This article shows you when to use which of my top two Python editors: IDLE and PyCharm.
IDLE Best for Small Scripts
In 90% of cases, I’m using the out-of-the-box IDLE editor to write small scripts and Python programs. It’s lightweight, simple, and provides basic functionality such as syntax highlighting in shell and Python files.
To use IDLE, simply install Python and type “IDLE” into your operating system search bar. This should work for Linux, Mac, and Windows operating systems.
You can use an interactive session where the Python interpreter executes all your commands directly. Or you can create a new file with “.py” suffix to indicate that it’s a Python file — and execute the Python file at once simply by running the code.
PyCharm Best for Larger Projects
I know that many coders prefer other editors such as PyCharm. But I would recommend PyCharm only if you have larger projects with multiple Python files. As Python is a scripting language, it really depends on the application scenario whether I would use PyCharm or IDLE.
To learn more about how to set up PyCharm, follow this tutorial.
Summary
- If I want to execute a small program or script with one or two files using default libraries, I use the IDLE project.
- If I want to execute a larger program and use different external dependencies specifically for this project, I use PyCharm with a virtual environment to handle the different libraries.
If you have any other editor that beats my simple setup, please let me know by commenting below so that I can address it in a future article.
Where to Go From Here
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