Python is one of the most promising modern programming languages. It is flexible and simple, its code is transparent and very clear: that’s why many programmers choose this language. Learning will be relatively easy even for those who have no programming experience, but everything needs to start from the basics - from simple to complex.
Development environment
IDR (IDE) - an integrated development environment. This is the name of a number of programs that programmers use in combination. Simply put, this is a program for writing programs. As a rule, the ISR includes some kind of text editor (although the programmer can do this in a third-party application and even “on the knee”), an interpreter and compiler (one or both of these components can be used), a debugger, and a build automation tool.
The environment can sometimes contain tools that provide integration with version control systems, and various tools that simplify the construction of a graphical interface.
Assignment of JIS
So why do we need a development environment if there are discrete programs? In fact, this is the optimization of the programmer's work, since when using the ISR, the time required to switch modes is reduced. However, there is a negative side: due to the fact that the development environment is a complex software package, it will not speed up the work, but even slow it down if the programmer has not been previously trained.
Installation
All the necessary files are on the official Python website, so first you need to go to the portal and download them - the program is absolutely free. On the main page, select the Download menu. Here you can select any desired version of Python, up to the original one. If you know exactly which version is needed, then find it in the list, if it doesn’t matter, then download the latest one: at the moment it is 3.6.1. It is also possible to choose a version that focuses on a specific operating system.
It is difficult to derive statistics which OSs are used by programmers working in Python. The development environment for Linux, Mac OS, Ubuntu, and Windows is all available on the Downloads page. Moreover, there is Python for specialized or old platforms, for example BeOS, MS-DOS and others.
After installing Python 3, you can begin to install the environment. You should open the IDLE file, it "lies" complete with the distribution kit, and follow the instructions.
Other options
When installing Python, the development environment is bundled, but the programmer can use others, depending on his preferences in the interface or for some other purpose. The advantages of many other development environments are that they are cross-platform - that is, they can run on almost any operating system, and you do not need to "jump" from one to another when switching to another device.
Quite popular is Eclipce (in addition to the PyDev plugin), which is often used not only for Python. The development environment is popular for Java and other languages, and after its development, the programmer gets an almost universal application. However, there is also the flip side of the coin: plugins help counters to configure the environment for any tasks, and there are countless them. Most often, this fact becomes the object of criticism of this environment, in addition, the use of Eclipce on a weak computer will be a problem. To work on Python 3, you must select the PyDev plugin, which is distributed with Eclipce under a public license.
Two favorites
Also, many programmers choose to work Eric. This IDE consists of a number of programs that are relatively independent, that is, the user can choose which components to install and which not. There is support for plugins that can be installed from the production environment itself.
Since Eric has a function for previewing Qt forms, this environment is convenient for developing Qt shells for applications. The disadvantage is the voluminous documentation that comes with the distribution file in the PDF file. The user will need some time to familiarize themselves with the rules of work.
If the IDEs discussed above were free, then PyCharm is a commercial product, but it also has the so-called Community Edition, which can be used for free. It is in no way inferior to its counterparts, and offers the user a code analyzer and a great toolkit for various tests, as well as debugging tools. The free version of the application does not have additional functions, which makes the scope of its application smaller, but many users do not need such advanced features, so PyCharm is quite suitable for many tasks.
Another project
There is another quite popular Python application among programmers. The development environment is called the Ninja IDE, distributed under the GPL - that is, it is free. Its functionality is quite powerful code editor and its locator, which allows you to quickly navigate the project files and move from one to another. The distribution kit is compact, nothing superfluous is installed with the application, the graphical interface is also made in the style of minimalism, it expands in Python. The development environment, however, is not suitable for everyone, since the functionality is not as wide as in paid IDEs.
Nevertheless, the Ninja IDE has high potential, programmers recommend it to those who have not yet decided on the toolkit. Even if the application’s functionality is insufficient, the user will be able to understand what is needed to work on its example, after which it will be easier to choose a different IDE. This Python development environment is for Windows, Lunix, and some other operating systems.
Flexible and paid
Wingware has released a Python app. The development environment is called the Wing IDE. You can download the distribution kit on the official Wingware website, but in addition to it, the portal has a lot of information not only on the product itself, but also on the programming language. One of the most important tools in any environment is the code editor, and in the Wing IDE it is powerful. In addition to such simple things as syntax highlighting, there is a function of code folding, which allows you to collapse individual sections that are not required at the moment. Pairs of brackets are automatically highlighted.
The application includes a variety of hotkey layouts that repeat similar ones from other environments, such as Emacs. This provides quick adaptation. Hotkeys can also be configured manually.
Choosing a development environment is an important task. With the right choice, working with Python will become comfortable and convenient.