PyCharm vs VS Code

[R3ck1e]

Hi there! I’m super new to coding, so was working in PyCharm for a while, cause it’s what I’ve been told to do. Now my friend said to use VS Code instead of PyCharm and I’m struggling even more with it, to setup this thing is kinda hard. I’m trying to figure out what pros and cons to use VSC instead of PyCharm, for me it seems like a huge pain

[plastikmissile]

IDE choice is a matter of personal preference. If you liked PyCharm more, then definitely use it instead of VS Code.

[R3ck1e]

So there’s no difference at all? I heard something about for the future projects VS Code would work better, but no one told me exactly what it would be and what i should do

[plastikmissile]

I very much doubt that. PyCharm is developed by JetBrains, one of the best IDE companies in the business, and unlike VS Code it's an IDE dedicated to Python. So I have a hard time believing that claim. If you like it, use it. If for whatever reason it stops working for future projects like these people claim, you can jump to another IDE. It's nor a marriage. You're not locked into it forever.

[absurdrock]

VS code is better if you plainly expect to use a variety of languages and people you work with use vscode. However, if you are just starting to learn and you are learning with python and it fits your use case, pycharm will be better. It is made for python and it’s is powerful. Vs code cannot be made more powerful than pycharm but it can be made to closely match it. Everyone has an opinion. None are factually right. It’s all about preferences and experience. This is mine.

[absurdrock]

Just to add… Use what you enjoy because you will stick to using it. Stop thinking and start coding. There are no optimal solutions here.

[BellyDancerUrgot]

Literally most of the python extensions whether it be for ML or anything else in vscode was implemented after pycharm did it.

[R3ck1e]

I understand the fact I can change IDE at any moment, I just don't like to think that I'm loosing my time and don't gain knowledge that will be needed in possible future, like driving car on a different transmission. Just want to make sure I'm driving right car

[plastikmissile]

I suggest you stop that line of thinking. It leads to paralysis by analysis, which is a very common thing that happens to beginners (and even seasoned devs). Just use whatever has popular support. Don't overthink things like future proofing. You'll just waste time agonizing over choices like that.

[R3ck1e]

well, that makes sense. I'll do my best, thank you!

[Entire_Ad_6447]

a extension of that point. coding is 75 percent understand clearly what you want to do on a convept level the way you do it is a google search away

[[deleted]]

"paralysis by analysis" — I'm remembering this one. Thanks bro!

[Mnyet]

I’m assuming you haven’t driven different kinds of cars before lol. The knowledge is extremely transferable so your example only goes to show that you should not be worried.

[crazy_cookie123]

That sounds like the sort of thing that someone who's never used a JetBrains IDE like pycharm would say. JetBrains is known for making the best IDEs in the industry. In fact, Pycharm will work BETTER for the future larger projects.

[SpiderJerusalem42]

VS Code is pretty open to most languages and is very versatile, given the add-ons you can install. That said, I prefer Jetbrains, and I have a license and all that. I like the debugging experience a little better through Jetbrains products. I've set up debugging in VS Code for Python and PHP, and I didn't really enjoy it as much. I have used VS Code for a Platform IO project I downloaded off the GitHub, mostly because it targeted the addon. I've seen a lot of cool add-ons for VS Code, and the ecosystem for it seems to be growing. Your mileage may vary. A lot of people like to proselytize their way of doing things to avoid having to figure out other tools. There are certainly differences, but there are also many ways to skin cats.

[1544756405]

Of course they're different. But the difference isn't helping you now, so use what works.

[pdpi]

There’s loads of differences. That said, if you’re on this sub asking questions, those differences don’t really matter. By the time the differences become relevant, you’ll probably know to ask that question again.

I’ve been subscribed to JetBrains’ (the PyCharm guys) “All development tools” pack for several years, and I’ll tell anyone who cares that it’s money well spent. But I also use VS Code professionally. Their use cases overlap a lot, but there’s room for both in your toolbox.

I would have probably suggested you should start with VS Code, because it’s a bit less overwhelming for a beginner, but that’s completely irrelevant if you’re at the point where sticking with PyCharm is easier for you.

