What Is The Best Integrated Development Environment For Python?

Since its development more than thirty years ago, Python has become one of the world’s most popular and widely used programming languages. Today, it has the second largest programming language community worldwide, only behind JavaScript.

The language works on multiple platforms like Raspberry Pi, Windows, Linux, and Mac. Python is complex and has many applications and use cases, including software development, artificial intelligence, server-side web development, maths, and scripting. 

However, programming tools like Python IDEs (Integrated Development Environment) and code editors make coding with Python easier. Programmers use several popular IDEs, but for this article, we highlight the 12 best Integrated Development Environments for Python.

Table of Content

1. What Are IDEs and Code Editors?
2. Most Popular Python IDE

• PyCharm
• PyScripter
• PyDev
• Spyder
• Wing
• Idle
• Thonny
• Eric Python
• Sublime Text
• Rodeo
• CodeSkulptor
• Wing IDE 101 

3. Which Python IDE is recommended for You?
4. Conclusion 

What Are IDEs and Code Editors?

One of the major choices that web programmers or software developers face when they start writing their Python-based code is where to write it. This choice leaves them with two crucial options: Python IDEs or Code Editors.

These two environments help developers write code effectively, efficiently, and easily. However, they offer different features, unique processes, and benefits. Let’s find out what they mean, starting with Python IDEs.

Integrated Development Editors

IDEs are essential software tools that help programmers and developers simplify the process of making new software apps. One of the main benefits of using an Integrated Development Environment is its centralized interface, with all the tools developers need. 

By design, an IDE incorporates all the relevant aspects of programming in a single app. It simplifies the entire software development process by allowing the deployment and management of several tools simultaneously. 

IDE consolidates functions like code building, creation, and testing functions in one service or framework. It is a code editor, compiler, text editor, debugger, etc., in one tool. Here is a look at the components of a standard IDE:

• Code Editor: Code editors are editing tools that enhance or simplify the process of editing and writing code. Developers use these tools for editing and writing source codes. 
• Build Automation Tools: Build Automation Tools help programmers, and web developers save time through the automation of the process of software build creation.
• Compiler: These are responsible for converting source codes written in languages that humans can read and write into formats that a computer can run.
• Syntax Highlighter: The syntax highlighter significantly simplifies writing in a structured language like markup or programming language. This simplification is vital because users may visually distinguish errors in syntaxes and structures from others.
• Graphic User Interface: The graphic user interface within the IDE organizes all the functionality in an easy-to-browse and user-friendly way. It works like how the application menu on a mobile phone or desktop on your computer works. 
• Debugger: The debugger is a program that programmers use to find and correct errors in a program and test the program they work on. Debuggers use simulators to effectively control the program’s execution rather than running a program directly on a CPU.

Code Editor

Code editors are sophisticated text editors with great specialized functionalities and strong built-in features to boost and simplify the entire code editing process. These tools can either be a part of a web browser, an Integrated Development Environment, or an independent software program.

A code editor provides developers with some advanced tools they need to simplify the coding process. Some code editors include Sublime Text, TextMate, Brackets, Atom, and Visual Studio Code. 

Notepad and WordPad are other code editors, but they have fewer features and a lot less power than the rest. Here are some features of a standard code editor that makes it easier to type source code:

• Syntax Highlighting: This feature allows developers to understand the code they are writing on a site by coloring or highlighting particular syntax in multiple ways. Syntax highlighting allows you to quickly discover syntax issues and fix them as soon as they appear.
• Brace Matching: Brace matching allows users to boost and quicken the coding process by locating their browser between the most relevant braces and moving straight to that specific section of the code.

• Auto-completion: Auto-completion is a tool that reduces the need for programmers to write code that is repetitive or obvious.
• Auto-indentation: Code editors offer an auto-indentation feature to help developers write codes that flow in a clear and helpful format. This stops them from wasting precious time spent trying to format raw code.

Most Popular Python IDE

Some of the widely used Python IDEs make running and testing code simple and easy with Python, but what is the best IDE for Python? 

For a start, your choice of an IDE should be one that, at a minimum, offers code-folding, syntax highlighting, bracket-matching, and can run the code you are presently working on. 

Some offer advanced features like debuggers, code suggestions, and more. Below we highlight some of the best Integrated Development Environment for Python.

#1. PyCharm

Image Source: Jet Brains

Image Source: Jet Brains

Platforms in which it works: WINDOWS, LINUX, MAC

Official URL: https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/ 

Social Media: Facebook│Twitter│LinkedIn│Instagram│YouTube│RSS Feed│Blog

Description: Jet Brains’ PyCharm is arguably one of the most used Python IDE in the programming space. PyCharm facilitates productive Python development, allowing developers to write maintainable and neat code.

