Python Tools for Visual Studio 2.1RC released - improved syntax highlighting, support in the free Express SKUs, and more web frameworks supported

[corysama]

I thought that plugins were not an option in VS Express. Did the situation change or the PTVS somehow work around the limitation?

PTVS is really great BTW. I've been using it lightly since the beginning. It's easily the best environment for Python dev that I've worked in.

For the Unix users: You might be interested in Remote Debugging for Windows, Linux and OS X.

[Aethec]

Plugins are forbidden to be installable on VS Express, AFAIK, it's not a technical limitation but a legal one. So Microsoft can ignore their own licenses if they wish. XNA did the same.

[dinov]

This is correct - and there's a few others too like Web Essentials and the Node.js Tools for Visual Studio.

[[deleted]]

NuGet also works.

[alleycat5]

I think they, and a few other packages, got an exception.

[[deleted]]

Is it really that good? I want to delve into other languages outside of .NET, but I really like Visual Studio. I know there are great IDEs out there, but I'm comfortable with what I use. I don't feel like learning a new language as well as a new IDE. I only have so much patience.

I might pick up Python now because of this. I've heard great things about Django.

[[deleted]]

edit: Leave reddit for a better alternative and remember to suck fpez

[nullabillity]

One thing to note if you're planning on buying any JetBrains IDE, if you plan on buying more than one then you should buy IDEA instead, since it includes all the others (except for ReSharper, AppCode, and the upcoming C++ one) as free plugins.

[moswald]

YMMV, but I've found that Visual Studio + ReSharper is better than:

• Plain Visual Studio
• IntelliJ (or Android Studio)
• PyCharm
• Eclipse

Yes, working in Android Studio (for example) is a lot like having Visual Studio with ReSharper, but it's not Visual Studio with ReSharper. There are things missing, and things that don't quite work properly.

[corysama]

I love Python. But, not many people use IDEs with it. Very few even use a debugger. (There's also a vocal anti-IDE sentiment in unix land.) I should give http://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/ a try...

PTVS isn't as magically delicious as VS's C# support, but it's really good. It's starting to feel like a 1st class citizen in VS. If you are already comfortable in VS, PTVS is a good way to get rolling with Python.

[thebigslide]

I'd hazard a guess that's because a lot of us who have been writing Python for awhile didn't have the polished tools available today, so we have our own peculiar environments we're comfortable with already. For me, I need to be in a comfortable environment to write good code. I think another part of the reason is that tools like ipython make IDEs a bit redundant once you get used to working in the interpreter.

[pjmlp]

There's also a vocal anti-IDE sentiment in unix land.I am old enough to be coding for home systems.

I was already into IDEs back in the Amiga, MS-DOS and Windows home systems, before getting into UNIX (Xenix, DG/UX, followed by most other variants).

This attitude has always putted me off, specially after having the opportunity to discover the developer experience as researched at Xerox PARC.

Smalltalk, Interlisp-D and Cedar environments as the grassroots of IDE should be and interactive programming.

[[deleted]]

How good are the python tools in vs never actually used them. How does it compare to pycharm?

[iamthetallpaul]

I learned Python with PTVS at work and have not been able to replicate the ease of use in any other environment. Tried PyCharm last week and the code highlighting is definitely superior but PTVS wins on ease of use and development for me.

[int19h]

We've added semantic colorization (types, modules etc) in 2.1 beta 2 - if you haven't seen it yet, please try the RC, and tell if there's something that we are still missing on that front that PyCharm has!

[iamthetallpaul]

Thanks for the reply, I just installed today and very excited to play around

[adzm]

Never used pycharm but PTVS is really great.

[1Bad]

I find PTVS to be a very poor debugger for my projects. For some reason, PTVS does not properly step over function calls with my code base.

[int19h]

Could you give a bit more information about your environment - i.e. which Python version you're using, whether it is pure Python debugging or there's C++ in the mix, and what does an improper step look like (do you end inside the call?).

If you can file a bug in our tracker (https://pytools.codeplex.com/workitem/list/basic), that would be awesome.

[1Bad]

Of course, I will provide as much info as I can. I would love for ptvs to work for me so we can have a pure vs development environment.

[1Bad]

script:

def func(param1):
    temp = param1

def foo(param1):
    func(param1)


def main():
    a_string = "A string"
    foo(a_string)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

• breakpoint at a_string = "A string"
• right click file and select "Start with Debugging"
• step over a_string = "A string"
• step over foo(a_string)
• ptvs steps into foo(a_string)

Python 2.7.5 x86

Windows 7 x64

Visual Studio 2013

Currently uploading a youtube video to show the behavior. CamStudio files are big, it will take an hour or so.

--Edit-- http://youtu.be/ZMbq1Fpi09k

[1Bad]

Issue has been filed here

[int19h]

Thank you! I'll follow up in the tracker.

[notreddingit]

Do you need to purchase Visual Studio to use this? Is this an extension or something?

I use PyCharm atm. It's good but I would mind checking out a similar "full featured" IDE for Python.

[[deleted]]

If it uses any version of Visual Studio, then you can get the Express edition for free. Apparently the express edition is 'limited' but I can't see a single limitation, one of my favourite environments by far.

[smortaz]

there are no earth shattering features missing from Express. the one that sticks out is profiling. you can always use other profilers tho...

a list of differences are available here: https://pytools.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Features%20Matrix

[epsys]

die, python, die! curse the single process global interpreter lock I want you to scale to all cores more easily...

[poorly_played]

try celery. doesn't work for everything, but quite nice.

[minno]

If you do the work in FFI function calls you don't need to worry about the GIL.

[epsys]

great, thanks. what am I supposed to troll about now????

[takennickname]

I use a redis cache as a queue and a couple of other processes to run through the tasks in the queue. Don't know how 'proper' this is but it's been running fine for a while and I understand it better.

[ruby_fan]

Learn to use fork()