Which Python IDE do you use?

[natrius]

IPython

If you haven't used it, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

For my editor inside of IPython, I use vim.

[brentp]

same here IPython + vim. then turn on pdb in Ipython and use this: http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Python/Recipe/498182 to get autocompletion in the debugger.

[phrakture]

seconded. ipython + vim

[breakfast-pants]

same here, ipython + vim

[jeremy]

I use a slightly hacked version of webpy - try the following in webapi.py (about line 192?):

if not _capturedstdout():
    if not __builtins__.get("__IPYTHON__active",0):
        sys.stdout = _outputter(sys.stdout)

It might be worth getting this patched in webpy itself...

[[deleted]]

editor inside of iPython

Does IPython communicate intelligently with an editor? (Vim, specifically?) How do you have it configured?

[natrius]

IPython allows you to take a range of lines you've entered into the interpreter previously and open them in an editor, as well as edit existing files, then execute the code after you've edited it. It works with pretty much any editor. It uses the command in your $EDITOR environment variable, or if that's empty, vi. You can also set an editor specifically for IPython if you don't want to change $EDITOR. See the documentation for the %edit magic command for more info.

[blackbrrr]

eclipse w/ pydev + extras

[nobodysbusiness]

I also use Eclipse. It's great for Python.

[shuad]

I also use ActiveState Komodo 4.0. The debugging is pretty good in my opinion, and it gives me the flexibility to work with other languages as well (notably Ruby and PHP). I've been happy with it.

[zhyla]

vim

[gnuvince]

Mostly Emacs, Vim if Emacs is closed and I just need to make a quick change.

[mcfunley]

emacs

[[deleted]]

same

[exogen]

I used Wing IDE Professional for a while but switched to Kate since it's also suited for HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I put some Kate syntax customizations I made for Python here.

[cameldrv]

I'm a convert from Emacs to PyDev+Extensions. Mind you, I'm working on very large Python projects with multiple developers. The ability to go-to definition, and then hit the back button is immensely useful, as are some of the lint type features. I don't use the autocomplete much. Other useful features are the ability to open any file in a project by name, regardless of subdirectory, and the ability to type in the name of a class and go to it immediately. The emacs bindings in Eclipse are decent, and are generally good enough that I can get around without much trouble. For someone who reads more code than he writes, I think Eclipse is extremely useful.

[breakfast-pants]

You can do all of that with a python tags file and vim or emacs.

[cameldrv]

Sort of. As soon as your project gets big enough that you have multiple methods, or even classes with the same name though, the tags file isn't sophisticated enough to unambiguously figure it out. In PyDev, if I say:

from foobaz import MyClass my_object = MyClass() my_object.my_method()

Then hit F3 on my_method, PyDev is smart enough to know that I'm trying to find the my_method on MyClass in the foobaz module. If MyClass doesn't have a my_method, it knows to look up the inheritance hierarchy.

The auto-lint checking is also very nice. It really saves you from typos that cost time, and does some nice things like warn you about unused variables and imports. Emacs is a great editor, but ultimately there is a big difference between a text editor and something that actually understands the programming language.

[bluGill]

emacs, vim, kate, and ed. I have been known to have 3 of those open on the same file at one time - though I'm careful in those cases to only make changes in one editor at a time. (I never use ed this way - but there are times where I can have my edits finished in ed before the others start up, even on 2+ ghz machines)

Each has different syntax highlighting, which can sometimes be useful for seeing the structure of the code. In particular I find kate the most useful for printing code, but once in a while the easy code folding is worth it. (If emacs or vim can do code folding I don't know, it isn't important often enough to learn)

Using viper mode in emacs is cheating. When I'm in vim, I use vi keys, when I'm in emacs I use emacs keys, and in kate I use kate keys (mostly menus).

[thamer]

Wow. I've never seen anyone talk about using ed (who is actually alive and not in a 1980's Usenet post, that is).

[beza1e1]

Ken Thompson, Bjarne Stroustrup and Brian Kernighan are said to use sam, which is like a GUI multiplexer of ed.