The IDE comes equipped with an intelligent Python editor, safe and fast refactoring, and smart code navigation. PyCharm also offers features like remote development, debugging, tools for the database, profiling, testing, and deployments. It also integrates strongly with Python console, scientific stack, and IPython Notebook.

Pros 

• PyCharm has customizable interface features that boost productivity. 
• It is a smart platform that offers auto code completion, quick fixing, and swift error detection.
• It has cross-platform development for developers that need to write scripts on different platforms.
• Multiple framework support

Cons 

• The installation process can be complex and might lag sometimes
• It is expensive

#2. PyScripter

Platforms in which it works: Windows

Official URL: https://sourceforge.net/projects/pyscripter/ 

Social Media: NIL

Description: PyScripter is an IDE that is natively compiled for the Windows operating system and has several top features to make coding simpler. It is an open-source environment developed in Delphi but with extensibility through Python scripts.

PyScripter offers developers an integrated Python interpreter, syntax highlighting editor, full support for encoded Python sources, and unit testing. The unique IDE provides full debugging with adequate support for remote debugging along with integration with other top Python tools like TabNanny, PyLint, Profile, and more.

Pros

• It runs Python script externally, making it highly configurable
• Has remote Python debugging features
• Replace and find in files
• Code explorer
• Debug or run files from memory
• Has integrated regular expression testing
• PyScripter provides the choice of the Python version to run through command line parameters

Cons 

• Some advanced IDE features might be missing
• There is no pro version 

#3. PyDev

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, QT, Linux, Windows.

Official URL: http://www.pydev.org/ 

Social Media: Blog│GitHub

Description: PyDev is another top Python IDE worth checking out. The IDE is linear and focuses on analyzing code, debugging in graphical patterns, and refactoring Python code. PyDev is also an outside plugin for Eclipse, making it more flexible for developers to use it to develop apps that have plenty of features. 

Asides from being a powerful python interpreter, PyDev is one of the most preferred open source Python IDEs by developers for the features it offers. The IDE has Django integration, code coverage, and auto-code completion features. 

Image Source: PyDev

PyDev also supports robust features like code analysis, hinting, debugging, tokens browser, remote debugging, PyLint integration, interactive console, and Unittest integration. With PyDev, you get an IDE capable of analyzing f-strings and supporting Mypy, virtual environments, and black formatters.

Pros

• It allows for TODO tasks, content assistants, smart indent, keyword auto-completion, and more rich features.
• It facilitates interactive probing in suspended mode.
• PyDev has a full outline view and interactive console and can mark occurrences.
• It offers developers solid syntax highlighting, code folding, multi-language support, and parser errors. 

Cons 

• Low performance when the app is large with several plugins
• PyDev plugins can become unstable and create issues when developing applications.

#4. Spyder

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, QT, Linux, Windows

Official URL: https://www.spyder-ide.org/ 

Social Media:  Github | Twitter | Facebook | Google Groups | Instagram

Description: Spyder has a reputation for not only being a powerful Python compiler and a popular Python IDE, but it also helps engineers and scientists with a strong scientific environment for Python. This unique IDE has some major and advanced features that modern IDEs ought to have.

There’s auto code completion, the ability to edit and explore GUI-based variables, and seamless but solid integration with the IPython Console. Spyder leverages PYQT, meaning developers can use the IDE as an extension.

Pros 

• Spyder supports extended plugins.
• Great at finding and removing bottlenecks that inhibit code performance
• Impressive support feature that allows viewing any object document
• Powerful debugger capable of tracing every step of a script execution seamlessly.

Cons 

• Reduced performance when too many plugins are running at once
• Isn’t capable of configuring the specific warning developers might want to disable

#5. Wing

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, Windows, Linux.

Official URL: https://wingware.com/ 

Social Media: Twitter| Facebook | YouTube| LinkedIn

Description: Wing IDE is a free and easy-to-use Python IDE designed to help new programmers master coding in Python. This IDE has several in-built resources and top features to help you code better and faster.

The Wing IDE is known for having a powerful debugger and is considered one of the best IDE for Python, and is a solid editor for fast, accurate, fun, and interactive Python development. It helps in navigating through codes with a go-to definition and discover uses and symbols in the app you’re developing. 

Wing offers multi-file search while also supporting pytest and Django testing framework. Like some of the best Integrated Development Environment for python, it facilitates remote development and is extensible and customizable. 

