[Tutor] Recommended Python Compiler

[Danny Yoo]

On Sun, Jul 30, 2017 at 3:22 PM, George Sconyers via Tutor
<tutor at python.org> wrote:
> Hello all. I am getting started with Python and looking for a recommended compiler for an Ubuntu environment. I've been using gedit but don't get the benefit of auto-indentation and color coding of key words. It is laziness for sure but as the programs get longer I am increasingly OK with being lazy. Wpuld also like something that facilitates debuggig and stepping through code. Thoughts?


Hi George,

What you're asking for is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE),
not a compiler, which is an entirely different thing.


* An IDE is the program that you actively interact with to edit your
programs, explore relationships, do debugging, and run programs.

* A compiler is much more limited in scope: it's the tool used to
process your programs to be run.  It's not usually an interactive tool
though.


It's very often the case that an IDE will, behind the scenes,
integrate with a language compiler since the IDE will want to make it
easy for its users to run programs.


I've lately heard good things about PyCharm.  I have to admit that I
have not used it, though.  The PyCharm folks have a few video
tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ176FUIyIUZ1mwB-uImQE-gmkwzjNLjP
to show what their tool looks like.


For more recommendations and advice, you can take a look at the Wiki:

    https://wiki.python.org/moin/IntegratedDevelopmentEnvironments


Good luck!