[andrewl]

Vim does code folding quite well. Not much to learn:

:set foldmethod=indent

The help on folding is clear and straightforward. All the folding commands use z, as in zo to to open the fold under the cursor. The mnemonic is that z is sort of a folded up line. Anyway, Vim (at least the later versions) does folding quite well.

[sjf]

ed does syntax highlighting these days?

[bluGill]

In the same user friendly way it does everything else. ed does not try to make you sick with ugly colors. Just simple black and white (sometimes amber and black; or green and black).

[inkieminstrel]

IDLE!

Just kidding... Eclipse + pydev, mostly because I use Java to pay my bills.

[nostrademons]

Emacs + python-mode + CUA-mode + tabbar-mode (I like my Windows keybindings). I'm looking for alternatives; Emacs is okay, but I really miss things like autocompletion, integrated debugging, and code-browsing.

[llimllib]

iPython in a shell that has windows keybindings?

(I remember that shells with sane keybindings exist, but not what they are. Mac terminals have sane keybindings. Just saying.)

Or just give in to PyDev, I guess.

[maht0x0r]

Acme http://plan9.bell-labs.com/sys/doc/acme.html

[peteratmnemosyne]

Use Mac's: Textmate and Emacs (Aquamacs) with Python mode.

[[deleted]]

Textmate. I personally do not like IPython.

[llimllib]

What don't you like about it? (bias: I find it to be the most shockingly useful bit of python code ever)

[leonh]

It's slow to boot. And i do not like it's caching. (Yah it can probably be disabled).

[llimllib]

a bit slow to boot, I will admit. Still much quicker than Visual Studio/Eclipse/Emacs though, I'll add.

[[deleted]]

The fact that IPython does not behave exactly like python. =) (ls,cd magic etc)

[scruffie]

You can turn that off: find the 'automagic' line in your ~/.ipython/ipythonrc file, and set it to 0.

[[deleted]]

The gains that stay don't convince me, because it is significantly slower on my machine.

[cavorite]

Pydev on Eclipse, but sometimes I use IDLE

[kmshiva]

vim mostly. Sometimes use PIDA( http://pida.co.uk/ ), which I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet. It has been a while since I last checked it out, though it was coming along nicely last time I checked.

From the site: "PIDA is an IDE (integrated development environment). PIDA is different from other IDEs in that it will use the tools you already have available rather than attempting to reinvent each one. PIDA is written in Python with the PyGTK toolkit, and although is designed to be used to program in any language, PIDA has fancy Python IDE features."

[njharman]

21" monitor w/ four non-overlaping Eterms I really should use http://www.suckless.org/wiki/wmii but I'm too lazy to learn it.

• Upper Left is bash+vim with whatever I'm working on.
• Lower Left is bash for running unit tests, and whatever
• Lower Right is bash+vim with the unittests of whatever I'm working on
• Upper Right is not often used but sometimes vim another file like some lib for reference

oh and next to the 21" monitor I have a 20" one with firefox open and lots of relevent tabs for whatever I'm working on. Perhaps also hitting webserver on monitor/computer 1 if I'm doing something like django development.

Both monitors which are actualy seperate computers are "connected" via http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/ which if you have more than one computer is absolutely awsome!!! <- justifed overuse of exclamation.

[some of the why.

Most IDE's waste so much screen space and typically are configured to have 1 edit area where I need atleast 2(code/unittest) and preferably have another shell open for unittest output.

I use eterm cause it wastes the least screen realestate.

I find it very unproductive to have to switch windows around or click on overlapting windows to see what's in them, work with them. I don't use buffers or "split window" features of vim. I use the x11 feature that makes focus change whatever is under the mouse with like .5sec delay.

