The 16 Best Python IDE For Developers in 2022

A code editor is a tool that is used to write and edit code. They are usually lightweight and can be great for learning. However, once your program gets larger, you need to test and debug your code, that’s where IDEs come in.

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) allows you to run programming code written in different programming languages and understand your code much better than a text editor. It usually provides features such as build automation, syntax highlighting, code linting, code-folding, bracket-matching, testing and debugging.

Python is a versatile language, which means that it can be used in many applications ranging from Blender (3D modelling Application) to web development. You can write Python code using a shell or text editor for small projects. Having an IDE to run Python is important due to Python’s increasingly popular use across a range of computing and scientific applications, underlined by the rise of analytics and business intelligence.

Here we feature the 16 Best Python IDEs that are currently available.

1. eric

This powerful cross-platform IDE – which, like IDLE, is named after Eric Idle – is written in Python and uses the Qt library.

Though Python is its focus, eric (lowercase is the intended spelling) has excellent support for Ruby, and other languages too. It supports the bread and butter tasks we’ve come to expect: code folding, code completion, brace matching. But there’s so much more that you’ll need to use its built-in (and automated) TODO list generation to keep track.

It has an integrated class browser and powerful debugger, and thanks to being built-in Qt supports building GUIs via Qt Designer. The initial configuration screen may seem daunting, but most of it can be put off till later. While the interface does look busy, there’s no reason you can’t use eric as a simple code (or even plaintext) editor.

But it really comes into its own for more serious coding – there’s even a built-in hex editor, SQL browser and icon designer.

It supports unit tests and can debug both multithreaded and multiprocessing programs, which as anyone who dabbles in such things will testify, generate the worst kind of bugs. It supports Mercurial and SVN version control natively, and Git support is available through a plugin.

Like Code, there’s support for real-time collaboration on code. In short, if you want a feature-rich Python powerhouse, eric is for you.

Key Features:

• Integrated class browser
• Configurable window layout
• Sourcecode folding
• Sourcecode autocompletion
• Sourcecode calltips
• Unlimited number of editors
• Brace matching
• Error highlighting
• Advanced search functionality including project wide search and replace
• Configurable syntax hilighting
• Integrated interface to various packagers (as optional plug-ins)
• Localizations: Currently Eric is available in English, German, Russian, and Spanish.
• Many integrated wizards for regex and Qt dialogs (as core plug-ins)
• Integrated interface to PyLint (as optional plug-in)

2. Wing

Wing, developed by Wingware, is a dedicated Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Python.

It is a lightweight Python IDE that comes up with a powerful debugger and intelligent editor and supports multiple test-driven development. Also, it is very much customizable and supports remote development.

The wing comes up with three of its versions – Wing Pro, Wing Personal, and Wing 101 version. The Wing Pro is a full-featured paid version for professional Python programmers – however, the trial version for the same is also available for the users.

Wing Personal and Wing 101 are also paid but come up with their respective free versions also, excluding some advanced features, for students and beginners. The wing is very much suitable for all Python developers and you can go with it as per your requirements, for instance – if you’re a novice and need a Python IDE for learning purposes you can go with the free versions or if you are seeking some advanced functionalities, you can opt for Wing Pro or other paid versions.

Key Features:

• Supports Remote Development
• Version control
• Customizable and Extensible IDE
• Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Integrated Unit Testing

3. Kite

Kite is IDE for Python that automatically completes multiple line codes. It helps you to code faster with no hassle. Kite adds AI powered code completions to your code editor, giving developers superpowers.

With the help of this IDE you can code faster and stay in flow. Kite’s AI helps you cut keystrokes, by as much as 47%. View Python docs with just one click or mouse-hover, plus find helpful examples and how-tos. You can quickly find files in your codebase that may be related to the current file that you are coding in.

Kite works for all major programming languages such as Python, Java, PHP, Go, Javascript, C/C#/C++, HTML/CSS, Typescript, React, Scala, Ruby, Kotlin, Bash, Vue and React. It’s code completions are powered by machine learning models trained on over 25 million open-source code files. Kite also runs locally. Your code is private and does not leave your machine.

Key Features:

• It offers Python documentation.
• Supports over 16 languages and 16 code editors
• Provides support in email.
• You will get a tooltip on mouse hover.
• Uses machine learning models for Python language.
• This editor provides a function signature as you type.

4. Online Compiler from Programiz

If you want to start writing Python code without investing time installing Python and setting up a development environment, you can use Programiz’s online Python compiler.

You just need the internet and a browser to get started. It’s completely free.

5. GNU/Emacs

Created in 1976 by Richard Stallman, Emacs (Editing MACroS running on TECO) is a family of text editors with an extensible set of features. This free software is very popular with the developer community. Richard Stallman insisted on the fact that the software must be completely free and customizable without any restriction in programming.

After a few years, many versions of Emacs have appeared, including GNU Emacs, initiated by Richard Stallman in 1984 and XEmacs launched in 1991.

GNU Emacs uses a powerful extension language called Emacs Lisp that supports advanced tasks such as writing, compiling programs, surfing the Internet, reading email, and discussion forums. This software is available for free download and is available on all platforms.

GNU Emacs uses various customization scripts for development in several languages, including Python. For Python development, you can use the Elpy extension on Emacs to work with Python projects.

This software is very feature-rich. Among its many features, we can mention the highlighting of syntax to differentiate document elements such as keywords and comments. Automatic indentation to have consistent formatting in a file, etc.

6. Codespaces

Developed by Microsoft and released in May of 2020, Codespaces is a new cloud-based cross-platform CE usable entirely in your browser.

It includes a browser-based text editor and support for Git repositories, extensions, and a built-in command-line interface. It is even usable offline and will update once an internet connection is reestablished. Codespaces can either be launched directly from Github or through a local install of Visual Studio.

Codespaces is currently free but will include a paid option in the future. Codespaces browser-based approach allows you to work from anywhere on any internet capable device.

This makes it excellent for team projects because you no longer need to have a shared tool or pass around file copies. The biggest downside of Codespaces is that it is new and unrefined. As with any new product, you could easily find a bug that doesn’t have a fix yet.

Key Features:

• Usable anywhere on any device
• Good for team projects
• Integrated with Github from the ground up
• No install or setup

7. PyDev

PyDev is the Python IDE that runs in Eclipse, which is already a very popular open source IDE for various programming languages, and is well-supported with a wide range of plugins to help add features. PyDev itself comes with a range of useful coding features, such as code auto-completion, debugging, coding templates and analysis, as well as a browser for testing code.

There’s also an integration option to work with the Django Python web framework, as well as offering support for Jython and IronPython development. If there’s a downside, it’s that there’s so much coding support made available that some users might find it somewhat bloated.

However, it remains one of if not the most popular of the open source Python IDE’s for exactly the same reason. As it’s open source, it’s free to use, and easily provides enough features to support basic to intermediate programming.

For more advanced programming, LiClipse is a paid-for tier that runs with Eclipse to offer more customized options.

Key Features:

• Django integration, auto code completion, and code coverage
• Good support for Python web development
• Supports type hinting, refactoring, as well as debugging and code analysis

8. PyCharm

It is one of the most widely used IDE (Integrated Development Environment) by developers.

PyCharm, developed by JetBrains, is a customizable and cross-platform IDE that offers numerous prominent features such as Intelligent Code Editor for smart code completion and quick fixes, Debugging, Testing, and Profiling tools, VCS, Deployment & Remote Development, etc.

In addition, PyCharm provides you with the much-needed support for various renowned web development frameworks like Django, Flask, etc. along with considerable support to JavaScript, CoffeeScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.

Moreover, it comes up with two different versions: PyCharm Community Edition and PyCharm Professional Edition; where the latter one is paid and offers you several additional features such as Python Profiler, Scientific tools, Remote development capabilities, and others. One of the primary cons that come up with PyCharm is that it has a slow loading time.

Other than that, Python is comparatively good in all aspects and is recommended to every developer i.e., from beginner to advanced level.

Key Features:

• Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Fast and Safe Refactoring
• Smart Code Navigation
• Standard Database tools
• Active community support

9. Jupyter

Jupyter is a tool for people who have just started with data science. It is easy to use, interactive data science IDE across many programming languages that just not work as an editor, but also as an educational tool or presentation. It’s perfect for those who are just starting out with data science!

The Jupyter Notebook supports markdowns, allowing you to add HTML components from images to videos. Thanks to Jupyter, you can easily see and edit your code in order to create compelling presentations.

For instance, you can use data visualization libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn and show your graphs in the same document where your code is.

Besides all of this, you can export your final work to PDF and HTML files, or you can just export it as a .py file. In addition, you can also create blogs and presentations from your notebooks.

Key Features:

• It is one of the best Python IDE that supports for Numerical simulation, data cleaning machine learning data visualization, and statistical modeling.
• Integrated data science libraries
• Support for many programming languages.
• Combine code, text, and images.

10. vim

Vim is a text editor pre-installed in macOS and UNIX systems. For Windows, you need to download it. Some developers absolutely adore Vim, its keyboard shortcuts, and extendibility whereas, some just hate it.

If you already know how to use Vim, it can be a good tool for Python development.

If not, you need to invest time learning Vim and its commands before you can use it for Python. You can add plugins for syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, refactoring, etc. to Vim and use it as a Python IDE.

Key Features:

• Recognition and conversion of file formats (UNIX, MS-DOS or Mac)
• Software is feature-rich and provides a good user experience with community support.

