Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!
PyCharm vs Visual Studio: What are the differences?
PyCharm and Visual Studio are two popular IDEs with distinct focuses. PyCharm is a specialized IDE specifically designed for Python development, while Visual Studio is a versatile IDE that supports multiple programming languages. Let's explore the key differences:
Language Support: PyCharm is specifically designed for Python developers and offers comprehensive language support for Python, including code analysis, debugging, and testing tools specific to the language. Visual Studio, while supporting Python, extends its capabilities to various other programming languages such as C#, C++, JavaScript, and more, making it suitable for multi-language development projects.
User Interface and Design: PyCharm provides a clean and intuitive user interface with Python-centric features, enabling seamless navigation and coding. It offers dedicated tools for virtual environments, code completion, and project management tailored to Python development. Visual Studio, known for its feature-rich environment, provides a highly customizable interface with extensive tool windows, project management capabilities, and advanced debugging features that cater to a broader range of development needs.
Built-in Tools and Features: PyCharm includes essential tools like a powerful debugger, testing frameworks, code inspections, and version control integration for Python developers. In contrast, Visual Studio offers a broad range of features for different programming languages, including advanced code editing, debugging, source control integration, web development tools, and support for various frameworks and platforms.
Ecosystem and Community Support: PyCharm has a vibrant Python community and a marketplace with many plugins and extensions to enhance Python development. In comparison, Visual Studio has a larger ecosystem, supporting multiple programming languages and development domains. It offers a wide array of extensions, integration with popular frameworks, and support for various tools, making it suitable for diverse development needs.
Platform Compatibility: PyCharm is a cross-platform IDE available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for developers working on different operating systems. Visual Studio, on the other hand, is primarily designed for Windows and offers a comprehensive IDE with a range of powerful features.
In summary, PyCharm excels as a specialized IDE for Python development, offering a Python-centric user interface, extensive language support, and a rich set of Python-specific tools. It provides a focused development experience for Python projects. Visual Studio, with its versatility and multi-language support, serves as a comprehensive IDE catering to diverse programming needs. It offers a customizable interface, a wide range of built-in tools and features, extensive community support, and cross-platform compatibility, making it suitable for developers working on various languages and frameworks beyond Python.
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?
Pycharm is great for python development, but can feel sometimes slow and community version has Somme very annoying restrictions (like they disabled jupyter notebooks plugin and made it premium feature). I personally started looking into VS Code as an alternative, and it has some very good potential. I suggest you take it into account.
The Community version of PyCharm is free and should give you what you need to get started with Python. Both PyCharm and IntelliJ are made by JetBrains. IntelliJ is initially focused on Java but you can get plugins for lots of other things. I subscribe to JetBrains' Toolbox: https://www.jetbrains.com/toolbox-app/ and have access to all of their great tools.
Hi, I will give my opinion based on my experience. I have used PyCharm, both community and Professional version. The community has limited functions, like you can't use a Jupyter notebook whereas it's available in the Professional version. PyCharm is slower compared to Visual Studio Code. Also Visual Studio Code is an editor which supports various languages. I myself have used both Visual Studio Code and PyCharm. I feel Visual Studio Code would be better choice. You may as well decide based upon your requirements.
I couldn't imagine using a development tool other than the IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate All Products Pack. A single license allows me to work directly on my server running Ubuntu and/or my workstation running Windows 10 Pro simultaneously. My current project uses HTML, W3CSS, JavaScript, Java, Groovy, Grails, C, GO, Python, Flask, and Rust. For me it's worth every penny of the $150 license fee. And you can try it for free.
Visual Studio code is easy to use, has a good UI, and a large community. Python works great with it, but unlike some other editors, it works with most languages either by default or by downloading a plugin. VS Code has built in linting, syntax coloring, autocompletes (IntelliSense), and an api for plugins to do there own tooling.
I'd personally recommend Visual Studio Code as it gives you the flexibility of working in any language, so long as there are extensions to support it. It gives you the flexibility to learn Python, venture into Java, Javascript, and eventually AngularJS, and potentially mobile applications. It's also free and you can install it on your personal computer. I think Visual Studio Code would serve your intended use case best.
