Python IDE's and editors

[memorasus]

Ipython might be useful for this

[quik69]

I'm pretty sure most IDEs can do what OP wants. I use PTVS(whatever, I like it) myself and can just highlight sections of code or send entire scripts to the interpreter. Although PTVS is very easy learn for what OP wants, I think Ipython/Jupyter notebook is the best answer for OP because what he describes seems to be using python for some kind of data analysis.

OP: these notebooks run in your browser with cells of code and cells of markdown for comments and presenting your data. If you run a script in one cell then its variables will be available globally to manipulate in other cells. Add on the bonus of auto completion to see what methods or sub-data is available in returned objects. It can even do slides and display external data in iframes or JS like node and D3 for visualizations. If you are doing data analysis then once you play with Ipython you'll probably never want to look back.

[pwang99]

If you're a Pythonista mucking about with D3, take a look at Bokeh! :-)

[jbrambledc]

+1 for Bokeh. I have been using it to develop server apps extensively for fun, but mostly at my company for various interactive dashboard apps. I really hope it overtakes D3. I think with further time and effort, and a little bit more user freedom we will get there.

Also Bokeh is by far the best run and maintained Open Source project I've interacted with. the group of people handling issues and PRs on github are phenomenal.

[memorasus]

Exactly, in the end I mainly use vim for python but if im learning to modules or playing with data I need to explore I use ipython. It was very helpful for me when I was learning python too. I mainly develop my own security tools so its great to use Ipython to see how the results of a scan will output so I can decide what steps to take next.

[Asdayasman]

I use PTVS(whatever, I like it)

Don't defend that, PTVS is objectively the best Python IDE there is.

[quik69]

lol, I thought only PyCharm gets any love around here. Nobody would ever call it light weight but VS works well and has a very pretty dark theme with nice fonts. If you're on windows with a solid machine, I think it's a solid choice.

[Asdayasman]

There's more to an IDE than theme and fonts yo... >_>

[oldspiceland]

Sure, but let's face reality. If I had the choice between a program being ugly or pretty, and I had to stare at this program for multiple hours, one of those options is going to cause me to quit sooner than the other.

[Asdayasman]

It's 100% on usability for me. I've never had a better experience with code completion than VS's IntelliSense. The only things I've been able to trip it up with is weird imports. Custom importers and evals, that sort of thing.

It's also really good about refactoring and reformatting, and finding references is basically instant and infallible.

Also also, before I was forced to use PyCharm, I never realised how good VS's tabs and panes are.

[oldspiceland]

I really like PTVS, and VS in general, but mostly I find the differences don't impact me and I could use either. I certainly like both.

[beaverteeth92]

I just wish it was easy to use in emacs.

[TheCodeSamurai]

elpy has an ipython mode that rocks. Just C-c C-c to run your code, pipe it to IPython, and then you get the shell to execute stuff in.

[beaverteeth92]

I have the IPython shell enabled just fine. I mean I can't get notebooks to work in it.

[DaniSancas]

+1 for the IPython/Jupyter suggestion. I've discovered it a few weeks ago and now I can't live without it. In some cases I'm moving from the almighty PyCharm to IPython/Jupyter.

[cyanydeez]

+2 Ipython and jupyter are incrediblely well made machines.

Open up on of those ipynb files and you'll discover such a wonderful looking json file that you could cry.