Updated June 12, 2023
Introduction to Python Editors
Python Editor is an editing tool for the application developers to write the code, execute the programs, debug the error codes, and perform the unit test to catch the bugs/ gaps in the program. An Editor is a developer’s workspace for carrying out the application development process, which provides convenient options to play around with the program code. There are many editors for Python available for the users to access, such as IDLE, Sublime text, Atom, Repl. It (Online Editor), Pycharm, ERIC, etc.
Requirements for a Good Python Coding Environment
- The IDE or code editor must allow the users to save their work and open it later for use.
- Need to support code debugging
- Being able to rapidly spot variables, keywords, and symbols in the written code makes understanding code much easier.
- Allow formatting of code automatically
Different Editors of Python
The following are the different editors of python:
1. IDLE
IDLE is a default installation along with python. It is easy to use and minimal environment. It’s a lightweight IDE and helps to learn and write simple python codes. IDLE editors’ project management capability is quite comparatively less, but the debugging facility of IDLE is quite good. The key features of IDLE are as below,
- Reordering through drag and drop.
- Better navigation through code by means of code browser.
- Line numbers have been introduced for the sophisticated handling of code.
- Integrated reindent.py support.
- Scroll bar for scrolling horizontally.
- Execution, editing and debugging support for Cython.
- For the Django framework, inbuilt support is offered.
- IDE allows the execution of external applications internally.
2. Sublime text
It is one of the most popular python code editors. It is a cross-platform code editor. It holds a large and classified set of python extensions and supports python code. The sublime text offers support across various python environments. All packages used in the sublime text are written in python only. The key features of sublime are as below,
- Files’ symbols and lines can be very instantly navigated in sublime.
- “arbitrary commands can be very quickly invocated.
- Multiple selected areas can be simultaneously edited.
- Application programming interfaces supporting python are offered here.
- Project-specific preferences.
- Ability to customize platform related and project-related settings.
- Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, and Linux) and Supportive Plugins for cross-platform.
- Text Mate support which allows multi-language grammar support.
- The Windows layout is very much configurable.
- Syntax checking is very much configurable.
- Flexible highlighting of errors.
3. Atom
It is an open-source text editor for python. The Atom editors are easily hackable. Community-based python installation allows python development in ATOM. The various feature providers in ATOM are as below,
- Jedi for Definitions, Completions, Hover, References, Signature Help, and Symbols.
- Rope for Completions and renaming.
- pyflakes linter majorly error deduction.
- McCabelinter is used to check the complexity of the code.
- pycodestyle linter is used for checking files.
- Pylint linter for majorly error deduction.
- pydocstyle linter for docstring style checking.
- autopep8 for formatting the code.
- YAPFfor formatting the code.
4. Repl.it (Online editor)
Repl it is an online compiler and editor for python. Use these kinds of online editors allows the need for the installation of python in the system. The site offers IDE’s for many programming languages, and python is one of the major languages offered. It’s a flexible and easy use environment. The only dependency is the default availability of the internet will be expected. Building and mounting large and complex python projects are not very much possible through this online compiler, but on the other hand, they hold the intern ability to support even mid-level applications.
5. Pycharm
Pycharm is another open-source editor. There is also an enterprise version of the same. It is one of the most preferred IDE by developers; this happens because of its simple and powerful editor substance. Some among the major features are listed below,
- Integration of linter, Assistance in code, error, and syntax highlighting.
- Flexible code navigation properties.
- Easier jumping between various elements of code like classes, functions, and methods.
- Refactoring.
- A classified set of web frameworks are supported; the key among them are flask Django.
- Python debugger is implied as a part of the coder.
- Extensive code coverage from a unit testing perspective.
- Better version controlling and flexible user interface.
6. ERIC
Eric is an integrated programming environment. It is a fully-featured IDE, so it offers a large set of attributes for project development and coding. The primary development language used for code development in eric is python, almost all combinations of platform and programming can be mixed up, and yet eric offers stable support; some among the frequently applied combinations are below Microsoft Windows platforms, PyQt 5 or PyQt 4 projects Python 3 or Python 2, and, Qt 5 or Qt 4on macOS and Linux. Some among the key features of ERIC is as below,
- Numerous number of editors specifically for python.
- The Windows layout is very much configurable.
- Syntax checking is very much configurable.
- Flexible highlighting of errors.
- A broader scope of the search can be implied; eric search functionality is largely impactful and advanced. It is such powerful that even a project level search and replacement can be accomplished.
- Class level browser.
- A graphical debugger is integrated for python development which allows debugging of even multi-threaded applications.
- Automatic code checkers.
- The source code documenting system is also a part of the eric.
- Allows execution of python code with the necessary command line parameters, which help to happen unit testing.
- The advanced version control system.
- Largely advanced project management attributes with a self-updating notes list.
- Holds a built-in browser for web usage.
- For the Django framework, inbuilt support is offered.
- IDE allows the execution of external applications internally.
- Autocompletion and syntax highlighting can be achieved.
Conclusion
The process of choosing the editor acts as an individual choice of the programmer. The developer, based on the flexibility and necessity, pics the development environment of his choice. It’s always preferable that the beginners in the language must keep a hold on environments with fewer customizations.
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