It also integrates line editing and auto-code completion. Wing offers users a 3-day trial version to have a feel of its features before committing to a full version.

Pros 

• It has an extract function that increases performance.
• Wing has a source browser that shows all the variables you use in the script.
• There is an extra exception handling tab to help debug code.
• A bonus of 10 minutes to migrate your app when the trial version expires.

Cons

• Its interface can be complex to get used to and master.
• The commercial version of Wing is expensive.
• Wing has no support for dark themes—feature developers love

#6. IDLE

Platforms in which it works: Windows, Mac OS, Linux.

Official URL: https://docs.python.org/3/library/idle 

Social Media: NIL

Description: IDLE is another Python IDE to consider. The development environment has already been integrated with the default language, making it a basic and simple IDE. IDLE is great for beginner developers who need to practice Python development.

The IDE is also cross-platform-enabled and has features as varied as debuggers, local spaces, and a multi-window text editor with python colorizing and smart indentation. IDLE supports editable configurations, dialog boxes, and browsers.  

Pros 

• Developers can search through several files and search within any window they want.
• It supports syntax highlighting and auto code completion.
• IDLE has a Python shell and comes equipped with a highlighter.
• Its debugger has call stack visibility to help boost performance.

Cons 

• IDLE has no numbering line for option 
• There are prevalent normal usage problems like lacking focus
• You can’t directly copy to the dashboard

#7. Thonny

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, Windows, Linux

Official URL: https://thonny.org/ 

Social Media: Blog GitHub Forum/mailing list Facebook  Twitter 

Description: Some people consider Thonny less developer-centric than some of the Python IDEs on this list, but it is still a solid choice for developers. The development environment is written in Python and has provided a good debugger to help you learn the workings of coding without stressing breakpoints.

Thonny’s debugger shows users the state of variables as they run the program. This comes in handy when tracking bugs that are difficult to find, as the debugger allows you little or big steps through the program.

Image Source: Thonny

The IDE automatically idents as you type—a feature that Python newbies will find useful because python relies on indentation to delineate clauses, loops, classes, and more. There is also an autocompletion feature available for codes and parentheses/bracket matching. Thonny highlights syntax errors are great for beginners, but installation can be difficult.

Pros 

• Thonny helps describe the scopes by highlighting the spots.
• Its graphical user interface is clean and simple.
• It is beginner-friendly and handles PATH and problems with python interpreters.
• You can change the mode for explaining references.

Cons 

• Creating plugins takes time with some advanced developer features missing
• A basic interface design limited to text editing
• Absence of support for templates

#8. Eric Python

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, Windows, Linux.

Official URL: https://eric-ide.python-projects.org/ 

Social Media: 

Description: Eric Python is known for being a feature-rich Python editor developed in the python programming language. It is suitable for professional developers looking for an IDE with an advanced project management facility, version control, integrated class browser, source code, and cooperation functions.

Eric comes with many editors, source code folding, advanced search functions, configurable window layout, and error highlighting features. One of its standout features is its integrated plugin system that offers a basic extension to all the IDE functions. There is also inbuilt task management, an inbuilt debugger, and code coverage support.

Pros 

• Eric Python supports localization.
• It has a rope refactoring tool for web app development
• It allows integrated support for Google protobuf, Unittest, and CORBA
• Eric has many wizards for QT dialogs, regrex.
• It has tools you can use to preview translations and QT forms, making development easier.

Cons 

• Integrating too many plugins reduces the performance of the IDE
• Sometimes installation can get clumsy
• Its GUI isn’t particularly easy or simple to use

#9. Visual Studio

Platforms in which it works: Windows, Mac OS.

Official URL: https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/  

Social Media:

Description: Visual Studio is one of the best Integrated Development Environments. The feature-rich IDE is the work of Microsoft and is sometimes compared to Eclipse. It only works for Mac OS and Windows devices and comes in a Professional and Enterprise (paid) or Community (free) version.

Visual Studio allows top-notch development for various platforms while carrying its extension marketplace. With its Python Tools for Visual Studio or PTVS, you can carry out Intellisense for Python and Python coding in Visual Studio.

Pros

• Adding PTVS is simple if you have Visual Studio installed  

Cons 

• Not available for Linux devices
• It is a large download and might be intimidating for new users at first

#10. Rodeo

Image Source: Tech Leer

Platforms in which it works: Mac OS, Windows, Linux.

Official URL: https://github.com/yhat/rodeo 

Social Media: NIL

Description: Rodeo is another best IDE for Python that you can consider for all your development environment needs. It was designed for tasks related to machine learning and data science, such as plotting for issues and retrieving data and information from several resources.

