community support is really good as it was developed and is maintained by GitHub itself.
5. IDLE:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
IDLE is a simple and lightweight Python IDE, which automatically gets installed after the installation of Python on your computer.
IDLE was developed using Python and its User Interface was developed using Python Toolkit named “Tkinter”.
IDLE is mostly used by beginner Programmers who are looking forward to learning Python Programming.
Therefore, it is not recommended for developing big Projects.
Features: Here are the Top Features of IDLE IDE.
- Syntax Highlighting – With IDLE, you get the feature of Syntax Highlighting.
- Auto-Completion – Auto completion is another good feature you get in-built with IDLE.
- Integrated Debugger – You also get a Smart Integrated Debugger in IDLE.
- Smart Indentation – It also supports the Smart Indentation, which means it automatically adds Space and Tabs after the required statement.
6. Visual Studio Code:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Visual Studio Code is an amazing IDE developed by Microsoft. It has a really interactive and eye-catching User Interface.
It is the most popular IDE among developers for Python as well as other Programming Languages.
It comes with a lot of cool features and extensions for different Programming Languages and Technologies.
Features: Here are Top Features of Visual Studio Code IDE.
- Great User Interface – Visual Studio Code has a really good UI, which you will not find in any other IDE.
- Easy Git Integration – You can easily Integrate Visual Studio Code with Git and push your code on to Git without leaving the VS Code Environment.
- Smart Debugging – Like many other IDEs, VS Code also provides you the Smart Debugging feature.
- Smart Code Completion – With VS Code, you will get the Smart Code Completion feature, which will let you automatically complete your code based on the libraries you imported, variable, and function.
7. Sublime Text 3:-
Category: Code Editor
Price: Freemium
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Sublime Text 3 is the most popular Code Editor among the programming Community.
It is lightweight and Cross-Platform Code Editor which supports a number of Programming Languages.
There are many Plugin available which will help you customizing and changing the functionality of the Code Editor.
It provides a really good experience for Python Development.
Sublime Text is free to use. However, In some time, you will be asked to buy a premium version of the Editor.
Features: Here are the Top Features of Sublime Text 3 Code Editor.
- Fully Customizable – It is fully customizable with the help of various Plugins available.
- Simple and Fast – It is lightweight, simple, and quite fast as compared to other Code Editors.
- Great Community – It has got really good Community Support as well.
- Syntax Highlighting – Like other Code Editor, it also has a Syntax Highlighting feature for most of the Programming Languages.
8. Thonny:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Thonny is a simple and cross-platform IDE that was specially created for beginner Python Programmer. So, if you are a beginner, then Thonny is the best IDE for you.
In Thonny IDE, a separate window has been created for each function call, which will help you understand the actual working a program.
Features: Here are the Top Features of Thonny IDE.
- Error Highlighting – It’s auto error highlighting feature is quite helpful.
- Simple Debugger – It has a Simple Debugger.
- Code Completion – It also comes with the feature of Auto Code Completion.
- Beginners User Friendly – For a beginner who is started with Programming will find it very useful. However, it is not a perfect choice for experienced Programmers.
9. Jupyter:-
Category: IDE
Price: Free
Browser Compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Safari
Jupyter is a simple and dedicated IDE for Data Science. So, if you have just started your Data Science Journey, then this is the tool you must use.
Jupyter comes with lots of Data Science libraries, like – Pandas, Matplotlib, Numpy, and many more.
It also supports a number of other Programming Languages other than Python. I personally use it.
Features: Here are the Top Features of Jupyter IDE.
- Data Science Beginner Friendly – Jupyter is quite helpful for the one who has just started with Data Science.
- Supports Many Libraries – It supports most of the Data Science Libraries like – Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib, and many more.
- Web Application – Unlike other IDE, Jupyter is a Web Application, which basically runs on your browser.
10. Vim:-
Category: Code Editor
Price: Free
Platform Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux
Vim is a quite simple but very helpful Code Editor among the Developer Community.
If you are a command prompt or terminal lover, then you will love Vim editor. Vim is an Editor that you can use in your terminal as well. Vim is used for Text Editing as well as for Code Editing and supports most of the Programming Languages.
It comes pre-installed on Linux and macOS.
Vim has a lot of Shortcut Key available and you can extend the functionality by adding more Plugin as well.
Features: Here are the Top Features of Vim Code Editor.
- Simple and Fast – Vim has a quite simple interface and if you know its shortcut keys, then your overall Programming will become quite fast.
- Run-on CLI – It has dedicated software as well you can also run it on your Terminal or Command Prompt.
- Lots of Plugins – There are lots of Plugins available for Vim which will extend its functionality.
- Supports most of the Languages – After every succeeding version, its support for Programming Languages also increases.