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9. Other IDEs and Editors

1. Introduction​

Python can be written in many different editors and IDEs (Integrated Development Environments).
We’ve already covered IDLE, VS Code, PyCharm, and Jupyter Notebook.
In this chapter, we’ll look at some other popular options you may encounter.

2. Thonny​

  • A beginner-friendly Python IDE.
  • Comes preinstalled with Python on Raspberry Pi.
  • Features:
    • Simple interface.
    • Built-in debugger.
    • Great for first-time programmers.
  • Installation:
sudo apt install thonny    # Ubuntu/Debian
brew install thonny        # macOS (via Homebrew)

3. Spyder​

  • A scientific Python IDE included in Anaconda.
  • Features:
    • Variable explorer (see your data in tables).
    • Built-in IPython console.
    • Integrated with scientific libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib).
  • Launch with:
spyder

4. Sublime Text​

  • A fast, lightweight text editor.
  • Features:
    • Powerful search and multi-cursor editing.
    • Many Python plugins available.
  • Installation:

5. Atom (Deprecated but still used)​

  • A hackable text editor built by GitHub.
  • Although officially discontinued in 2022, some developers still use forks.
  • Features:
    • Easy customization.
    • Good Python plugins.

6. Eclipse + PyDev​

  • Eclipse is a Java IDE, but with the PyDev plugin, it can be used for Python.
  • Features:
    • Code completion.
    • Debugging.
    • Refactoring tools.
  • Installation:

7. Vim and NeoVim​

  • Terminal-based editors, powerful once mastered.
  • Popular among advanced developers.
  • Features:
    • Highly customizable.
    • Plugins like coc.nvim or YouCompleteMe add Python support.
  • Installation:
sudo apt install vim

For NeoVim:

sudo apt install neovim

8. Emacs​

  • Another advanced, highly customizable editor.
  • Python support with plugins like elpy.
  • Installation:
sudo apt install emacs

9. Which Editor Should You Use?​

  • Beginners → Thonny, IDLE, or VS Code.
  • Data Science → Jupyter, Spyder.
  • Professional Development → PyCharm, VS Code.
  • Power Users → Vim/NeoVim, Emacs.

10. Next Steps​

✅ Now you know the wide variety of Python IDEs and editors available.
In the next chapter, we’ll dive into using the Python REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop).