10.08
Always up for debate, I though I’d put my opinion out there as to the best Python Editors or IDEs currently available. The most important thing to look for in an Editor is the comfort, ease of use and GUI, effective code completion, scalability, debugging capability, and speed. I’ve decided to profile five Python IDEs / Editors and rate each on these criteria. I’ve also decided to only mention editors available on the three main operating systems, Linux (Gnome), OSX, Windows and are either open source or freeware.
(1) Non-existent
(2) Not good
(3) Average
(4) Good
(5) Exceptional
Eric-4
A full featured Python and editor and IDE, written in python. It is designed to be usable as everdays’ quick and dirty editor as well as being usable as a professional project management tool integrating many advanced features Python offers the professional coder.
GUI (3)
Code Completion (2)
Scalability (3)
Debugging (4)
Speed (4)
Komodo Edit
Supports a full range of languages including Python, PHP, Ruby and JS. Komodo Edit offer mediocre code completion, a nice looking GUI but does lack a bit in the speed department. I currently use this product on a daily basis.
GUI (4)
Code Completion (3)
Scalability (5)
Debugging (4)
Speed (3)
Wing IDE 101
WingIDE has all the usual bits and piece, but the GUI is a bit messy and it doesn’t feel to comfortable to use, however the debugging is pretty good.
GUI (2)
Code Completion (2)
Scalability (1)
Debugging (4)
Speed (2)
NetBeans IDE – Python
Create new python projects from templates, or import existing projects. Find it very slow and the code completion takes a while to warm up. Excellent debugging though.
GUI (4)
Code Completion (2)
Scalability (3)
Debugging (5)
Speed (2)
Eclipse – Python
One of the best know editors out there. Don’t particularly like the interface, but code completion and debugging is above average.
GUI (3)
Code Completion (4)
Scalability (5)
Debugging (4)
Speed (2)
If you have an edition for this list or don’t agree with me, please comment!!!
*If you have an edition for this list or don’t agree with me, please comment!!!*
You asked for it
It’s so strange that you post this since I was also about to write about python IDEs on my blog!
To be honest nothing beats VS
I’ve used all of the above except WingIDE. As you have already displayed, each has it’s pros and cons.
Eric IDE is actually quite excellent. The code completion sucks since you haven’t installed the other plugins that enable better code completion. Will post about this on my blog in the near future. It also has a plugin for Django which halves the time needed to type commands. It also has a few other good plugins.
It also is able to generate package diagrams and a whole host of other statistics and documentation from your python app which is very useful. The GUI does take some getting used to though.
Komodo Edit is nice as well but I don’t like it’s code completion. Other than that it does it’s job well.
Netbeans is my second favourite. It has excellent code completion (the best out of the lot) even though it’s slightly slow. I’m sure as they improve it, Netbeans may take 1st place.
Eclipse’s PyDev plugin is good. I also don’t like the interface that much though.
I personally will be playing with Eric4 and see how it goes. I like that it is dedicated to python but supports editing of lots of other file types. If only it was advertised a lot more we would see a much bigger uptake of it.
I guess each to their own huh
gvim FTW. I’m used to vi because I do quite a bit of editing files on remote servers. vi is always installed, and is so lightweight that editing on a server hosted in a local DC is almost as quick as editing on my own machine.
@morgan – vi and gvim are great really lightweight editors but I find developers coming from a VS or GUI coding environment seem to find it really difficult to get into it, including me… but I’ve started using it instead of nano / ee on our production servers if I need to get something done quickly.
@shaun… okay dude there a reason this has taken so long, I’ve spend a bit more time playing around two of the above – Eric-4 and NetBeans, here the result:
Eric-4 – still slow, ugly GUI and plugins are a ball ache to install.
NetBeans – Have now uninstalled Komodo and move over to it full time, using it in the Ubuntu environment versus Windows is chalk and cheese – extremely quick, robust and feature-packed – definitely on it way to being a favourite of mine.
As for VS…. well you know my felling on that subject
I use Pydev and Eclipse’s Vim plug-in Vrapper.
For small projects, I use Scribes editor. It has a template system, you can install it from the site. Also has similar shortcuts as Vim.
Also Geany is good for nothing but an editor (no code completion, debugging, etc.)
I was always a bit weary of using vim, but I’m starting to use it more and more – using MacVim for my MacBook and the pre installed version on my Ubuntu 9.10 Testing Server. Just gotta get the hang of the extensive list of useful commands.