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  1. Stackups
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  5. PhpStorm vs PyCharm

PhpStorm vs PyCharm

OverviewDecisionsComparisonAlternatives

Overview

PhpStorm
PhpStorm
Stacks14.3K
Followers11.1K
Votes1.6K
PyCharm
PyCharm
Stacks28.4K
Followers24.2K
Votes451

PhpStorm vs PyCharm: What are the differences?

Introduction

PhpStorm and PyCharm are two popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) used by developers. While both are developed by JetBrains and support multiple programming languages, there are key differences between the two.

  1. Language Support: PhpStorm is primarily designed for PHP development and provides comprehensive support for PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. On the other hand, PyCharm is specifically built for Python development and offers robust features, code analysis, and integration with popular Python frameworks like Django and Flask.

  2. Features and Bundled Plugins: PhpStorm comes with a wide range of features tailored for web development, including code completion, code analysis, debugging tools, version control integration, and database tools. It also provides a variety of bundled plugins for popular PHP frameworks. PyCharm, on the other hand, offers advanced Python-specific features such as code completion, intelligent code refactoring, debugging, testing tools, virtual environments, and support for scientific libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

  3. UI and Customization: PhpStorm has a more extensive user interface with multiple panels and tool windows, allowing developers to have a comprehensive overview of their project. It also provides a high level of customization options to tailor the IDE according to individual preferences. In contrast, PyCharm has a cleaner and simpler interface with a focus on Python-specific development tools and features.

  4. Community Edition Availability: PhpStorm is a commercial IDE and is not available for free. It requires a paid license to access all its features. PyCharm, on the other hand, offers a free Community Edition that provides essential Python development features. However, PyCharm also offers a Professional Edition with additional advanced features for Python development, which requires a paid license.

  5. Java Development Support: PhpStorm provides limited support for Java development, allowing developers to work on Java projects. It includes essential tools and features for Java coding, such as code completion, refactoring, and debugging. In contrast, PyCharm does not offer native support for Java development and is primarily focused on Python development.

  6. Web Development Support: While both PhpStorm and PyCharm offer web development support, PhpStorm has a more extensive set of features specifically designed for web development. It includes support for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with advanced tools for code completion, debugging, and integration with popular web frameworks and libraries. PyCharm, although it provides web development support, primarily focuses on Python-specific web development frameworks like Django and Flask.

In Summary, PhpStorm is specialized for PHP development, offers comprehensive language support, and provides advanced web development features. PyCharm, on the other hand, is specifically built for Python development, offers Python-specific tools and features, and has a free Community Edition available.

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Advice on PhpStorm, PyCharm

Johnny
Johnny

Software Engineer at StackShare

Aug 15, 2019

Needs adviceonVisual Studio CodeVisual Studio CodePhpStormPhpStormWebStormWebStorm

When I switched to Visual Studio Code 12 months ago from PhpStorm I was in love, it was great. However after using VS Code for a year, I see myself switching back and forth between WebStorm and VS Code. The VS Code plugins are great however I notice Prettier, auto importing of components and linking to the definitions often break, and I have to restart VS Code multiple times a week and sometimes a day.

We use Ruby here so I do like that Visual Studio Code highlights that for me out of the box, with WebStorm I'd need to probably also install RubyMine and have 2 IDE's going at the same time.

Should I stick with Visual Studio Code, or switch to something else? #help

1.02M views1.02M
Comments
christy
christy

Program Manager

Jul 1, 2020

Needs adviceonPythonPythonEclipseEclipseIntelliJ IDEAIntelliJ IDEA

UPDATE: Thanks for the great response. I am going to start with VSCode based on the open source and free version that will allow me to grow into other languages, but not cost me a license ..yet.

I have been working with software development for 12 years, but I am just beginning my journey to learn to code. I am starting with Python following the suggestion of some of my coworkers. They are split between Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA for IDEs that they use and PyCharm is new to me. Which IDE would you suggest for a beginner that will allow expansion to Java, JavaScript, and eventually AngularJS and possibly mobile applications?

