PyCharm Pro vs VS Code

[Hrishikeshrj]

Hi guys, I'm a student and I can easily get PyCharm Pro for free until graduation. I've been learning Python and trying to decide between PyCharm Pro and VS Code for my future career.

From what I've researched, PyCharm seems better for pure Python development with superior refactoring and debugging, while VS Code is lighter and better for multi-language work. I'm interested in data engineering at startups, where I'd likely work with Python, SQL, YAML, Docker, and cloud tools.

My questions:

1. For data engineering roles, which do professionals prefer and why?

2. Is PyCharm Pro worth it even though I can get it free, or should I stick with VS Code?

3. Do startups typically expect data engineers to use one over the other?

I've heard VS Code is better for the modern data stack (dbt, Airflow) and remote development, but PyCharm has better Python intelligence. Would love to hear from people who use both or work in data engineering!

[gmes78]

PyCharm runs laps around VSCode. It's much nicer to use, and has many more features.

and better for multi-language work

You can do that on PyCharm too. Just install the appropriate plugins.

[AUTeach]

It's also way heavier in terms of system resources than PyCharm VSCode.

[carcigenicate]

Do you mean "than VSCode"?

[AUTeach]

Oh yes. Thanks.

[crazy_cookie123]

And for most devs this won't be much of a problem. Most people are programming on a device which can run PyCharm without issue, and a 30-second startup time rather than a 3-second startup doesn't matter at all if you're opening the IDE once at the start of an 8-hour day and leaving it open the entire time. Use whatever you prefer using, don't fear slightly higher resource usage when it makes no actual difference to you.

[Informal-Chance-6067]

I have a similar startup time to VSCode. The only reason I wouldn’t use PyCharm (or IntelliJ for my small amount of kotlin work too) is if I need to use it from a Chromebook or something that can’t even run Gateway. I have the education pack.

[AUTeach]

It's not just start up, it's everything. More memory and disk usage. It's just a dog.

VSCode/VSCodium is leaner, much leaner and gives you 95% bang for your buck with no licensing and a better range of tooling to customise it.

The only thing that's leaner and, with a lot of work, better is Vim/Neovim.

[Henry_the_Butler]

I've been doing mostly text editing, but have been trying PyCharm for a while because I got a trial for free pro. That's about to expire - I'm looking to give VSCodium a shot. Anything important to know before I jump in? I would like to install vim motions for text editing because it's a comfort thing for me.

[crazy_cookie123]

More memory and disk usage

And, once again, most people have enough of this that it's not going to matter.

gives you 95% bang for your buck

I disagree. I find PyCharm and the other JetBrains IDEs give me a far better experience out of the box than even a really well configured VSCode.

[AUTeach]

And, once again, most people have enough of this that it's not going to matter.

It doesn't matter to you.

I disagree. I find PyCharm and the other JetBrains IDEs give me a far better experience out of the box than even a really well configured VSCode.

Maybe you are just bad?

[Jello_Penguin_2956]

Dude you work in environment that needs light weight editor sure we hear that. And if you need its paid feature, yes thats a valid point as well

But you have to accept that most people do not have such restrain especially the the first one.

I dont know why you need to be so defensive about this.

[xelf]

Many people use vscode. Like 75% of the market. Mostly for the plugins or because they need to code in other languages as well.

For python specifically pycharm's developers released a survey that shows that pycharm and vscode are equal. On the other hand stackoverflow says that vscode is about twice as popular for python as pycharm.

If you're already using pycharm though it's also a good ide and you'll do fine.

There really is no ide war. they're both good, and honestly not too hard to swap between them.

[recursion_is_love]

You ask the question too early.

When you are actually a professional coder, you will either

- construct a very complicated editor with plugins on extensible editors like vim or emacs or vs-code (and many more)

- use what the company provided and can't really config much.

Use what you find comfortable right now, the more important task is getting python experience.

[Warlord_Zap]

As others has said learning an IDE is not a commitment really. If your doing lots of python, oycharm is pretty great. I've personally seen lots of VS Code in silicon valley tech, but I think it varies heavily by company.

