Popular IDEs for Python in 2024 – Best Python Development Environments

IDEs are very important tool (application) for the software development. Working with good IDE improves the performance and working capability of a software developer. That is why it’s important to choose a good IDE for software development. Different developers choose different IDEs as per their working.

Before we start looking into details of the popular IDEs for Python, we should learn about the IDEs, why they are important for software developers and how they are different from simple code editors. Follow the article to learn more about Importance of IDE for Software Development.

Popular IDEs for Python (Best Python Development Environment)

Now let look into the popular IDEs for Python.

Note: In this article we are not going to do a comparison about the different IDEs for Python. Software developers chooses a particular IDE according to their own preference and working requirements.

PyCharm

PyCharm is a popular IDE for Python. PyCharm Download

It is mostly used with Data Science and Web Development. It is a product of JetBrains.

• PyCharm is available in Community Edition and Professional Edition.
• Its community edition is an open-source project and free to use.
• It is lightweight, stable, and has multiple features.

Features of PyCharm IDE:

• Python code editing capabilities, coding assistance, context-aware code completion, type hinting, quick documentation, and auto-imports – across the entire project.
• Offers built-in support for leading database formats, including PostgreSQL, Oracle, MongoDB, and Redis.
• Provides multiple language support and covers both full-stack web development and data science use cases.
• Provides code optimization and profiling tools.
• PyCharm’s out-of-the-box support for popular test frameworks and intelligent code completion helps embrace Test-Driven Development.
• Provides fast code refactoring and flexible debugging options.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is another popular IDE. Visual Studio Code Download

• Visual Studio Code was developed by Microsoft and is an Open Source (free) IDE.
• It is a lightweight and powerful source code editor.
• It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Supports multiple programming languages.
• VSCode Documentation

Features of Visual Studio Code:

• It provides built-in support for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, along with other programming languages such as C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go, .NET.
• It provides all IDE functional capabilities like debugging, terminal, refactoring, unit testing, version control, and project management.
• Also provides auto-completion, AI extensions, and the GitHub Copilot Extension.
• It provides multiple extensions to integrate with third-party products.

JupyterLab and Jupyter Notebook

JupyterLab is another popular IDE for Python. Jupyter Installation

• Jupyter is a community edition and open source (free) to use.
• The Jupyter project covers two important tools: JupyterLab and Jupyter Notebook.
• It provides capabilities for Python programming via a web browser.

Features of JupyterLab and Jupyter Notebook:

• Jupyter Notebook is a simplified, lightweight notebook accessible from a web browser.
• JupyterLab offers more features compared to Jupyter Notebook.
• Provides multiple notebooks in different tabs.
• Additional tools like a customizable interface layout and system console.
• Provides support for many scientific Python libraries.
• Part of Python distributions like Anaconda and WinPython.
• Free alternative to MatLab.

Spyder

Spyder is another popular Python IDE developed by Spyder Project Contributors. Spyder Download

• Spyder comes with an MIT license and is free and open source.
• It was written in Python for Python.
• It is mostly used in academic research, scientific computing, data science, and machine learning projects.

Features of Spyder IDE:

• Provides a multi-language editor with syntax highlighting, code completion, and code analysis tools.
• Integrated IPython console for interactive debugging, command control, and computing.
• Variable Explorer: GUI to browse variables and their contents.
• Documentation Viewer: Built-in documentation viewer for quick reference.
• Integrated Debugger: Graphical debugger for efficient code troubleshooting.
• Plots: Integration with Matplotlib for inline plotting and visualization.
• Supports multiple plugin installations.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is another popular IDE for Python. Sublime Text Download

• Sublime Text was originally written by a Google engineer.
• It supports multiple programming languages.
• Sublime Text is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Features of Sublime Text IDE

• It provides extensive customization options with settings, key bindings, and themes.
• Provides an integrated package manager, context-aware auto-completion, and the ability to extend functionality using Python plugins.
• Sublime Text can utilize GPU on Linux, Mac, and Windows while rendering the interface.
• It remains fast and responsive, even with large files.

