2023-03-03    Share on: Twitter | Facebook | HackerNews | Reddit

Best Python IDE for and Old Computer

Python is one of the most widely used programming languages for a variety of applications such as web development, data science, artificial intelligence, and more. Choosing the right integrated development environment (IDE) is essential for efficient and productive coding, especially if you have an older computer with limited resources. Here are some of the best Python IDEs that are suitable for older computers.

Best IDEs

1. IDLE

IDLE (Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is a lightweight IDE that comes bundled with Python itself. It is a basic IDE that provides the essential features for coding, such as syntax highlighting, code folding, autocompletion, and debugging. Since IDLE is included with Python, it requires minimal setup and is easy to use, making it a great option for beginners or those with limited resources.

2. Geany

Geany is a lightweight and fast IDE that is suitable for older computers. It supports a wide range of programming languages, including Python, and provides features such as code folding, syntax highlighting, and autocompletion. Geany also has a plugin system that allows you to add additional features and functionality as needed. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

3. Spyder

Spyder is an open-source Python IDE that is specifically designed for scientific computing and data analysis. It provides a range of features such as debugging, profiling, and testing tools, as well as integration with popular scientific libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and Pandas. Spyder also has a customizable interface, allowing you to adjust the layout to suit your preferences. Although it has more features than some other IDEs, it is still relatively lightweight and should run well on older computers.

4. PyCharm Community Edition

PyCharm is a popular IDE for Python development that provides a range of advanced features such as code completion, refactoring, debugging, and testing. The Community Edition is a free and open-source version of PyCharm that is suitable for smaller projects and individual developers. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and can be customized with plugins and themes.

5. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a lightweight and fast text editor that supports multiple programming languages, including Python. It provides a range of features such as syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and code folding, as well as plugins that allow you to add additional functionality as needed. Sublime Text is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is highly customizable.

Lesser known but yet powerful IDEs for python development on an old computer

Apart from the commonly used Python IDEs, there are some lesser-known but powerful IDEs that can be used for Python development on an old computer. Here are some of them:

1. Eric Python IDE

Eric Python IDE is a powerful and fully-featured IDE for Python development. It provides features such as code highlighting, autocompletion, debugging, profiling, refactoring, and more. Eric also supports multiple platforms and languages and is highly customizable. Eric is written in Python and Qt, making it lightweight and suitable for older computers.

2. Wing IDE

Wing IDE is an advanced IDE for Python development that provides features such as code intelligence, debugging, testing, version control, and more. Wing IDE is highly customizable and supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Wing IDE has a relatively low memory footprint and is optimized for speed, making it a good choice for older computers.

3. PyDev

PyDev is an open-source Python IDE that provides features such as code highlighting, autocompletion, debugging, testing, and more. PyDev is highly customizable and supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. PyDev is optimized for speed and has a relatively low memory footprint, making it a good choice for older computers.

4. Thonny

Thonny is a beginner-friendly Python IDE that provides features such as code highlighting, autocompletion, debugging, and more. Thonny is designed to be easy to use and has a simple interface that is suitable for beginners. Thonny is optimized for speed and has a relatively low memory footprint, making it a good choice for older computers.

5. Pyzo

Pyzo is an open-source Python IDE that provides features such as code highlighting, autocompletion, debugging, testing, and more. Pyzo is designed to be lightweight and easy to use and is suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Pyzo is optimized for speed and has a relatively low memory footprint, making it a good choice for older computers.

References

The links to the Python IDEs mentioned in this article:

  1. IDLE - https://docs.python.org/3/library/idle.html
  2. Geany - https://www.geany.org/
  3. Spyder - https://www.spyder-ide.org/
  4. PyCharm Community Edition - https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/
  5. Sublime Text - https://www.sublimetext.com/

And here are the links to the lesser-known but powerful Python IDEs:

  1. Eric Python IDE - https://eric-ide.python-projects.org/
  2. Wing IDE - https://wingware.com/
  3. PyDev - http://www.pydev.org/
  4. Thonny - https://thonny.org/
  5. Pyzo - https://pyzo.org/

Extras

Here are 20 lesser-known options for Python IDEs that you can consider:

  1. Komodo Edit - https://www.activestate.com/products/komodo-edit/
  2. Jupyter Notebook - https://jupyter.org/
  3. GNU Emacs - https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/
  4. Ninja IDE - https://ninja-ide.org/
  5. PyScripter - https://pyscripter.github.io/
  6. Leo - http://leoeditor.com/
  7. Pyzo - https://pyzo.org/
  8. DrPython - https://drpython.sourceforge.io/
  9. UliPad - https://code.google.com/archive/p/ulipad/
  10. Eric6 - https://eric-ide.python-projects.org/
  11. Thonny - https://thonny.org/
  12. KDevelop - https://www.kdevelop.org/
  13. Boa Constructor - https://sourceforge.net/projects/boa-constructor/
  14. Stani's Python Editor (SPE) - https://pythonide.blogspot.com/
  15. Kodos - http://kodos.sourceforge.net/
  16. Wing IDE Personal - https://wingware.com/downloads/wing-personal
  17. Python Tools for Visual Studio - https://github.com/microsoft/PTVS
  18. PyCharm Edu - https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm-edu/
  19. Visual Studio Code - https://code.visualstudio.com/
  20. Mu - https://codewith.mu/

These are just a few of the many options available for Python IDEs. It's important to choose an IDE that works best for your specific needs and preferences, as well as the capabilities of your computer.