11. Thonny

Thonny is an integrated development environment (IDE). Developed by the University of Tartu in Estonia, this software has been designed mainly to make life easier for beginners in Python by providing them with a simple, lightweight IDE.

Still, with excellent features, it is a bit like the beginner’s kit. This software is therefore particularly suitable for beginners who wish to start programming and development in Python and is therefore not at all suitable for development experts. The user interface is isolated from all features that may distract beginners.

It is a well-thought-out pedagogical course for beginners who want to develop in Python quickly, easily, and simply.

Key Features:

• IDE adapted for beginners’ learning
• Does not require a large amount of memory to run
• Basic and functional user interface

12. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a highly responsive code editor used by thousands of developers.

Sublime text supports multiple versions of Python and allows you to set your version for each project. Sublime is nearly unbeatable in speed, with all but the largest files opening instantly. Sublime’s other call to fame is its extreme customization through user-built plug-in packages.

These plugins let you change nearly anything about the code editor, from appearance to error finding, code completion, additional language support, and more.

More plugins are added each day, meaning Sublime is potentially one of the most updated tools available. The main downside of Sublime is its $80 cost.

13. Atom IDE

Atom is a customizable text editor maintained by social coding megalith GitHub, so as you’d expect it can do pretty much anything you can imagine.

And if it can’t, then someone’s almost certainly working on a plugin to address that. Atom has its own comprehensive package manager, and a huge community working on packages for it. As well as built-in Git and GitHub integration, Atom allows you to collaborate on coding projects in real-time via the Teletype package.

Several thousand other packages are available, but Python coders looking for a more efficient workflow would do well to seek out a script package. This offering is based on the electron framework, so Atom is cross-platform, but also has a not inconsiderable memory footprint. Coders who prefer their apps to be lightweight will balk at the 400MB (including its dependencies) install footprint and should look elsewhere.

But even on a modest system it runs fine and all the functionality Atom provides means that it’s well worth the space investment. Despite all its features, Atom has a clean interface and is much more beginner-friendly than you’d expect. The project view is helpful once you start to dabble with bigger projects and you are free to split the panels of the interface to suit your fancy.

14. Spyder

Spyder is another most-recommended Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the developers.

It is a free and open-source IDE for Python that provides you with some remarkable features like advanced analysis & debugging, profiling functionalities, deep inspection, and many others.

It also offers you the ability to search and edit the variables with the GUI mode. Spyder comes with the Anaconda package manager distribution and is quite easy to install even for beginners.

Moreover, it can be integrated with numerous scientific Python libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, SymPy, etc. that somehow signifies that it is primarily developed for data scientists and engineers as it offers you a robust scientific environment for Python development. Though, the target users for Spyder are mostly Data Scientists and Engineers.

if you’re a beginner to intermediate level Python developer you can opt to explore and work with this enriching Python IDE this year.

Key Features:

• Open-Source and Cross-Platform IDE
• iPython Console
• Compatible with: Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.
• Variable Explorer
• Rich Community Support

15. Visual Studio Code

Developed by Microsoft for Windows Linux and OS, VS Code is an extensible code editor not to be confused with Visual Studio.

Indeed VS Code is small but complete, and the software is open source under MIT license, this is what characterizes the difference between Visual Studio and VS Code. The first version of the VS Code was published on April 29, 2015. VS Code is comparable to Atom in terms of functionality.

Indeed, just like Atom, VS Code is built on Electron, which means that these two programs have almost the same advantages and disadvantages. VS Code is Microsoft’s project, with the highest number of contributors on GitHub.

This initiative has boosted Microsoft’s notoriety and positioned it as one of the major players in community software. You can add a new language to the environment, such as Python, in this case.

Simply download and install the corresponding plugin to adapt it to the environment. Vs. Code is enhanced with features such as the integration of a powerful code auto-completion engine (IntelliSense), a debugging console, and a terminal to launch server commands. VS Code is very well designed overall, and its main advantage is that it offers an extension-based architecture. Because the IDE is lightweight, it can be extended by adding successive components as needed.

Key Features:

• More than 4700 extensions
• On-demand import of keyboard shortcuts from other Python editors such as Sublime Text or Atom
• A powerful code management engine

16. IDLE

When you install Python, IDLE is also installed by default. This makes it easy to get started in Python.

Its major features include the Python shell window(interactive interpreter), auto-completion, syntax highlighting, smart indentation, and a basic integrated debugger. IDLE is a decent IDE for learning as it’s lightweight and simple to use. However, it’s not for optimum for larger projects.

Key Features:

• No additional setup or installation required
• Call stack’s clear visibility
• Debugger with stepping and breakpoint features
• Compatible with: Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Supports Syntax Highlighting

Conclusion

That’s pretty much it! So, there are Best Python IDE For Developers.

If you have any other favorite Best Python IDE For Developers then don’t forget to share them with us in the comment below. Also, if you liked this article, Share on your favorite Social media platform.