Thonny

Thonny is another IDE for Python. Thony Download

• Thonny IDE is for beginners and mostly used for learning and teaching purposes.
• It is lightweight, open-source, and free to use.
• It also provides community support.

Features of Thonny IDE

• It provides the capability to understand program variables after execution.
• Has the capability for simple debugging and step-through expression evaluation.
• Offers different modes for reference and variable scope explanation.
• Beginner-friendly system shell and GUI.

PyDev

PyDev is a Python IDE for Eclipse. PyDev Download

• PyDev can be used in Python, Jython, and IronPython development.
• It is open source and free to use.

PyDev Features

• PyDev provides easy integration with the Django framework for API development.
• Provides code completion with auto-import, refactoring, and code analysis capabilities.
• It also provides remote debugging and an interactive console.
• Includes capabilities for unit testing and code coverage.
• Integration with PyLint and MyPy for static code analysis.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Python IDE

Choosing the best IDE for Python development depends on your specific needs, whether it’s for data science, web development, or teaching and learning. Each of these popular IDEs offers unique features tailored to different development environments. Whether you prefer the full functionality of PyCharm or the simplicity of Thonny, you have a variety of options to choose from.

For beginners, Thonny and Jupyter Notebook might be ideal, while professionals and researchers may prefer PyCharm, Spyder, or Visual Studio Code for their advanced tools. Tools like Sublime Text offer versatility with multiple languages and extensive customization.

Explore more about Python Operators and how to make the most of these IDEs in your Python projects.

Interview Questions & Answers

Q: What is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and why is it important for Python development?

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) are important not just for Python development, but for any software development in any programming language. Various features and importance of IDE were discussed in following article – Importance of IDE for software development.

Q: Can you name some of the most popular IDEs used for Python development?

Answer to this question is discussed in detail in this article. Popular Python IDEs covered in this article are – PyCharm, Visual Studio Code, JupyterLab and Jupyter Notebook, Spyder, Sublime Text, Thonny, PyDev.

Q: What are some key features of PyCharm that make it a popular choice for Python developers?

PyCharm is popular Python IDE due to several key features. Read more detail about PyCharm IDE.

• Intelligent Code Editor
• Integrated Debugger
• Project Navigation
• Built-in Tools
• Plugins and Integrations
• Cross-platform Support

Q: How does Visual Studio Code (VS Code) compare to PyCharm for Python development?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and PyCharm are both powerful tools, but both are slightly different and useful in different scenarios.

Q: What makes Jupyter Lab a popular choice among data scientists and machine learning engineers?

Jupyter Notebook and Jupyter Lab are popular choice of data scientists and machine learning engineers because of several reasons:

• Interactive Environment: Jupyter allows users to write code in cells, small snippets of code and execute them independently, making it easy to test and see immediate results.
• Integration with Data Visualization: Jupyter supports inline visualization tools, which is essential for data analysis, allowing users to generate plots and graphs directly within the notebook.
• Markdown Support: Jupyter supports Markdown. This enables users to create rich text documentation alongside their code. This is important for valuable for reporting and sharing insights.
• Support for Multiple Languages: Along with Python, Jupyter supports other programming languages like R, Julia, and SQL through various kernels.
• Sharing and Reproducibility: Notebooks can be shared easily as a document or via source control platforms like GitHub. Jupyter Notebooks maintain the code, outputs, and documentation together, ensuring reproducibility.

Test Your Knowledge: Practice Quiz

---

Quiz on Popular IDEs for Python

Test Your Knowledge: How Well Do You Know the Popular IDEs for Python?

1 / 4

1. Which Python IDE is specifically designed as an educational tool for beginners?

Sublime Text

Spyder

Thonny

PyDev

Explanation:

The correct answer is Thonny. It is a simple and beginner-friendly IDE designed for learning Python programming. It features a clean interface and helpful features such as easy debugging, variable tracking, and a straightforward installation process, making it an ideal choice for new programmers.

Other Options:

Spyder: Mainly designed for scientific computing and data analysis, and more complex than what beginners typically need.