2.03M views2.03M
Comments
John
John

Oct 7, 2021

Decided

If you need an IDE for dotnet on Mac or Linux, Rider is really the only way to go. I recently started a .NET personal project, and initially used VSCode for it, since it had served me so well before for so many other languages. After downloading Rider using my free student license, however, I can never go back. To any other aspiring devs reading this: if you're doing something other than webdev and you can get one for free, please use a full-fledged IDE for whatever you're doing. It might be heavy and it might take getting used to, but the refactorings and quick fixes are going to be invaluable once you start really getting in there.

75.1k views75.1k
Comments

Detailed Comparison

PhpStorm
PhpStorm
PyCharm
PyCharm

PhpStorm is a PHP IDE which keeps up with latest PHP & web languages trends, integrates a variety of modern tools, and brings even more extensibility with support for major PHP frameworks.

PyCharm’s smart code editor provides first-class support for Python, JavaScript, CoffeeScript, TypeScript, CSS, popular template languages and more. Take advantage of language-aware code completion, error detection, and on-the-fly code fixes!

Smart PHP Code Editor;Code Quality Analysis;Debugging and Testing;HTML/CSS/JavaScript Editor;Cross-platform Experience;Support for all major PHP frameworks;VCS; SQL Editor; Unit Testing;
Syntax highlighting;Auto-Indentation and code formatting;Code completion;Line and block commenting;On-the-fly error highlighting;Code snippets;Code folding
Statistics
Stacks
14.3K
Stacks
28.4K
Followers
11.1K
Followers
24.2K
Votes
1.6K
Votes
451
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 287
    Best ide for php
  • 232
    Easy to use
  • 218
    Functionality
  • 166
    Plugins
  • 160
    Code analysis
Cons
  • 14
    Uses a lot of memory
  • 10
    Does not open large files
  • 9
    Slow
  • 8
    Uses Java machine
  • 3
    No way to change syntax highlight for files without ext
Pros
  • 112
    Smart auto-completion
  • 93
    Intelligent code analysis
  • 77
    Powerful refactoring
  • 60
    Virtualenv integration
  • 54
    Git integration
Cons
  • 10
    Slow startup
  • 7
    Not very flexible
  • 6
    Resource hog
  • 3
    Periodic slow menu response
  • 1
    Pricey for full features
Integrations
Vagrant
Vagrant
Google App Engine
Google App Engine
Django
Django
Python
Python

What are some alternatives to PhpStorm, PyCharm?

IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA

Out of the box, IntelliJ IDEA provides a comprehensive feature set including tools and integrations with the most important modern technologies and frameworks for enterprise and web development with Java, Scala, Groovy and other languages.

Visual Studio

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a suite of component-based software development tools and other technologies for building powerful, high-performance applications.

WebStorm

WebStorm

WebStorm is a lightweight and intelligent IDE for front-end development and server-side JavaScript.

NetBeans IDE

NetBeans IDE

NetBeans IDE is FREE, open source, and has a worldwide community of users and developers.

Eclipse

Eclipse

Standard Eclipse package suited for Java and plug-in development plus adding new plugins; already includes Git, Marketplace Client, source code and developer documentation. Click here to file a bug against Eclipse Platform.

Android Studio

Android Studio

Android Studio is a new Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA. It provides new features and improvements over Eclipse ADT and will be the official Android IDE once it's ready.

RubyMine

RubyMine

JetBrains RubyMine IDE provides a comprehensive Ruby code editor aware of dynamic language specifics and delivers smart coding assistance, intelligent code refactoring and code analysis capabilities.

CLion

CLion

Knowing your code through and through, CLion can take care of the routine while you focus on the important things. Boost your productivity with the keyboard-centric approach (Vim-emulation plugin is also available in plugin repository), full coding assistance, smart and relevant code completion, fast project navigation, intelligent intention actions, and reliable refactorings.

Xcode

Xcode

The Xcode IDE is at the center of the Apple development experience. Tightly integrated with the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks, Xcode is an incredibly productive environment for building amazing apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Pharo

Pharo

A pure object-oriented programming language and a powerful environment, focused on simplicity and immediate feedback.

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