Users can use this cross-platform-enabled IDE for experiments interactively. With Rodeo, you get an IDE to interact, inspect, plot, and compare data. Like most top Python IDEs, Rodeo offers clean code, syntax highlighting, and code auto-completion. 

Its IPython support helps developers write code quicker, and its package search simplifies the process of getting what you want. Clicks and point directories and a file navigator are some other cool features.

Pros 

• Auto-update to the latest version is available.  
• Rodeo is very customizable despite being a lightweight, intuitive IDE.
• It provides Emacs and Vim modes
• There is a block or single execution of code

Cons 

• There are no extended support facilities from Rodeo staff if you encounter issues
• Maintenance is poor

#11. CodeSkulptor

Platforms in which it works: Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Official URL: http://www.codeskulptor.org/ 

Social Media:

Description: CodeSkulptor is a unique browser-based Python Integrated Development Environment. This IDE focuses on offering a simple platform for users new to Python, providing an environment where they can practice and hone their programming skills.

Being easy-to-use makes CodeSkulptor an ideal IDE because they will be using the same code editor/IDE and version. With CodeSkulptor, you don’t need to download or install the software directly.

Pros 

• You can access the same code files and programming environment from any computer.
• No need to install any software
• Users get the same Python version and same editor 

Cons 

• The user interface might take some getting used to

#12. Atom/Atom-IDE

Platforms in which it works: Windows, Linux, Mac OS

Official URL: https://atom.io/  

Social Media: GitHub Twitter RSS Feed

Description: Atom has some of the best features, including auto-completion, syntax, and highlighting. The IDE is always improving its performance and has been working to integrate major programming languages like Go and Rust.

One of the reasons programmers go for Atom is because it has a fully customizable interface where users can adjust basic functions and the interface as they please. Atom is functional and practical as an IDE, and new updates are always in the pipeline.

Pros

• Atom is well-documented
• It has a fully customizable interface

Cons

• Not great for large code files
• Has excessive RAM consumption
• It might need improvement in optimization and system latency

Which Python IDE is Recommended For You?

What is the best IDE for python that you can use? First, understand that your choice of the best IDE for Python will depend on project size, programming language, operating system support, project or app type, available features, and more. 

PyDev and PyCharm are two of the best Python IDEs you can use. However, other personal factors like git integration, prior programming knowledge, teamwork, and your budget can influence your choice. 

Based on Your Experience

Some IDEs are easier to use than others. If you are not experienced, you better use one with a simple interface and many learning resources. Here is a breakdown of IDEs for advanced, intermediate, and beginner users:

• For Advanced Users: PyCharm, Atom, Visual Studio, Sublime.
• For Intermediate Users: Atom, PyCharm, Visual Studio.
• For Beginner Users: IDLE, CodeSkulptor, and Other online Python Editors 

Based on Your Career/Objectives

Another way to figure out the best Integrated Development Environment for Python is how it helps you achieve your end goal or career objectives. Here are some Python IDEs and how they fit in with different tech careers:

• For Scripting: PyDev, Sublime, PyCharm Community, Atom.
• For Web Development: Visual Studio, PyCharm Professional
• For QA: PyCharm Community, Sublime, Atom.
• Data Science: PyCharm Professional, SpyDer.

Based on Operating Systems

You can also choose the best IDE for Python based on what operating system or environment you are working with. Some Python IDEs work best in some operating systems than others do. Here are some Python IDEs and how they fit in with different operating systems:

• Windows: PyCharm, Sublime, PyDev
• Mac OS: PyCharm, Sublime, Atom, Vim
• Linux: Sublime, PyCharm, Atom
• Mixed or Multiple OS: Atom, PyCharm, Sublime

Based on the Scale of Business

Different industries have various human resources and finance, making them settle for the IDEs that they can afford, scale with, or open source and offer the most features in one package. Here are some Python IDEs and how they fit in with different scales or sizes of business:

• Small and Medium Scale Businesses: PyDev, IDLE, Spyder, Eric Python, Visual Studio 
• Large Scale Businesses: Wing, PyCharm, Sublime, Atom.

Conclusion 

Python IDEs offer developers plenty of benefits, including the justification for notebooks, developing top-notch codes, superb debugging features, and more. Moreover, having several useful tools in one place makes the development process easier and faster.

This article has compiled some of the best Integrated Development Environment for python. With our recommendation, you can pick the easy-to-use and feature-rich IDE that serves your development needs best.