Sublime Text: A powerful text editor that is highly customizable and used for various programming languages, but it lacks beginner-friendly features like an integrated debugger.

PyDev: An IDE plugin for Eclipse that is robust and feature-rich, but it is more suited for experienced developers and can be overwhelming for beginners.

To learn more, read article – Popular IDEs for Python

2 / 4

2. Which IDE is particularly well-suited for data analysis and scientific computing in Python?

Thonny

Jupyter Notebook

PyDev

Visual Studio Code

Explanation:

The correct answer is Jupyter Notebook. It allows users to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text. It is particularly popular among data scientists and researchers for interactive data exploration and visualization.

Other Options:

Thonny: Primarily aimed at beginners and educational environments, not specifically built for data analysis.

Visual Studio Code: A versatile code editor that can be configured for data science but it requires more setup and isn’t as inherently suited for exploration as Jupyter.

PyDev: A Python IDE for Eclipse which can be used for various Python programming tasks, but again doesn’t provide the same level of convenience for data analysis and visualization as Jupyter.

To learn more, read article – Popular IDEs for Python

3 / 4

3. Which IDE integrates well with the Eclipse IDE and offers robust features for Python development?

PyDev

Thonny

Spyder

Sublime Text

Explanation:

The correct answer is PyDev. It is a plugin for Eclipse that enables Python development in the Eclipse environment. It supports features like code completion, debugging, and integrated unit testing, making it a good choice for developers who are already familiar with the Eclipse ecosystem.

Other Options:

Sublime Text: While it is a powerful text editor with support for many languages, it is not an IDE but rather a lightweight editor that requires plugins for many features.

Thonny: Thonny is designed specifically for beginners and offers a simple interface for learning Python. It does not have the extensive features of a full IDE like PyDev.

Spyder: Spyder is an IDE tailored for scientific computing in Python. It has features targeted toward data analysis and scientific applications. While it is an excellent IDE, it doesn’t integrate with Eclipse.

To learn more, read article – Popular IDEs for Python

 

4 / 4

4. Which of the following IDEs is known for its strong integration with Django and other web frameworks?

PyCharm

JupyterLab

Sublime Text

Spyder

Explanation:

The correct answer is PyCharm. It is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) developed by JetBrains specifically for Python development. It is widely recognized for its strong integration with web frameworks, particularly Django.

Other Options:

Spyder: Primarily focused on scientific computing and data science rather than web development.

JupyterLab: Used mainly for exploratory data analysis and interactive computing, not specifically suited for web frameworks.

Sublime Text: A lightweight text editor with some support through plugins, but lacks the deep integration and features that PyCharm provides for Django development.

To learn more, read article – Popular IDEs for Python

Your score is

0%

Restart quiz

Related Topics

• Understanding Scope in Python Programming (with Example Programs)
  In previous articles, we learned about following topics: Understanding Scope in Programming Generally, in the scope of a program, a variable can be declared only once with the same name. But, it’s possible to declare variables with the same name in different scopes within the same program. Changing the value of a variable within a…
• Understanding Number Datatype in Python: Decimal, Octal and Hexadecimal Numbers
  Understanding the Number Datatype in Python: A Comprehensive Overview Number datatype in Python is a combination of different number format classes like Integer, Float, and Complex. Python supports the Decimal, Octal decimal, and Hexadecimal number systems. Program – Integer Number datatype Output of the Integer Number datatype program: Note from the output: Exploring Float Number…
• Introduction to Variables in Python & Variable Data Types
  What are Variables in Python In Python, variables act as references to reserved memory locations where actual values are stored. Each variable name points to a specific memory address that holds the assigned value. In this case: How Variable Memory Works When we define variables, like height = 175, Python allocates a specific memory location…
• What Are Comments and Docstring in Python (With Programs)?
  Before we start learning about Comments and Docstring in Python and its concepts, we should setup our Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on our local machine. Read through the following articles to learn more about What is an IDE, Popular IDEs for Python and Python installation on your machine. Introduction to Comments in Python In…