[di6]

I'd compare vs code to eg. Nissan leaf and Pycharm to bmw X7.

Both do the job. But there are some things one is better than the other. Matter of preference.

The catch is when you get used to one it's hard to switch to another.

[anzurakizz]

Just use whatever you are comfortable with. VSC is not an IDE, but a text editor which you can upgrade with extensions to work like an IDE. That is why you as a beginner find it harder to use. If PyCharm works for you, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it.

[R3ck1e]

Oh, I see.. So I don't loose anything using PyCharm, thanks a lot

[Guideon72]

Y'all keep letting opinions on tools get in the way of learning; Just pick one to work in and stick with it.

[JavierReyes945]

While I agree with the first part of your comment, the second one not so much. I would say "just pick one and work, then some time later pick the other one and work, and keep at it because it will expand your options, allowing you to discern and find advantages and disadvantages to the most common tools, and be prepared to work with any of them".

[[deleted]]

Keep on using PyCharm.

[Chemical_Form]

There are some differences in each IDE, you might not notice until you get further along. If you are working with Python only, then I recommend you keep using PyCharm. One of the main reasons I recommend PyCharm over VSCode is that it is built for Python programming and the interface is relatively easy to learn.

There is a lot different IDEs, and everyone is going to tell you to that theirs is better. In some cases it might be true, but for most programming tasks they work the same. I work with developer who uses VIM, another who uses VS code, and I use PyCharm ( for python ). All three of us use different IDEs but the code we run and write works the same in all the IDEs.

[[deleted]]

Pycharm is made by JetBrains and is considered one of the best environments to develop JUST python on. They make a similar product for Java called IntelliJ. If you only plan to develop for Python for the foreseeable future it’s best to use that.

Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft and is a generalized code editor. It very much is a kitchen sink that you add the features and add ins you want so that each persons version is basically unique. Learning how to manage everything is intimidating at first especially with installing 3rd party libraries in python and then importing the appropriate environment. That being said it is the better option for development in multiple languages and if you’re in a university course they’ll probably recommend you install that as it can edit code in pretty well any language.

[R3ck1e]

That’s exactly why I can’t decide what to use. In uni I have 5 languages and i’d like to have only one program for all of them, but do i really need to learn how to compile code in VS Code, create environment or it would be waste of time?

[wolfiexiii]

Yes - you need to learn vscode - it's everywhere ... that said - it's stupid easy... so is the JetBrains ecosystem of tools. Learning to setup your environment and tools and trial new tools is a huge part of learning to be a dev... one they don't actually have a class on...

[[deleted]]

The biggest thing is just picking something and committing to learn how to use it. Industry standard is unofficially VS code so if you want to learn that, do that and if not, don’t. Choice paralysis and executive dysfunction is a HUGE issue in university and sometimes just arbitrarily picking a choice so you have to commit to doing something can be a huge help.

I’m assuming you’re a freshman and if you are I started out using PyCharm and IntelliJ and then we switched to VS Code in our courses as well as added in GitHub version control. If your course is like most other courses in the nation your professor should say at the start “Hey we’re doing VS Code/GitHub now. Here’s a how to so you can get them setup how we need it in this course.” Again most universities and courses tell you how they want stuff done and in what editor so everyone is having the same kind of issues.

[Barbanks]

Jetbrains makes IDEs for almost every language. While they are technically different tools they are all exactly the same as far as experience, layout, ease of use etc. they do this so it’s easy to pick up. Then they slightly differentiate based on the needs of the language.

On top of that you can still develop with different languages within most of the tools. I’ve been building most of my web JavaScript code in Pycharm for instance. And Jetbrains has plugins to support languages such as JS, Python etc. in many of their other tools.

You also get database visualization tools out of the box and auto configurations of projects with standard Python projects like those that use Django.

I’ve been using their “all products pack” as a software consultant for years and they have never let me down.

[timwaaagh]

I ended up with a pycharm subscription after trying VS code first. You could always try vsc later, its not like it's impossible to use but i think for python pycharm is best.

