8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide)

by Jon Fincher 15m 81 Comments basics editors tools

Mark as Completed Share

Table of Contents
Introduction to IDEs and Code Editors
Requirements for a Good Python Coding Environment
General Editors and IDEs with Python Support
Visual Studio Code
Eclipse + PyDev
Sublime Text
GNU Emacs
Vi / Vim
Visual Studio
Python-Specific Editors and IDEs
PyCharm
Spyder
Thonny
FAQs

Remove ads

Watch NowThis tutorial has a related video course created by the Real Python team. Watch it together with the written
tutorial to deepen your understanding: Finding the Perfect Python Code Editor

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 1/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Writing Python using IDLE or the Python shell is great for smaller tasks, but those tools quickly turn larger programming projects
into frustrating pits of despair. Using an IDE, or even just a good dedicated code editor, makes coding fun—but which one is best
for you?
Fear not, gentle reader! Here, you’ll demystify the myriad choices available to you. What works best for you will ultimately
depend on you and your process, but you’ll get the pros and cons of each option so that you can make an informed decision.
To make things easier, you’ll break your list into two broad categories of tools: the ones built exclusively for Python development
and the ones built for general development that you can use for Python. You’ll explore some Whys and Why Nots for each. Lastly,
none of these options are mutually exclusive, so you can try them out on your own with very little penalty.

Join Now: Click here to join the Real Python Newsletter and you'll never miss another Python tutorial, course, or news
update.

But first, what are IDEs and code editors?

Introduction to IDEs and Code Editors

An integrated development environment (IDE) is a program dedicated to software development. As the name implies, IDEs
integrate several tools specifically designed for software development. These tools usually include:
An editor designed to handle code (with, for example, syntax highlighting and auto-completion)
Build, execution, and debugging tools
Some form of source control
Most IDEs support many different programming languages and contain many more features. They can, therefore, be large and
take time to download and install. You may also need advanced knowledge to use them properly.
In contrast, a dedicated code editor can be as simple as a text editor with syntax highlighting and code formatting capabilities.
Most good code editors can execute code and control a debugger. The very best ones interact with source control systems as
well. Compared to an IDE, a good dedicated code editor is usually smaller and quicker, but often less feature rich.

Remove ads

Requirements for a Good Python Coding Environment

So what do you really need in a coding environment? Feature lists vary from app to app, but there are some core features that
make coding easier:
Save and reload code files: If an IDE or editor won’t let you save your work and reopen everything later, in the same state it
was in when you left, then it’s not much of an IDE.
Run code from within the environment: Similarly, if you have to drop out of the editor to run your Python code, then it’s
not much more than a simple text editor.
Debugging support: Being able to step through your code as it runs is a core feature of all IDEs and most good code editors.
Syntax highlighting: Being able to quickly spot keywords, variables, and symbols in your code makes reading and
understanding code much easier.
Automatic code formatting: Any editor or IDE worth its salt will recognize the colon at the end of a while or for statement
and know the next line should be indented.
Of course, there are lots of other features that you might want, like source code control, an extension model, build and test tools,
language help, and so on. But the above list gives you an idea of the core features that a good editing environment should
support.
With these features in mind, take a look at some general-purpose tools that you can use for Python development.
https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 2/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

General Editors and IDEs with Python Support

Visual Studio Code
Category: Code Editor
Website: https://code.visualstudio.com/
Python tools: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python
Visual Studio Code (also known as VS Code) is a full-featured code editor available for Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms.
Small and lightweight, but full-featured, VS Code is open source, extensible, and configurable for almost any task. VS Code is
built on Electron, a framework for creating desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
Installing Python support in VS Code is very accessible: the Marketplace is a quick button click away. Search for Python, click
Install, and restart if necessary. VS Code will recognize your Python installation and libraries automatically.

Pros: Thanks to Electron, VS Code is available on every platform, surprisingly full-featured despite having a small footprint, and
open source.
Cons: Electron means VS Code isn’t a native app. Plus, some people may have principled reasons for not using Microsoft
resources.
Be sure to consult the tutorial on using Visual Studio Code for Python development, as well as the follow-up tutorial going more
in-depth, to make the most of this setup. If you’re working in Windows, then check out the Setting Up VS Code section in Your
Python Coding Environment on Windows: Setup Guide.

Eclipse + PyDev
Category: IDE
Website: www.eclipse.org
Python tools: PyDev, www.pydev.org
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the open-source community, then you’ve probably heard about Eclipse. Available for Linux,
Windows, and macOS, Eclipse is the de facto open-source IDE for Java development. It has a rich marketplace of extensions and
add-ons, which makes Eclipse useful for a wide range of development activities.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 3/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

One such extension is PyDev, which enables Python debugging, code completion, and an interactive Python console. Installing
PyDev into Eclipse is straightforward: from Eclipse, select Help then Eclipse Marketplace, and search for PyDev. Click Install and
restart Eclipse if necessary.

Pros: If you’ve already got Eclipse installed, then adding PyDev will be quicker and easier. PyDev is very accessible for the
experienced Eclipse developer.
Cons: If you’re just starting out with Python, or with software development in general, Eclipse can be a lot to handle. Remember
how IDEs are larger and require more knowledge to use properly? Eclipse is all that and a bag of (micro)chips.

