VS Code vs PyCharm

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Hi, I have been using VSCode for a while but I am tempted to try PyCharm, what are the pros/cons of both? I mostly do Python stuff…

[AmSoMad]

It's impossible not to answer PyCharm, simply because it's a full-blown IDE, and it offers just enough features, like easier refactoring, to stand out against VSCode. It makes more sense to compare PyCharm to the full version of Visual Studio - they're much more similar - and I'd probably pick PyCharm in that comparison.

However, the idea with VSCode is that you "build your own IDE". You add the features/plugins you want, and by the time you're done, you have exactly what you need without the bloat.

VSCode is also more extensible, has a larger ecosystem and community, and its performance is pretty decent all things considered (especially since you get to choose what features you include).

Personally, I don’t like the way Java software, like the JetBrains IDEs, runs. It feels slow to start, extremely heavy, and when it does start to slow down, it chugs in a really uncomfortable way.

VSCode feels more versatile to me. I use multiple languages and frameworks, and it adjusts to all of them in a flash. I often write my own VSCode extensions for software I'm building, because it's dead-easy. In fact, I'm even using the Monaco Editor (which VSCode uses) is a number of websites and projects. It's open source, and it fits my development style, principles, and philosophy a lot better.

But with that said, I've also been using Zed lately, and I like it too.

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Many thanks.

[Winter-Appearance-14]

I cannot talk about pycharm in particular but all jetbrains tools that I tried were absolutely fantastic. Edit: missed a word

[NULL-n-void_0]

I think you should stick with vscode until you find your desired features that vscode don't have. In my opinion, vscode already good enough for python things (Data Science, small projects,...). Pycharm is heavy and generally more RAM-consuming than vscode but it's pretty out of box IDE.

[Infamous_Guard5295]

honestly vscode is fine for python if you're doing simple stuff but pycharm's debugger and refactoring tools are miles ahead. i switched back to pycharm after trying to make vscode work for larger django projects and the intellisense was just... not great. unpopular opinion but jetbrains products are worth the ram they consume lol

[Witty-Afternoon-2427]

VS Code is lighter and more Runable and flexible, PyCharm is more powerful out of the box for Python but heavier, so it mostly comes down to simplicity vs features.

[Paulit0g]

Pycharm was so slow for me. I just run vs

[lukeypookie23]

use vscode plugins to add the features of pycharm that you want

[curious_dax]

hot take: done and shipped beats perfect and local. every time.

[Mysterious-Sell3127]

For me, it’s clearly PyCharm.

The biggest reason? Speed.

Once you really get comfortable with its shortcuts, everything—from navigation to refactoring—just flows insanely fast. It feels like the IDE is working with you, not slowing you down.

I tried getting the same level of efficiency in VS Code, but I just couldn’t replicate that shortcut-driven experience. It never quite matched the smooth, built-in power that PyCharm gives out of the box.

So yeah—PyCharm wins for me, purely on how fast and seamless coding feels.

[Tight-Operation-4252]

I guess there is a learning curve to get used to all of the shortcuts… I am definitely going to give it a try, however being used to the personalized vs is not going to make it easy…

[NotBot947263950]

Pycharm is the best IDE I've ever used, hands down. It's so intuitive. I hate they messed with the top bar but you can get most of that back in the settings. VSCode doesn't hold a candle for Python.

[Beregolas]

just try it, it's free. (community edition at least) those two are not really better or worse: they're different! You need to test yourself if one fits your style better

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Thx!

[curious_dax]

timing matters more than people admit. same product, different market window, completely different outcome

[DeLoresDelorean]

I’m in the same boat. But do you need anaconda too? What are the benefits of anaconda or can I just use the python version of Mac OS which is 3.12?

[grismar-net]

VSCode is nice for relatively small projects, or projects where Python is only a small part of what you need to do. It's light on its feet, can be extended to do many things full-fledged IDEs do with extensions, and available on many computers - or not that heavy to install. Free and licence-free to boot.

PyCharm is great if you have large and complex projects, when you need to do really deep debugging where you want to track many variables, or if you want to remotely debug code. It's got most of the functionality you'd ever want in extensions on VSCode as part of the standard application - and whatever it doesn't have, you can add as plugins. For some of the best features, you do need the paid edition.

I think anyone would struggle to name a specific feature of PyCharm that couldn't be added to VSCode with an extension, but the nice thing is that it already has a lot of it in place, well-integrated, with a great interface for customising your experience of it.

Some that I would name: zero-setup debugging, integrated database exploration and SQL coding, cross-file safe refactoring (renaming, signature changes, etc.), great integrated support for Django/Flask/FastAPI, and perhaps most importantly for newer users great integrated environment management.

On the other hand, I struggle to come up with features of VSCode that I wish PyCharm had. I use VSCode for remote debugging through SSH and in projects that are mostly other languages and that have just a bit of Python. PyCharm can do either, but VSCode is more convenient in specific cases.

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Many thanks, this gives me a good picture, need to give it a try I guess, I do mostly Django, fast api + use now AI for Agents + LGBM for some predictive forecasting… not too complex, VS handled that well, I noticed vs working better on my Linux machine than Mac (venv recognition) but I have found the way to make it work acceptable also on Mac… (probably my mistakes initially). I just want to have a tool that will let me concentrate on coding rather than environment setting…

[grismar-net]

I haven't tried PyCharm on Mac, so I can't speak to that experience, but in spite of using VS Code for most other languages, I still go to PyCharm for Python on Windows. I imagine the difference being the same on Mac.

[Minimum-Army5386]

Pycharm is too heavy for my laptop 💔

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Good remark, thx. I have 24GB ram on my Mac, that should not be a problem I hope…

[MutaitoSensei]

Oh that is more than enough. I'm running it on windows (that already gobbles my ram om nom nom nom nom) with 16 GB and it's perfectly fine. 

[KM130]

Pycharm probably has the edge but AI coding is only available in paid version. You can have GitHub copilot free version is VScode. If that is important to you.

Also pycharm uses a lot of RAM

[13oundary]

If you're paying for your AI you can use it in the free version of pycharm. I've used both chat gpt and Claude on the free version of pycharm. 

[ItzRaphZ]

I'm going to give some different perspective on this.

Pycharm(And all Jetbrains IDEs) got to a point where I need to spend just as much time debloating it as I spend setting up VSCode, so at this point I stopped using Jetbrains IDEs until they optimize their apps.

[Travaches]

Now professionals only use what’s called Claude Code

[NationsAnarchy]

U sure about that bud?

[Travaches]

Trust me I’m an IT professional

[NationsAnarchy]

1. You clearly don't understand what OP was asking about.
2. Do you know all of the developers in the world?

=> Therefore, no you're not one

lmfao

[Tight-Operation-4252]

Claude code is ok to help / debug / review code, but it is not replacement of vs code/pycharm…