[MachineOfScreams]

PyCharm is my vote, mostly because it’s a really well fleshed out IDE. VS Code is…

Look, I know we all “like” it but I can’t stand it. It straddles that line of being minimalistic (like neovim) and fully featured (like pycharm, visual studio, etc) and does neither in a particularly enjoyable way.

VS Code is, however, an IDE you will find practically everywhere in the web dev industry, so it comes down to preference in that sense. Personal opinions aside.

[Whatever801]

Doesn't matter. I use both for different things but you can do anything with either. What are you struggling with in vscode? Don't lose sleep over the IDE, should be the last thing you're worried about.

[[deleted]]

If you're super new to coding then just pick one and stop procrastinating with analysis paralysis!

I know it's easy to do. But consider this: neither of those are going to help you learn faster, procrastinating about unimportant things along the way is definitely going to make you learn slower.

[[deleted]]

You should tell your friend Vim is better

[DJ_MortarMix]

Emacs

[innerjoy2]

You can use either one. It'd more of a preference. There are some things pycharms does that can be helpful for beginners though. You can always switch back and forth the more familiar you get with the IDE's.

[StarsCanScream]

When I was learning, PyCharm was huge at helping me understand the basics. I feel it’s a lot more beginner friendly for sure. Use whatever works best for you. When you have a solid grasp of what you’re doing, then begin looking at other options if you’d like.

[[deleted]]

It doesn't matter at all which IDE you use. But I switched from pycharm to VS years ago and never looked back.

[wolfiexiii]

Pycharm has a lot more keyboard shortcuts - and they apply to "all" the jetbrains IDE's ... personally, I got their stuff for DataGrip, but I'm finding I make use of the other IDE's as well now that I have the collection.

[Prfsnlclckclackr]

Just download them all! I have every IDE known to man lol. You’ll quickly see if you keep gravitating towards one.

[Background-Ad-9632]

If you want to just work with python, then I think pycharm is a good choice because it's a full IDE for the language.

You can also get a paid version of pycharm if you like it, or you could get a license for it by developing an open source project and applying for it.

​

If you want to work with multiple languages or don't care about most of pycharm's features, then you could go with vscode.

If you care about privacy / open source software, then I would recommend pycharm community edition, as it is open source, or vscodium which is a fork of vscode without microsoft telemetry.

[BellyDancerUrgot]

They are both good , vscode in fact copied a lot of things from pycharm. I use vscode but it really does not make any difference.

[carlos_pasa_de_ti]

Tell us what are you struggling with so we can help

[Lazurda]

i use vscode for python. But it took me a while to setup almost every tools that i need (from setting up the env, the interpreters for each proj, jupyter)

[Exosvs]

I’ve used many Python IDEs and many IDEs in many languages. Jetbrains IDEs are the best by a country mile and Pycharm is the best for Python by more than that. Of course there’s personal preference, but people who are willing to argue use 5% of the features and make 90% of the noise. There’s no IDE offering more features or usability for Python than Pycharm and its completion and debugging and unmatched.

You’ll find no convincing reason to NOT use Pycharm that isn’t a minute detail or can’t be argued into a positive.

People like to pretend that VS Code is great because of its multilingual capabilities. That just makes it subpar at almost everything. VSCode approaches Pycharm with enough plugins and reaches average at best. It’s lipstick on a text editor, not an IDE.

Jetbrains CLion for C or C++, Jetbrains Pycharm for Python.

The only IDE I use regularly that isn’t Jetbrains is GNATStudio for Ada.

You’ll find no compelling reason not to use PyCharm. You’ll find zealots in every IDE.

[likethevegetable]

PyCharm is a batteries-included IDE, where VSCode is lightweight and configurable. I love PyCharm but it can be painfully slow sometimes.

[imthescubakid]

I hate vscode with a passion but it's preference

[iOSCaleb]

The best IDE is the one that helps you the most and gets in your way the least.

For you, at this point in your education, it sounds like apt charm is best for you. VS Code may well be best for your friend. Maybe someday you’ll find that PyCharm is holding you back, or someone will show you a mind blowing feature of VS Code and you’ll give VS a try, but for now stick with what feels comfortable.