IntelliJ really is the best for Java, I switched from eclipse years ago and never looked back. As for javascript, python and angular either using the standalone products from jetbrains (pycharm for python, webstorm for js) or installing the relevant plugins for InteliJ will be your best bet. Pycharm etc. are really just InteliJ with some additional plugins installed.
If you starting with Python then PyCharm is better. For Java I would suggest to go with IntelliJ IDEA but people also prefer eclipse so I would say try both and then decide. For JS/Angular/React I would suggest go with VSCode. I personally use it and prefer as its light weight and have good integration with chrome for frontend development.
PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA are both products of JetBrains. They have a free (limited feature) and paid edition. Eclipse is free. VSCode is also free.
Easy to learn and everything you need
This is a very easy to use tool and gives you the opportunity to start coding right after the installation with almost everything setup automatically by the tool.
All three are great, however, I believe that IntelliJ IDEA's multiple IDE's are slightly more straight-forward and more up-to date than Eclipse. If I had to choose one specifically for Python projects I would go with PyCharm.
Pycharm is all you need to get start coding in python or any of its framework. Its an awesome tool you should give it a try :)
The problem I have is whether to choose Android Studio or Visual Studio? I have to develop a simple app for a school project that can work on both iPhone and Android.
The most important factors for me are Android and iOS compatibility. Although note that i would like to become a Software Engineer when i finish my course. (I'd like to work for Apple, just saying!)
After that id like easy integration for Google Ads and such if i do develop another app that people actually use to support development. (I'd also like to stick with one easy programming language that's compatible with a wide variety of platforms since i'm a beginner and have only ever used Pascal)
First of all - Android Studio and Visual Studio are IDE's. Tools to create code. What you are asking is programming framework. I assume that when you are talking about Android Studio you mean Native Android Development and by Visual Studio you mean Xamarin.
If you want to create crossplatform app then Native Android Development is NOT a way to go. Xamarin might work for you, BUT - you'd rather recommend you to go with Flutter. It's much more performant than Xamarin, programming model is friendlier for developer and technology seems just more refined. It's also officially supported by google, so no worries about support.
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.
Lightweight and versatile. Huge library of extensions that enable you to integrate a host of services to your development environment. VS Code's biggest strength is its library of extensions which enables it to directly compete with every single major IDE for almost all major programming languages.
Pros of PyCharm
- Smart auto-completion112
- Intelligent code analysis93
- Powerful refactoring77
- Virtualenv integration60
- Git integration54
- Support for Django22
- Multi-database integration11
- VIM integration7
- Vagrant integration4
- In-tool Bash and Python shell3
- Plugin architecture2
- Docker2
- Django Implemented1
- Debug mode support docker1
- Emacs keybinds1
- Perforce integration1
Pros of Visual Studio
- Intellisense, ui305
- Complete ide and debugger244
- Plug-ins165
- Integrated104
- Documentation93
- Fast37
- Node tools for visual studio (ntvs)35
- Free Community edition33
- Simple24
- Bug free17
- Made by Microsoft8
- Full free community version6
- JetBrains plugins (ReSharper etc.) work sufficiently OK5
- Productivity Power Tools3
- Vim mode2
- VIM integration2
- I develop UWP apps and Intellisense is super useful1
- Cross platform development1
- The Power and Easiness to Do anything in any.. language1
- Available for Mac and Windows1
Sign up to add or upvote prosMake informed product decisions
Cons of PyCharm
- Slow startup10
- Not very flexible7
- Resource hog6
- Periodic slow menu response3
- Pricey for full features1
Cons of Visual Studio
- Bulky16
- Made by Microsoft14
- Sometimes you need to restart to finish an update6
- Too much size for disk3
- Only avalible on Windows3
Sign up to add or upvote consMake informed product decisions
What is PyCharm?
What is Visual Studio?
Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!
What companies use PyCharm?
What companies use Visual Studio?
Sign up to get full access to all the companiesMake informed product decisions
What tools integrate with Visual Studio?
Sign up to get full access to all the tool integrationsMake informed product decisions
Blog Posts
+12