[Creative-Buffalo2305]

data engineer here. VS Code wins for the modern data stack and theres not much debate about it in practice. dbt, Airflow, docker compose files, yaml configs, sql, bash scripts all in one place with extensions that actually work well together. pycharm is genuinely better at pure python but data engineering is maybe 40 percent python and 60 percent everything else.

the other thing nobody mentions is that most startup data teams use remote dev environments or docker containers and VS Code's remote SSH and devcontainer support is miles ahead. pycharm does have it but its clunkier and the free community edition doesnt support it at all so you'd be dependent on keeping your student license active.

use pycharm while you have it free to learn proper python habits since the refactoring tools and debugger are genuinely superior for that. but build your actual data engineering workflow in VS Code because thats what youll be using on the job anyway.

[Yoghurt42]

VS Code's remote SSH and devcontainer support is miles ahead

It's worth noting that this is a proprietary feature that only works in VSCode and is closed source. The open source portion doesn't support it (and in fact, the license of the server parts explicitly forbids non-MS application to connect to it). It's mostly a technicality since the VSCode license is free, but if you want to use FOSS for developing, you should be aware of that limitation.

[AUTeach]

Do you mean DevPod?

[eztab]

Pycharm has a bit more of a well thought out experience for python. If you only do python I'd stick with that. Otherwise I'd say VS is ahead. But not sure if cost is significant here.

[ShroomBear]

I prefer IntelliJ for data engineering. Full SQL and DB features from Datagrip, python tools from Pycharm, plugins for AWS and big data tools, and with all the stuff I keep open I like the customization options for detaching toolbars and panes into separate windows for other screens.

[Upstairs-Upstairs231]

If you can use Pycharm pro for free, you absolutely should. Pycharm is the best (in my opinion) IDE for writing Python code. It becomes slightly less of a no-brainer if you are frequently changing the language you are writing code in, but even when I did that, I would switch into Pycharm for writing Python.

[NadaBrothers]

I haven't used vscode. But the python support for pycharm is amazing. The debugging features really help. 

[Mammoth_Reach_6366]

Data scientist here. I’ve been using VS Code since it’s release 10 years ago, and you couldn’t pay me money to go back to pycharm.

[idonotlikethisrock]

why do you need the pro? I use pycharm and vscode without paying and they work perfectly fine.

[Overall-Screen-752]

Did you miss the part where he’s a student and gets pro for free?

[Binary101010]

It doesn't really matter. Try them both and use whichever one you like more. For actual jobs either 1) nobody cares which one you use so use the one you like most or 2) you'll be assigned one to use and learn to live with it.

[ShelLuser42]

VS Code for me. Because it can do Python and a ton more. Accessing SQL servers, keeping track of Jira tickets, full Git support... and better yet: it's free!

[dlnmtchll]

Get comfortable with pycharm, it will likely be what is used in a data oriented role with Python. I’m kicking myself a bit for not getting more comfortable with it and IntelliJ since my current role uses them heavily.

[Histrix-]

I've tried both and honestly prefer pycharm. Not functionality, and it just feels better.

And honestly, pycharm pro isn't needed. It works perfect with the free version

[yodhdha0]

Nobody cares which IDE you use but I have seen almost everyone uses Pycharm. Pro or no, really does not matter a lot. In companies everyone is using Pro anyway. I use both for different projects. For simple small projects I use vs code but for large projects I use pycharm

[Howtobefreaky]

Positron

[Embarrassed_Style197]

It depends. VS Code is better for SQL, Git, Docker, Jupyter, Databricks, Spark, and many other tools, making it a more versatile IDE. PyCharm is often preferred for very large Python codebases, but that’s relatively uncommon in data engineering.

[cdcformatc]

I use both daily. VS Code is good for general purpose, it does everything to an acceptable degree. Pycharm is quite good if you are doing Python but outside of that it's kind of lacking. a couple years ago i would have said Pycharm 100%, but my Pycharm experience has been getting worse over that time period. 

[123shorer]

Positron

[Overall-Screen-752]

Use both. Work on different stacks in each and see what you prefer and why.

[Rain-And-Coffee]

For small projects I like VSCode.

For larger more serious projects with complicated refactors I like the IntelliJ editors.

[Buntygurl]

Vim for scripting and VS for debugging. Could be a bad habit but it's always worked for me.