How to Choose an Editor or IDE for Python

There are a number of Python-specific IDEs (integrated development environments) and hundreds of editors available suitable to use to edit Python programs. If you're going to be spending a lot of time writing Python programs, it's important to find an editor or IDE that you are comfortable using. Though basic text editors like Notepad or Text Editor will work just fine, advanced editors and IDEs provide a number of additional features. Having features such as automatic indentation--especially important with Python--and syntax highlighting make entering Python programs much easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Look at Editors

1. Search Open Source indexing sites for a list of text editors available for your platform. There are a wide variety of editors suitable for various platforms. These text editors provide comfortable editing for beginners and advanced users alike, though some are geared more toward one end or the other of the spectrum.
2. Investigate the 2 most popular editors: Vim and Emacs. These are extremely powerful editors for more advanced users, but beginners can use the more basic features until they've learned a little more Python programming.
3. Look at simpler editors. If Vim and Emacs are too complex for you, there are many simpler editors from which to choose. The minimum features you'll need for Python programs are indentation and syntax highlighting.
4. Narrow your choices. Choose an editor that has the features you will use the most and not many more extemporaneous features. Choosing an editor with a large number of features you'll never use will just make your environment more confusing and won't add to your Python programs in any way.

Look at IDEs

5. Decide whether an IDE is a better choice for you. An IDE provides many more language-specific features such as project management and code refactoring than does a simple editor.
6. Look at the list of Python IDEs available on the Python wiki (see Resources below). While not all of these are strictly Python IDEs, they all have Python editing capabilities in addition to features for compiling, interpreting, building and, possibly, debugging your code.
7. Narrow the list and choose an IDE that will not only run on your platform, but is regularly maintained and is in your price range.
8. Download and try out the IDE. The best way to see if you like an IDE is to install it and try it. If you don't like it, you can always uninstall it later and choose a new one.

Tips & Warnings

• Even though many IDEs are free, some do cost money. If you are purchasing an IDE, make sure there is support available for it.

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