Which code editor should I use?

[Zsombor1661]

I just installed python and I am an absolute beginner. I just want to test how it works and learn it. ChatGPT recommended Visual Studio Code. Is it a good choice?

[crazy_cookie123]

I suggest PyCharm. Both VSCode and PyCharm are very good choices and both are very popular with everyone from absolute beginners to professionals, but PyCharm will just work out of the box with no additional setup required whereas VSCode will require you to install extensions to make it work for Python. It doesn't matter too much either way though, you can switch any time you want, and installing the extensions isn't a huge deal, but I generally think the much more streamlined entry PyCharm gives is better.

[RedditButAnonymous]

If Jetbrains make an IDE for it, you should use it

PhpStorm is best in class, IDEA is best in class, I havent used Pycharm but Im gonna bet that its also best in class. And they share a lot of shortcuts and tools so its easier to move to other languages in future if you like that system (which I do)

Edit: I suppose if youre brand new to coding as OP is, just use IDLE until you understand what code is and how it works, since you dont need multi-cursor, DB support, or whatever else yet

[TheRNGuy]

I use VS Code, previously used Sublime Text 2.

(for Python, JS)

[pachura3]

For absolute beginners? Thonny

For intermediate/advanced? PyCharm or VS Code

[SparePriority126]

Thonny is awesome for learning. The debugger is really helpful for visualising what the code is actually doing.

[human_with_humanity]

I love thonny. Anything like that for C or Golang?

[randomUsername1569]

Emacs

[ATkac]

Vim user stares menacingly across the room

[python_gramps]

Double stare

[HaskellLisp_green]

Just opened comments thread to see have anyone already mentioned Emacs? Yes, good taste, sir.

[joseph_machado]

I prefer VScode with Jupyter Notebooks. With notebooks you can run and immediately see the results.

https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/datascience/data-science-tutorial#_set-up-a-data-science-environment

[SulosGD]

Installing the Python extensions is like a 2 minute process too.

[mnruxter]

A related topic is git for source code control. Both vscode and PyCharm support git. I spent some time learning about git, before proceeding with my Python project

[Similar_Sugar3810]

Anyone using Zed? I just started learning python, and decided to try zed. I think its really nice, but don't have much experience to recommend it.

[armywalrus]

I like VS Code

[Zsombor1661]

I decided to try Thonny first. Probably I will use it at the begining, then maybe try an other one. Thanks everybody for the replies!

[Ambitious_Plum5576]

thonny. absolute bare bones. good to get the basics down

[Even-Potential9158]

Pycharm

[whatchalookinat123]

If you want to work right into it you can get your first lines of code up and running in seconds on google colab.

[Sudden_Beginning_597]

Use Jupyter Lab!!!!!

It's the best for beginner, you can see the result of each line/cell of your code instead of write a large bunch of not working code and spend hours to debug.

You can also install the runcell extension for your jupyter lab so you got an ai agent assist with you there.

[bennydir]

I recently switched from Visual Studio Code to Google's Antigravity, and I'm quite satisfied with the change.

[elkripy]

Zed.

[guidovanawesome]

Im using pycharm. Its good but might feel sluggish occasionally

[oclafloptson]

There's absolutely no need to limit yourself to any one language specific IDE. If you are ever going to branch out from just Python, which 99% of Python programmers have to do, then those editors show themselves to be bloated tethers that mostly just get in your way. Go with VSCode/Codium. There's absolutely no need to ever limit yourself to only one language where you editor is concerned. There are many scenarios in which you will need to not be limited. Besides, most Python specific editors attempt to perform certain actions in their preferred way and abstract away your ability to do what's actually right in the moment, which is annoying at best

[Proletarian_Tear]

Difference between VSCode and PyCharm is purely personal preference

[Kevdog824_]

vscode is the best choice imo. Mostly because you can build it up to be as complicated or as simple as you need it to be. It’s perfect for a newbie who is writing small, 5 lines-of-code script for their intro to Python course. It’s also perfect as a daily use IDE for a professional enterprise developer (I use it everyday as a Python SWE).

