Python IDE Roundup

Christopher FrickePyGISi 02.2012

IDE DeveloperLatest stable

release version

Latest stable release date Platform Toolkit License Debugger

IDLE Guido van Rossum et al. 3.2 2011-05-13 Independent Tkinter Open source No

PyCharm JetBrains 2.6.3 2012-10-26 Cross-platform Swing Proprietary

PyDev Aptana 2.7.0 2012-10-18 Eclipse Cross-platform SWT EPL Yes

PyScripter 2.5.3 2012-03-24 Windows MIT License Yes

Python Tools for Visual Studio

Microsoft 1.1.1 2012-04-11 Windows Apache License 2.0

Wing Wingware 4.1.10-1p3 2013-01-24 Linux/

Windows/OS X GTK2Proprietary -

Some free versions/ licences

Yes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_integrated_development_environments

IDLE

• Pros– Included with Python– Can be used anywhere– Very easy to get started

• Cons– Limited / no debugging support– No version control– Odd key bindings

PyCharm

• Pros– Built in Unit Test capabilities– SVN, GIT, HG, etc. version control– Code Complete

• Cons– $$$– Requires installation and

licensing

PyDev / Aptana

• Pros– Built on Eclipse (like Flash builder)– Code completion– Version Control integration– Unit test integration– FREE!!!

• Cons– Code must be in PyDev Project

directory– Requires install on client machine

(but it’s free, so cool! :-D)

PyScripter

• Pros

– Super light weight– Unit test framework– Code completion– FREE!!!

• Cons– Limited version control– Not as refined as some of the

other offerings

Visual Studio Plugin

• Pros– Integration with Visual Studio– Intellisense– FREE!!! (With VS Express

Edition)– Version Control through VS

• Cons– Only Runs on Windows

Wing IDE

• Pros– Built in Unit Test capabilities– SVN, GIT, HG, etc. version

control– Graphical Debugging– Code Completion

• Cons– $$$– Requires installation and

licensing

IDLE is quick and easy, but choose a real IDE if you want to do something

big.