IDEs and development tools commonly used by Python programmers

Overview

"If you want to do your job well, you must first sharpen your tools." If programming is the programmer's craft, then IDE is the programmer's bread and butter.

The full name of IDE is Integration Development Environment (Integrated Development Environment), which generally takes the code editor as the core and includes a series of peripheral components and ancillary functions. The most important thing about an excellent IDE is that in addition to ordinary text editing, it provides various quick editing functions for specific languages, allowing programmers to browse, enter, and modify code as quickly, comfortably, and clearly as possible. For a modern IDE, syntax coloring, error prompts, code folding, code completion, code block positioning, refactoring, integration with debuggers, version control systems (VCS), etc. are all important functions. Customizable frameworks represented by plug-ins and extension systems are another popular trend in modern IDEs.

The more functions the IDE has, the better, because more functions often mean greater complexity, which not only distracts programmers from their original energy, but may also cause more errors. As long as the basic functions meet your needs, the IDE that suits your usage habits is the best IDE. A programmer's logic is always to use the most appropriate tool to do the most appropriate thing.

Because of this, compared to a large and comprehensive IDE, using a simple text editor combined with external gadgets such as independent debuggers and interactive command lines is another development method. Due to the simplicity of Python itself, this approach is particularly suitable when writing small code snippets and learning through example code.

Introduction to commonly used IDEs

Here is a brief introduction to some of the most popular IDEs among Python programmers.

Built-in IDE

Every common distribution of Python has a built-in IDE. Although their functions are generally not powerful and complete, their simplicity and ease of use are the biggest advantage. For beginners, they are also the best choice to get started, allowing you to focus more on the language itself without being distracted by complicated IDEs.

IDLE

IDLE is a simple and compact IDE built into the Python standard distribution. It includes basic components such as an interactive command line, editor, and debugger, which is enough to handle most simple applications. IDLE is written in pure Python based on Tkinter. The original author is Guido van Rossum, the father of Python himself.

http://hkn.eecs.berkeley.edu/~dyoo/python/idle_intro/index.html -- "One Day of IDLE Toying", an introductory article with pictures and texts

http://hkn.eecs.berkeley. edu/~dyoo/python/idle_intro/IDLE-chinese.htm -- Chinese version of "One Day of IDLE Toying"

PythonWin

PythonWin is part of Python Win32 Extensions (semi-official python for win32 enhancement package), also Included in the Windows distribution of ActivePython. As its name says, it is only for win32 platform.

In general, PythonWin is an enhanced version of IDLE, especially in terms of ease of use (just like the style of windows itself). In addition to ease of use and stability, (simple) code completion and a stronger debugger are clear advantages over IDLE.

Python Win32 Extensions download page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32/

ActivePython homepage: http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePython/

MacPython IDE

MacPython IDE is Python The IDE built into the Mac OS distribution can be thought of as the Mac counterpart of PythonWin, written by Guido's brother Just van Rossum.

Emacs and Vim

Emacs and Vim are known as the most powerful (and second most powerful) text editors on the planet. For many programmers, they are the only (three?) choices for all-purpose IDEs. Compared with similar general-purpose text editors such as UltraEdit, Emacs and Vim can build more complete and convenient IDEs due to their powerful extension functions.

Emacs -- An introduction to Emacs and python-mode

Emacs23 -- The latest version of Emacs, fully supporting unicode, currently a branch under development

Vim -- Recommended tips for using Vim general editing environment

PyIDEguider, VimPython, VimPythonTDD - - There are several articles in the community that introduce Python development in the Vim environment

Although mastering both can be said to be a lifelong benefit, the learning curve is relatively steep. Due to historical reasons, their design concepts are based on pure ascii character environment. GUI is relatively not the focus of support. Extensive use of shortcut keys can bring the greatest convenience. For beginners, Vim is relatively simpler, but the GUI of Emacs is closer to the habits of general editors.

Eclipse + PyDev

Eclipse is a new generation of excellent general-purpose IDE. Although it is developed based on Java technology, its excellent architecture makes it as scalable as Emacs and Vim. It has now become the favorite of many programmers My favorite Swiss Army Knife.

Eclipse -- Instructions for using the Eclipse integrated development environment, briefly introducing the basic knowledge of Eclipse plug-in development

PyDev is the most mature and complete Python development plug-in on Eclipse, and it is still under active development. In addition to the basic functions provided by the Eclipse platform, PyDev's code completion, syntax error checking, debugger, refactoring and other functions are quite excellent. It can be said that it is the most powerful among open source products, and many thoughtful little functions are also very suitable. Editing habits are quite easy to use.

Speed ​​and resource usage are fatal injuries, and it is difficult to run on low-configuration machines.

PyDev -- Introduction to PyDev development environment

Eclipse’s homepage: http://www.eclipse.org/

PyDev’s homepage: http://pydev.sourceforge.net/

PyDev user manual: http://www.fabioz.com/pydev/manual_101_root .html (Eng) This introductory manual covers the use from installation to development, and is displayed with pictures and texts. It is recommended for everyone to use.