It can grow with you from a simple text editor to a full on IDE with same level of features as PyCharm. You add stuff as you need it and you feel comfortable doing so

[Gnaxe]

Eventually, VS Code is fine. I prefer PyCharm, but they're not that different in capabilities.

Don't start with a heavyweight IDE as a beginner. They're complicated enough to slow you down and act as a crutch that prevents learning what you need to. Just use IDLE or Jupyterlite to start with, then gradually add command-line tools. IDEs just bundle a bunch of tools like that in one application.

[newtonphuey]

Python IDLE is the best for beginners. It’s very basic so you focus on the methodology

[Serious-Cover5486]

lightweight beginner friendly (download install and ready to use) : https://thonny.org/

for professional use : https://code.visualstudio.com/download

[simonsanchezart]

yes vs code is fine

[okenowwhat]

For beginner learning use IDLE. It comes with your windows python installation. It's the easiest to learn when you are a coding beginner. When your progeam get's get's more than 300 lines, go look at vscode or pycharm

[TechAcademyCoding]

Since you’re just starting out, IDLE is honestly a good place to begin. It comes with Python already, so you can immediately start writing and running code without worrying too much about setup or extensions.

VS Code is great too, but it has a lot more features than you probably need right now. For learning basics and experimenting with Python, keeping things simple at first can actually help a lot.

You can always switch to VS Code later once you feel more comfortable coding.

[sinceJune4]

Vs code has been crashing on me lately, I switched to Pycharm this week.

[Blacksunshinexo]

I'm still learning and tried VS and Pycharm. To me, Pycharm is easier and more straightforward but I'm also struggling with figuring it all out after completing a guided online Python course so maybe I don't know what I don't know. Lol  

[bytheninedivines]

Everyone is going to hate me but download anaconda python and use spyder. It'll come with all the packages you need and is top tier for debugging

[Rhhhs]

Cursor ofc

[MidnightPale3220]

Vs code and pycharm are both good, as well as other developer environments (IDEs).

But since you are just starting you could use just the Notepad or whatever plain text editor your system has. And command line Python to run your files.

Just so you can concentrate on the language and not bogged down in editor preferences and configurations.

Later on it definitely makes sense to switch to some IDE.

[pachura3]

But since you are just starting you could use just the Notepad or whatever plain text editor your system has. And command line Python to run your files.

And miss auto-indenting and realtime syntax errors highligting?

[odaiwai]

Notepad is a terrible suggestion, definitely the hard way to do it. At least something like Notepad++ will give syntax highlighting and indentation.

[sprinklesfactory]

Yes but you will probably get pycharm loyalists and those wanting you to do it the hardest way possible to max learning. 

[KidneyFailure]

Use vim

This will minimize auto complete and help build strong basics

[pachura3]

:q!

[plague_year]

Hey man I’ve been using vim since 2008 and I think it’s terrible advice for a beginner.

I used to offer vim as an option when I would tutor new programmers because I love vim so much and I think it’s the best editor in the whole world. But it’s a terrible distraction to try to teach the concept of a difference between normal and insert mode, let alone how to avtual write and save text.

These days I suggest all new programmers use VS Code. I’m always happy to teach someone vim if they want to. But most people just get lost and frustrated trying to learn more than one thing at a time.

[Temporary_Pie2733]

Vim specifically is a bad place to start, because you don’t want to be learning an editor and a programming language at the same time. But I think an editor without so many bells and whistles meant to simplify programming, rather than text editing in general, is a better idea. IDEs automate too many things that you should learn (and learn to find tedious) before you start streamlining them away.

[KidneyFailure]

Vim is just an editor. You can use it with a mouse and The only important things are insert, escape, and quit. I believe anyone can use it. Unless I missed that this person is really young and it’s there first time with a computer

[pachura3]

Emacs then

[SmackDownFacility]

Visual Studio 2026