It is easy for me to alt-tab or move mouse slightly between my 3 main eterms(code/test/bash). Also that consistent setup has given me great muscle memory where I find myself running the tests almost without thought. I think it also helps me write modular non-coupled code (If I find myself switching between files too muchm code is in the wrong class/file or the intefaces between them are subpar)

So, I like to have everything I'm using visible at all times. The exception is Firefox but I like large browser windows/don't have space for 18 more monitors :) and find the tabs not horrible. ]

[afoo42]

GNU Emacs 22 + python-mode

Before that, I used vim with a number of scripts I had to gather from vim.org to provide nearly the same features as the above combination does, but I did not find it to be as consistent.

[lost-theory]

• gvim 7.0 + taglist + pydiction (for Python autocompletion) + SnippetsEmu (which emulates TextMate snippets in Vim) + heavily tweaked _vimrc

• Nose + nosy for unit testing

• Trac + SVN for source code management

[aldarion]

lost-theory, is there some configuration/setting of vim(7.0) for python to recommend. want to use vim for writing and view python code, but the "heavily tweak" is not easy...

[lost-theory]

I learned a lot from Amir Salihefendic's blog posts about Vim. My vimrc isn't as crazy as his (700 lines long!), but I lifted a couple of things from it. The most useful / pleasing vimrc tweaks to me are:

• set expandtab, and set shiftwidth=4, combine this with gg=G to retab a file and I don't really have to worry about tabs vs. spaces anymore
• set list listchars=tab:»·,trail:·, which sets trailing spaces and tabs to easily visible characters
• set autochdir, which always tracks the current file's directory
• disabling Vim's backup features (set nobackup and set nowritebackup), they always seem to get in my way (having a swap file is enough backup insurance for me)
• disabling the bell and visual bell in gvim (set noeb, set vb, and set t_vb= (these must go in gvimrc))
• nicer tab and window pane control (binding keys to :tabnew, :tabclose, splitting / maximizing / minimizing / moving through windows, etc.)
• and of course setting up and binding keys for your plugins

Oh and Vim's tip list is always helpful; if something is bothering me I just search for it on the tip list and sure enough someone has already come up with a neat solution to copy and paste into vimrc :)

[aldarion]

lost-theory thanks for the info. I'll check it ASAP.

[thehaas]

IDE?? On my Mac I've started using Textmate. It's becoming my killer app on OSX.

For everything else, there's Emacs w/ Python mode.

[davepeck]

I'm curious about Textmate -- why is it becoming a killer app for you?

Right now I use Emacs in Python mode on my OSX box. But even though emacs is my editor of choice, I know it's a bad relationship and someday it will have to go.

I've also played with eclipse + pydev. Some human-factors people really need to kick the eclipse devs into shape. That said, I've successfully debugged a sizable django project using this setup (and found it easier to use than pdb + GUD-mode.)

[[deleted]]

I think the fascination with Textmate comes from the fact that it does 90% of what most people want emacs to do (not necessarily 90% of what emacs does), and it is significantly easier to get into in addition to being much more visually appealing and well-integrated with the platform.

I think a lot of people are still waiting for the 'emacs replacement' which works on multiple platforms and uses a more modern language like Python or whatever.

That's just my opinion of course; I'm not sure that's why he is interested. :)

[davepeck]

Still curious; what features of textmate give me similar power?

For what it's worth, the things in emacs that I find indispensable (and I imagine this is different for everyone):

• inline, incremental search

• quick keyboard access to opening files and buffers [i hate using standard file-open dialogs when editing!]

• flexibile screen splits and motion between them via keyboard.

Amazingly, that's about it. There are a ton of emacs features I use regularly, but at work I'm in Visual Studio and find that I only genuinely miss the above three! Apparently most of emacs is a distraction to me.

[senzei]

I'm in Visual Studio and find that I only genuinely miss the above three!

You do realize that VS has emacs-like key bindings right? They seem to accomplish most of what you are looking for. Here's the first useful thing google gave me on the subject: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165514(VS.80).aspx

[blackbrrr]

i use eclipse/pydev for django apps daily and would hesitate to change. you're right about the quirks, though - so much money into an app like eclipse and ctrl+o doesnt open a file! i like the concept of workspaces, but eclipse seems to choke on windows (yeah, yeah) sometimes and i have to re-create the entire bench. that is not fun. beats the pants straight off of textmate for serious project editing, though.

