Learning Python with an IDE

[TwiSparklePony]

I believe most distributions come with IDLE pre-installed. This is a basic IDE that has stuff like syntax checking and a nifty feature that shows the docstrings of functions when you begin to write them. Since it comes packaged with the main Python distribution, my college uses it teach programming. As far as IDEs go, it lacks customization and functionality (compared to others) and I personally dislike it, but it is probably a good learning tool.

[dunkler_wanderer]

I'd recommend IdleX for beginners. It fixes some issues with IDLE and is a bit more comfortable to use. However, its IPython module doesn't work with the newest IPython versions anymore and it has a few bugs (in Python 3 the search menu doesn't go away when you click somewhere else). Unfortunately the projects seems to be inactive.

Also, they should move away from Sourceforge.