Remove ads

Sublime Text
Category: Code Editor
Website: http://www.sublimetext.com
Written by a Google engineer with a dream for a better text editor, Sublime Text is an extremely popular code editor. Supported
on all platforms, Sublime Text has built-in support for Python code editing and a rich set of extensions (called packages) that
extend the syntax and editing features.
Installing additional Python packages can be tricky: all Sublime Text packages are written in Python itself, and installing
community packages often requires you to execute Python scripts directly in Sublime Text.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 4/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Pros: Sublime Text has a great following in the community. As a code editor alone, Sublime Text is fast, small, and well
supported.
Cons: Sublime Text isn’t free, although you can use the evaluation version for an indefinite period of time. Installing extensions
can be tricky, and there’s no direct support for executing or debugging code from within the editor.
To make the most of your Sublime Text setup, read Real Python’s Python + Sublime Text setup guide and consider the in-depth
video course that shows you how to craft an effective Python development setup with Sublime Text 3.

GNU Emacs
Category: Code Editor
Website: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/
Back before the iPhone vs Android war, before the Linux vs Windows war, even before the PC vs Mac war, there was the Editor
War, with GNU Emacs as one of the combatants. Billed as “the extensible, customizable, self-documenting, real-time display
editor,” GNU Emacs has been around almost as long as UNIX and has a fervent following.
Always free and available on every platform (in one form or another), GNU Emacs uses a form of the powerful Lisp programming
language for customization, and various customization scripts exist for Python development.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 5/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Pros: You know Emacs, you use Emacs, you love Emacs. Lisp is a second language, and you know the power it gives you means
you can do anything.
Cons: Customization means writing (or copying and pasting) Lisp code into various script files. If a feature isn’t already provided,
then you may have to learn Lisp to figure out how to do it.
Plus, you know that Emacs would be a great operating system, if only it had a good text editor…
Be sure to consult the Python + Emacs setup guide to make the most of this setup.

Vi / Vim
Category: Code Editor
Website: https://www.vim.org/
On the other side of the Text Editor War stands Vi (also known as Vim). Included by default on almost every UNIX system and
macOS, Vi has an equally fervent following.
Vi and Vim are modal editors, separating the viewing of a file from the editing of a file. Vim includes many improvements on the
original Vi, including an extensibility model and in-place code building. Vim Scripts are available for various Python development
tasks.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 6/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Pros: You know Vi, you use Vi, you love Vi. Vim Scripts don’t scare you, and you know you can bend Vi to your will.
Cons: Like with Emacs, you’re not comfortable finding or writing your own scripts to enable Python development, and you’re not
sure how a modal editor is supposed to work.
Plus, you know that Vi would be a great text editor, if only it had a decent operating system.
If you’re going with this combination, check out the Python + VIM setup guide with tips and plugin recommendations.

Remove ads

Visual Studio
Category: IDE
Website: https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/
Python tools: Python Tools for Visual Studio, aka PTVS
Built by Microsoft and not to be confused with Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio is a full-featured IDE, in many ways comparable
to Eclipse. Built for Windows and macOS only, VS comes in both free (Community) and paid (Professional and Enterprise)
versions. Visual Studio enables development for a variety of platforms and comes with its own marketplace for extensions.
Python Tools for Visual Studio (PTVS) enables Python coding in Visual Studio, as well as Intellisense for Python, debugging, and
other tools.
Pros: If you already have Visual Studio installed for other development activities, then adding PTVS is quicker and easier.
Cons: Visual Studio is a big download for just Python. Plus, if you’re on Linux, you’re out of luck: there’s no Visual Studio install
for that platform.

Python-Specific Editors and IDEs

PyCharm
Category: IDE
Website: https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/
https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 7/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

One of the best (and only) full-featured, dedicated IDEs for Python is PyCharm. Available in both paid (Professional) and free
open-source (Community) editions, PyCharm installs quickly and easily on Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
Out of the box, PyCharm supports Python development directly. You can just open a new file and start writing code. You can run
and debug Python directly inside PyCharm, and it has support for source control and projects.

Pros: It’s the de facto Python IDE environment, with tons of support and a supportive community. It edits, runs, and debugs
Python out of the box.
Cons: PyCharm can be slow to load, and the default settings may need tweaking for existing projects.
You can learn more about using this environment in PyCharm for Productive Python Development.

Spyder
Category: IDE
Website: https://www.spyder-ide.org/
Spyder is an open-source Python IDE that’s optimized for data science workflows. Spyder comes included with the Anaconda
package manager distribution, so depending on your setup, you may already have it installed on your machine.
What’s interesting about Spyder is that its target audience is data scientists using Python. You’ll notice this throughout. For
example, Spyder integrates well with common Python data science libraries like SciPy, NumPy, and Matplotlib.
Spyder features most of the common IDE features that you might expect, such as a code editor with robust syntax highlighting,
Python code completion, and even an integrated documentation browser.
A special feature that you probably won’t see in other Python editing environments is Spyder’s variable explorer, which allows
you to display data using a table-based layout right inside your IDE. You might not have a need for this, but it’s still pretty neat. If
you regularly do data science work using Python, then you might fall in love with this unique feature. The IPython/Jupyter
integration is nice as well.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 8/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Overall, Spyder might feel more basic than other IDEs. You might want to view it more as a special-purpose tool rather than
something that you’d use as your primary editing environment every day. What’s nice about this Python IDE is that it’s available
for free on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it’s a fully open-source software.