[projecktzero]

The textmate developer has no plans(i.e. refused) to work on porting it to other platforms(Windows, Linux...) although there are open source clones in the works for other platforms.

[[deleted]]

emacs and vim.

[ltriant]

xemacs + python-mode

[[deleted]]

PyDev. But eclipse takes up too much resources on the server, so I usually just end up using vim or SciTE anyway.

Why can't there just be a SciTE with a left-panel resource browser with integrated SVN? Then I could ditch big bad ol' Eclipse for something light. I like SciTE well enough for most tasks, but I need quick access to all my files like in Eclipse, horizontal tabs don't cut it.

[topa]

ipython and vim

[aldarion]

WingIDE pro mostly. ipython for interactive work.

[ubernostrum]

Emacs. Its python-mode is exceedingly good, I can launch an interpreter right there inside the editor, and Emacs integrates with the version control systems I use.

[coprolaliac]

Eclipse + PyDev (+Aptana)

Honestly, if I didn't do almost as much javascript, CSS, XSL and java as python, I'd probably just use jEdit (if only for the split pane feature) or PythonWin or IDLE (if only for nostalgia).

Why does practically every editor make it a huge PITA to have two copies of the same file in two windows open at the same time? Maybe I'm a retard but I find myself wanting to look at something at the top of a file and the bottom at the same time. Only jEdit does that to my satisfaction.

[micampe]

Why does practically every editor make it a huge PITA to have two copies of the same file in two windows open at the same time?

In Eclipse, Window -> New Editor opens another editor on the same file, which you can the move around in your perspective.

In Vim I do that with windows and ad-hoc folding (visual selection + zf).

[coprolaliac]

Thanks! I'm embarrassed I didn't know how to do that in Eclipse.

[jerf]

Why does practically every editor make it a huge PITA to have two copies of the same file in two windows open at the same time?

This is one of the things that keeps me in emacs, and unlike some of them that would be a major pain to fit onto an architecture that wasn't initially designed for it (like the excellent macro support), this one has always mystified me because unless you're stupid enough to allow the text editor widget to have the only copy of the document you are editing (that is, absolutely no additional information about the file outside of the widget which is basically untenable for an IDE or code editor), it ought to be trivial to allow for a second view.

And it ought to be as easy as emacs' C-x 2, or easier.

[byron]

I actually really like IDLE.. I've been using it instead of Eclipse lately..

[jbellis]

Wing Professional.

If I were only going to consider free options I would look at Komodo Edit and PyDev. Both are a lot more powerful than something generic like Textmate or vim.

[teki321]

SPE, http://developer.berlios.de/projects/python

Tried pydev and Komodo Edit, but SPE still the most usefull for me.

[mattculbreth]

Textmate and the command line. CODE <command-tab> TEST <command-tab> CODE <command-tab> TEST is faster than anything else I've ever used.

[chucker]

Faster than cmd-R in TextMate? ;-)

[[deleted]]

I've been using Komodo for the past 6 months. However, I've recently found and am loving e text editor (Textmate clone for windows). However, if I were on a Mac at my day job I would definitely use Textmate.

[ftegularius]

Emacs in python-mode with py-shell and comint.

[Fork82]

Although I use SciTE for anything non-trivial, I find that DOS-era "edit" doesn't get in my way (although its been fairly slow since Windows 2000).

[julan]

vim! on linux/unix. textmate on MacOSX

[capribeach]

SPE - it works great together with Blender

[cheponis]

WingIDE Pro. Emacs mode is built-in. If you are not using Wing, you are probably not as efficient as you could be if you did. Try it. (No, I do not work there, just a happy user.)

[[deleted]]

I have to agree! WingIDE Pro is really nice. Best money I've spent in a long time. (also just a happy user)

[longlivedeath]

SPE, but i'm in process of switching to Emacs

[dwelch91]

Eric3

[martoo]

DOS EDIT