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PyCharm vs VS Code: Which is the Best Python IDE
Today on the internet we have a large number of software options to choose from for Python programming language, such as IDLE, VS Code, Atom, Jupyter, Pycharm, etc. In this article, we will mainly discuss Pycharm and VS Code.
What is an IDE?
Before diving into the difference between PyCharm and VS Code, let us first understand what an IDE is. It stands for Integrated Development Environment, which is a software application that is used to develop software. Its main features include:
- Code Editor: editor to write the code
- Debugging: tools to detect errors in code and debug it
- Version Control: tools to maintain the code history
Together these features increase the productivity of the programmers by reducing the errors and provide an easy way to collaborate and control the history of the code.
PyCharm
Pycharm, developed by JetBrains is one of the most popular IDE for Python programming. It comes in two editions - the community edition which is free open-source and the professional edition, which is the paid version. The paid edition can also be used for HTML, JS, and SQL files. It can be installed on any operating system like Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Here are the main features of PyCharm IDE:
- Beginner friendly
- Code Completion
- Integrated debugger
- Version Control
- Unit test support
VS Code
Visual Studio Code is an open-source IDE developed by Microsoft. It supports multiple languages and one of them is Python. It is a lightweight editor which makes it faster than other IDEs. It can be highly customized as it has a number of themes and extensions. Like PyCharm, it can be installed on any operating system, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. The main features of VS Code Editor are -
- Open-source
- Lightweight
- Huge extensions availability
- Customization
- Version Control
PyCharm vs VS Code
Now let us compare both IDEs
| Features | PyCharm | VS Code |
| Developer | JetBrains | Microsoft |
| Language Support | The free version only supports Python but the Paid version also supports HTML, JS, and SQL files | It is general purpose editor which supports a large range of programming languages |
| Price | Free as well as Paid versions | Free |
| Performance | Use more system resources and is heavier | Lightweight and faster |
| Setup | Easy and does not require much time | Can be a bit time-consuming as you need to set up Python manually |
| Extensions | Limited extensions and plugins | A vast variety of extensions and plugins |
| Database tools | Built-in with the paid version | Can be added using the extensions |
| Customization | Traditional layout | A large number of customization options |
| Code navigation | Advance navigation with intelligent search | Good navigation but with the help of extensions |
| When to use | Best for Python-based projects |
Best when working with multiple languages |
Summary
Both Pycham and VS Code are really great IDEs for Python programming. If you are looking simple and straightforward IDE for Python, then Pycharm is the suitable option. But if you are working on multiple languages along with Python and want customization, then VS Code is the best option.
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