Get Going with Python 2: Python Development Environments (IDEs) part 2

Update (April 2009) – The Python Development Environments Learning Path covers all the following information and more.

[update - replaced link to older Wing screencast with newer 2-part Wing v3 Pro series]

Here I’ll talk about the IDE combinations I use and why…

Side note – are you learning Python?  We’ve started Club ShowMeDowhich is aimed at new and intermediate Python programmers, ourspecially-crafted screencast tutorials are aimed directly at gettingyou to learn Python the easy way.

• Getting a Feel for Python
• Python Development Environments (IDEs) parts 1 and 2 (this post)
• Python ‘under the hood’
• GUI Development
• Web development
• Writing solid code with Unit Tests
• Games and Physics
• Python Advocacy

I welcome comments on this post if you’d like to share yourpreferred work environments (and reasons). I’d also welcome feedbackfrom the authors of the following tools if I’ve missed features thatare particularly important.

PyDev + IPythonare my most-frequently used tools. I tend to edit inside PyDev (note –it needs a reasonably powerful machine) and run the code using IPython.

Most of my work is scientific research (I’m an industrial A.I.researcher by trade) involving large datasets and mathematical tools,coupled with hand-crafted algorithms and visualisation. IPython isideal for running these sort of programs.

I find that PyDev works the way I want it to (though it can get abit slow at times) and with IPython for execution I have a robustdevelopment environment. It can be annoying to have to setup a‘project’ each time (a requirement of Eclipse), but after thateverything flows nicely. Videos here and here.

Fabio – what are the strongest features of PyDev that other readers might be interested in?

Wing (+ IPython) is my other frequently used combination. I tend to use Wing from home when I’m working on ShowMeDo.It is especially handy for ad-hoc editing – I don’t need to setupprojects inside the IDE, I can just drag in files and get on with work.For the record – Kyran, my partner in ShowMeDo, favours Wing over PyDev.

Often I use Wing to edit remotely-hosted files (hosted at WebFaction)over a WinSCP link. Wing makes this really easy and it easily beatsusing Vi over an ssh connection. Navigation is easy and theauto-completion means I can quickly add or fix code on the fly. SeeWing v3 Pro in action in these 2 screencasts.

Stephan (and team) – what are the strongest features and use-cases that might interest other readers?

I use Textpad + IPythonon occasion, but just for the simplest editing cases. TextPad getsindentation right and has syntax high-lighting, but otherwise it is apretty dumb editor. I use it by dint of experience and because I’mloathe to learn yet-another-set-of-commands.

I’d recommend that you don’t saddle yourself with a dumb editor,pick one that has some smarts – it’ll save you lots of time andfrustration as you become more proficient with Python!

IDLE is bundled withPython. It is robust and does a good enough job but I find that itsbehaviour is a bit odd – navigation commands seemed to jump too far ordo odd things which ended up putting me off.

Possibly I’m just using it the wrong way. Given that it comes withevery Python installation it is worth getting some familiarity with itand there is a strong team of developers who actively use it.

The only videos we have for IDLE are in my pay-to-access Python Newbies series. My Introduction to IDLEvideo is 21 minutes long and gives a good introduction to using IDLE(sorry, no free videos on IDLE – but we’d love to have some!).

SPE was my favourededitor a couple of years back. Active work ceased on SPE for most oflast year, but Stani is back on the case. Stani’s blog shows activework including an update to WinPDB allowing multi-threaded GUIdebugging, I hope that community support for SPE will pick-up again.Older videos here.

Stani – what are the main features of SPE?

DrPython – aimed at beginner programmers to ease you in to Python (I’ve never used it myself). These videos by Horst show DrPython being used.

I have no experience of the following but all of these have historyin the Python world – we’d love to have videos on all of them. PyScripter, Pida, Eric, ActiveState’s Komodo, Vim + IPython.

ActiveState – I’ve tried (and failed!) to contact your company inthe past – we’d especially love to have videos about Komodo shownalongside our other IDE videos. Who would like the chance to advocatethis powerful IDE?

Making ShowMeDo videos – it is really easy to make your own videos. If you’d like to help open-source then see our submissions pagefor details on how to make videos. We freely host and promote thevideos to help spread the word. Learning by seeing is a great way togain the confidence to try new stuff.

Are you learning Python? We’ve started Club ShowMeDowhich is aimed at new and intermediate Python programmers, ourspecially-crafted Python training screencasts are aimed directly atgetting you to learn Python the easy way.

ShowMeDo – Our 87+ Python videosa great way to learn new skills and see tools in action. Please – leavea word of thanks for our authors if you find their videos helpful.