Pros: You’re a data scientist using the Anaconda Python distribution.

Cons: More experienced Python developers might find Spyder too basic to work with on a daily basis and instead opt for a more
complete IDE or customized editor solution.

Remove ads

Thonny
Category: IDE
Website: http://thonny.org/
A more recent addition to the Python IDE family, Thonny is billed as an IDE for beginners. Written and maintained by the Institute
of Computer Science at the University of Tartu in Estonia, Thonny is available for all major platforms, with installation
instructions on the site.
By default, Thonny installs with its own bundled version of Python, so you don’t need to install anything else new. More
experienced users may need to tweak this setting so that Thonny will find and use libraries that are already installed.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 9/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Pros: You’re a beginning Python user and want an IDE that’s ready to roll.
Cons: More experienced Python developers will find Thonny too basic for most uses, and the built-in interpreter is something to
work around, not with.
If you’re interested in using Thonny as your Python editor, be sure to read Real Python’s dedicated tutorial on Thonny, which
goes into more depth and shows you additional features.

FAQs
So, which code editor is right for you? Only you can decide that, but in this tutorial, you’ve gotten a taste of your options. Before
you continue your quest for the perfect development environment, why not check your understanding of what you’ve learned in
this tutorial?
Below, you’ll find some questions that you can use to recap and solidify what you’ve just learned. After each question, you’ll find
a brief explanation hidden in a collapsible section. Click the Show/Hide toggle to reveal the answer. Time to dive in!

What are the key differences between an IDE and a dedicated code editor? Show/Hide

What core features should a good Python coding environment have? Show/Hide

What are some general editors and IDEs that can support Python development, and what are their advantages
and disadvantages?
Show/Hide

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 10/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

What are some Python-specific editors and IDEs, and what unique features do they offer? Show/Hide

How should a Python developer choose between different IDEs and code editors? Show/Hide

Join Now: Click here to join the Real Python Newsletter and you'll never miss another Python tutorial, course, or news
update.

So, what will you pick? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Mark as Completed Share

This tutorial has a related video course created by the Real Python team. Watch it together with the written
Watch Now
tutorial to deepen your understanding: Finding the Perfect Python Code Editor

🐍 Python Tricks 💌
Get a short & sweet Python Trick delivered to your inbox every couple of
days. No spam ever. Unsubscribe any time. Curated by the Real Python
team.

Email Address

Send Me Python Tricks »

About Jon Fincher

Jon taught Python and Java in two high schools in Washington State. Previously, he was a Program Manager at Microsoft.
» More about Jon

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 11/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Each tutorial at Real Python is created by a team of developers so that it meets our high quality standards. The team members who
worked on this tutorial are:

Adriana Dan Geir Arne

Joanna Kate Martin

Master Real-World Python Skills With Unlimited Access to Real Python

Join us and get access to thousands of tutorials, hands-on video courses, and a community of
expert Pythonistas:

Level Up Your Python Skills »

What Do You Think?

Rate this article:

LinkedIn Twitter Bluesky Facebook Email

What’s your #1 takeaway or favorite thing you learned? How are you going to put your newfound skills to use? Leave a
comment below and let us know.

Commenting Tips: The most useful comments are those written with the goal of learning from or helping out other
students. Get tips for asking good questions and get answers to common questions in our support portal.

Looking for a real-time conversation? Visit the Real Python Community Chat or join the next “Office Hours” Live Q&A
Session. Happy Pythoning!

Keep Learning

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 12/13
8/23/25, 12:55 PM Python IDEs and Code Editors (Guide) – Real Python

Related Topics: basics editors tools

Recommended Video Course: Finding the Perfect Python Code Editor

Related Tutorials:
An Effective Python Environment: Making Yourself at Home
Python Development in Visual Studio Code
What Does if __name__ == "__main__" Do in Python?
VIM and Python – A Match Made in Heaven
How to Install Python on Your System: A Guide

Learn Python Courses & Paths Community Membership Company

Start Here Learning Paths Podcast Plans & Pricing About Us
Learning Resources Quizzes & Exercises Newsletter Team Plans Team
Code Mentor Browse Topics Community Chat For Business Mission & Values
Python Reference Workshops Office Hours For Schools Sponsorships
Support Center Books Learner Stories Reviews Careers
Press Kit
Merch

Privacy Policy ⋅ Terms of Use ⋅ Security ⋅ Contact

Happy Pythoning!

© 2012–2025 DevCademy Media Inc. DBA Real Python. All rights reserved.
REALPYTHON™ is a trademark of DevCademy Media Inc.

https://realpython.com/python-ides-code-editors-guide/ 13/13