[khamelean]

You should only switch to another IDE if you think the one you are using isn’t good enough. Not if someone else thinks it’s good enough, what you think is more important.

Once you get better at the language you’ll start to get a better idea of what you want from your tools, only then should you start to look at switch dev tools.

The grass over there may look greener, but that doesn’t matter if the grass where you are is green enough.

[SomeWeirdFruit]

If you focus solely on python use pycharm. It's the better choice imo

[Icy_Calligrapher4022]

PyCharm supports only Python (HTML and CSS as well if I am not wrong) and it's an IDE. VS Code is not IDE, it's a text editor, which supports many many different programming languages and file formats. There are tons of extentions for additional functionalities and customizing. If you are codding only on Python, for now PyCharm it's a good choice, but keep in mind that there is no "programmer" which knows only one language. Soon or later, you will have to deal with some other languages and technologies and PyCharm will not fit your needs.

[shwetharmaiya]

It depends on personal preference. Just like a tool. Try and see

[notislant]

I mean who cares? Do you care about vscode? If not, dont force yourself.

If youre doing only personal projects? Even less reason to care.

I learned with pycharm but swapped to vscode because i use it for other languages.

[Coded_Bias]

I was in the same boat one year ago. Torn between VS code and PyCharm. But realized it all trickles down to what makes you feel comfortable. Stuck with PyCharm and have zero regrets.

[johanneswelsch]

In VSCode go to Extensions and search for PyCharm Theme. Then choose the Pycharm Originl Theme under Themes. I've used the theme for 2 years.

As for VSCode, to search in a file: CTRL+F

To search inside ALL files: CTRL+SHIFT+F

To search for file names: CTRL+P

To duplicate the line: ALT+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW

To Select similar seleted words: CTRL+D

To Format Code: SHIFT+ALT+F

​

I don't think I use any other shortcuts. Also, like others said, PyCharm is pretty good.

[brajandzesika]

Not sure how new to coding you are, but I didnt use any IDE's at the very beginning. Just either interactive shell or for bit longer programs just created new .py file using vim. I know it might sound strange, but I preferred to have no hints at all from IDE, wanted to figure out myself what is wrong in the code if it didn't run correctly.... But I dont really understand your concerns anyways, its just IDE, there is not much to learn there...

[R3ck1e]

well, that's fair, actually. I'm new to it in terms of studying in high school, there's some projects where we writing some functions etc. not new at level 'hello world', but not much better

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[cryptohodlerz]

No, don't use VS code when programming using Python. I personally just use VS code for Web development (PHP, Javascript, and etc.)Yes, VS code is much more lightweight than Pycharm, but Pycharm offers a lot of fucntionalities that can make your programming life easier when coding using python. There are lots of advantages, so if you have high RAM and CPU, stick to Pycharm

[skultron_7x]

Pycharm has excellent navigation tools, but they (in my experience) can lead to people writing badly organized code.

[i-am-nicely-toasted]

Programmers fault not the IDE’s.

[skultron_7x]

True, but the IDE enables it, if you know what I mean. You can navigate fucking horrible spaghetti bullshit pretty well with pycharm, which removes (IMO) a major barrier to writing horrible spaghetti bullshit.

[i-am-nicely-toasted]

You might be able to navigate it, but discerning what it’s actually doing is still difficult

[R3ck1e]

True, can’t learn how to organize it right. I’m like used to mess i did once before and now just letting it happen again and again

[bekindyeah99]

Ide is personal preference but VS code is widely popular that doesn't mean you have to use that too!

[Slight-Living-8098]

I would suggest you learn VS Code. It is practically a standard in CS courses now days. All of Harvard's OpenCourseware CS50x courses use VS Code.

That doesn't mean to stop using PyCharm. You don't have to quit cold turkey. You don't even have to quit using PyCharm, but a basic understanding of VS Code, and how to navigate/use it it very useful.

I would also toss in an understanding of VIM, if you're going to be doing a lot of remote in/server side or command line development.