Technical development reference: Python development using Eclipse, PyDev and Ant, http://www-128 .ibm.com/developerworks/cn/opensource/os-ecant/index.html

UliPad

UliPad is a well-known domestic pythoner and an IDE developed by limodou, a core member of the PythonCN community.

SPE (Stani's Python Editor)

A very unique lightweight python IDE with comprehensive functions yet compact and lightweight, especially suitable for writing small scripts.

The UML class diagram of real-time code generation is a unique feature of this company. In addition, it also pays special attention to the integration with external tools. For example, it integrates wxGlade as a WYSIWYG GUI development environment, Winpdb as a debugger, and even integrates with the 3D modeling tool Blender.

SPE does not have the concept of project management, which makes it inconvenient to develop projects composed of multiple files and directories. In addition, the interface design is relatively not detailed enough, which can be considered a flaw.

SPE's homepage: http://stani.be/python/spe/

Boa Constructor

An IDE designed for rapid development of wxPython-based GUI programs, supporting "what you see is what you get" drag-and-drop control Development, known as Delphi in the Python world.

It was once selected as "Project of the Month" by sourceforge, but the development speed has tended to be slow recently.

Boa Constructor’s homepage: http://boa-constructor.sourceforge.net/

Eric3

Eric3’s homepage: http://www.die-offenbachs.de/detlev/eric3.html

WingIDE

The commercial products developed by Wingware are generally the most powerful and professional Python IDE at present. Open source projects can apply for a free license.

The biggest disadvantage is the same as PyDev, which is slow speed and high resource usage.

Wingware’s homepage: http://wingware.com/

Komodo

Another excellent commercial product, developed by ActiveState Company, is a general-purpose scripting language IDE. In addition to Python, it also supports javascript, perl, and php. , ruby, tcl and other languages.

Komodo’s homepage: http://www.activestate.com/Products/Komodo/

Textmate

Textmate is a Cocoa native program for the Mac OSX platform, similar to UltraEdit. Known for its flexible Bundles and Code Snippets, it supports most scripting languages. The entire Rails development team uses this Editor. Similar to Emacs/vi, you need to cooperate with ctags to analyze the python code structure, and you can easily perform functions such as unittest. It should be noted that it has special support for Django's model and template, as well as Zope.

Textmate's homepage: http://macromates.com/

Scribes

"Scribe"──poor man's TextMate?

Intype

Textmate under Windows

PyScripter

Python IDE developed by Delphi, only windows version.

PyScripter’s homepage: http://mmm-experts.com/Products.aspx?ProductId=4

Tools other than IDE

Interactive command line (interactive console)

IPython

IPython’s homepage: http ://ipython.scipy.org/

Debugger (Debugger)

Winpdb

Winpdb’s homepage: http://www.digitalpeers.com/pythondebugger/

Other editors that support Python

Leo

Development tools based on the new Literate Programming (literary programming) concept. For a detailed introduction, please see: LeoEnvironment

Leo’s homepage: http://webpages.charter.net/edreamleo/front.html

Bluefish

Bluefish is usually Think of it as a web editor similar to Homesite, but in fact it's much more than that. It should be a universal text editor that supports C, PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl, Java, Shell, Tcl and many other programming languages. It supports syntax highlighting, automatic line wrapping, automatic closing of HTML tags, etc., and can edit multiple files at the same time. documents.

Bluefish is certainly not a Python IDE tool, but if you are doing web-related development (DjanGo, TurboGears, etc.), it is obviously very convenient to use it to write programs. Moreover, Bluefish is very friendly and can be used basically without learning, which allows novices like me to transfer their energy to learning Python as soon as possible.

Bluefish official website http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.html can currently run on most UNIX-like operating systems.

Discuss

Comprehensive comparison

Beginners prefer IDLE/PythonWin/MacPython

Emacs/Vim/Eclipse+PyDev is a powerful and versatile solution. It depends on which environment you are more familiar with. If you have no foundation, Eclipse is more recommended +PyDev.

SPE is the most complete among the simple IDEs implemented in pure Python, and is very convenient when writing small scripts.

Boa’s strength lies in rapid GUI development based on wxPython.

If you can choose commercial tools, WingIDE or Komodo are both excellent products.

Other articles comparing Python IDEs:

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/cn/linux/sdk/python/charm-14/index.html

"Charming Python" columnist David Mertz The evaluation article was written in 2001. Many of the contents are too old, but they are still of reference value.

http://spyced.blogspot.com/2005/09/review-of-6-python-ides.html -- review-of-6-python-ides.html

http://spyced.blogspot.com/2006/02/pycon-python-ide-review.html -- pycon-python-ide-review.html

Two newer Python IDE review articles (original address required The agent can only be accessed, and the latter attachment link is a local backup). PyDev, Eric3, Boa Constructor, BlackAdder, Komodo, WingIDE, and SPE were compared respectively.