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I am using Notepad++ (I'm a windows user) for more than 5 years for python/django development. Never regreted it - never found something better. I stuck to Note

I am using Notepad++ (I'm a windows user) for more than 5 years for python/django development. Never regreted it - never found something better. I stuck to Notepad++ even when I was using a Mac for some months (through Wine) - I couldn't find something better or faster. Everything else is way too slow (Atom, VS Code, pycharm) or way too inefficient (Vim / Emacs - inefficient for me they may be great for you) to replace Notepad++. An IDE is not really needed with python - it's not java - If you want to debug something just add a breakpoint to drop directly to your program (I have actually written a tutorial for that https://spapas.github.io/2016/06/07/django-werkzeug-debugger/ https://spapas.github.io/2016/06/07/django-werkzeug-debugger...) - you'll then have a full repl to do whatever you wish! I really think that notepad++ is a great editor (at least for windows users) and should get more traction. I had tried sublime text a bit and the only feature I found usefull that notepad++ lacks is the quick switch to file - but I can live without it, especially since Notepad++ is Open Source!

mcintyre1994 9y ago
Did you try sublime on OS X? I like notepad++ too, I'd say it's pretty interchangeable with sublime on Windows - but I'd be surprised if it on wine is better than sublime native.
- spapas82 9y ago
  No I didn't try it on OS X - I didn't have a license and, because I was going to use OS X for some months (not permanently) I'd bitten the bullet and went the wine-way. Probably you are right though, if I was using OSX as my main OS I'd definitely consider buying a sublime license since there were some problems with the Notepad++ (mainly with its filesystem integration).
- stinos 9y ago
  I'd say it's pretty interchangeable with sublime on Windows Depends on usage maybe? Haven't used NPP in a while anymore, but IIRC it lacked built-in functionality or plugins for go to definition/got to anything/PEP8/Flake8/GitGutter/... which work as good as Sublime's?
mundanevoice 9y ago
Only if you haven't worked on Pycharm, you can say this. Try the latest Pycharm on a medium/big size project and you will understand. It is the best Python IDE out there, right now. Nothing even comes close.
- spapas82 9y ago
  Pycharm is good - I've used it. However there are various disadvantatges to it: a. It is not open source b. It is slow on my (Celeron based) PC c. I don't really need the capabilities of a full-flexed IDE (auto-completion, debug etc) for Python
  - SimbaOnSteroids 9y ago
    If you still have a .edu email address they offer a student license but I get the feeling you're doing non educational/hobbyist work so that might violate the TOS
  - mundanevoice 9y ago
    Well, I think you are mistaken here. There is an Open Source Community Edition of all versions of Pycharm if you are so inclined to the Open Source. That is quite good enough. Celeron is quite old and slow and it is not fair to expect an IDE to work fast on that old PC. Though you can still disable some advanced features( inspections) and make it reasonably fast. Again, it totally depends on the project you are working. For a reasonable sized project, you can do away with an editor. But with large codebases, IDE support is a great difference. And this is coming from someone who has been writing all his code on Vim for last 6 years or so. Basically, all you require is a productive environment that doesn't hold you back and enables you to write faster and correct code. For me and a lot of other people, Pycharm is quite that tool.
- PeterisP 9y ago
  Pycharm is good, but it really depends on the project size - I'd use Pycharm for larger projects, but at the same time I'll open smaller separate scripts in Sublime even if I have Pycharm already open.
metalliqaz 9y ago
I also use Notepad++. Was starting to feel left out reading the comments. I roll up my sleeves and work with the junk behind the scenes manually. I think it somehow improves my understanding of how everything work.

mcintyre1994 9y ago

Did you try sublime on OS X? I like notepad++ too, I'd say it's pretty interchangeable with sublime on Windows - but I'd be surprised if it on wine is better than sublime native.

spapas82 9y ago
No I didn't try it on OS X - I didn't have a license and, because I was going to use OS X for some months (not permanently) I'd bitten the bullet and went the wine-way. Probably you are right though, if I was using OSX as my main OS I'd definitely consider buying a sublime license since there were some problems with the Notepad++ (mainly with its filesystem integration).
stinos 9y ago
I'd say it's pretty interchangeable with sublime on Windows Depends on usage maybe? Haven't used NPP in a while anymore, but IIRC it lacked built-in functionality or plugins for go to definition/got to anything/PEP8/Flake8/GitGutter/... which work as good as Sublime's?

mundanevoice 9y ago

Only if you haven't worked on Pycharm, you can say this. Try the latest Pycharm on a medium/big size project and you will understand. It is the best Python IDE out there, right now. Nothing even comes close.

spapas82 9y ago
Pycharm is good - I've used it. However there are various disadvantatges to it: a. It is not open source b. It is slow on my (Celeron based) PC c. I don't really need the capabilities of a full-flexed IDE (auto-completion, debug etc) for Python
- SimbaOnSteroids 9y ago
  If you still have a .edu email address they offer a student license but I get the feeling you're doing non educational/hobbyist work so that might violate the TOS
- mundanevoice 9y ago
  Well, I think you are mistaken here. There is an Open Source Community Edition of all versions of Pycharm if you are so inclined to the Open Source. That is quite good enough. Celeron is quite old and slow and it is not fair to expect an IDE to work fast on that old PC. Though you can still disable some advanced features( inspections) and make it reasonably fast. Again, it totally depends on the project you are working. For a reasonable sized project, you can do away with an editor. But with large codebases, IDE support is a great difference. And this is coming from someone who has been writing all his code on Vim for last 6 years or so. Basically, all you require is a productive environment that doesn't hold you back and enables you to write faster and correct code. For me and a lot of other people, Pycharm is quite that tool.
PeterisP 9y ago
Pycharm is good, but it really depends on the project size - I'd use Pycharm for larger projects, but at the same time I'll open smaller separate scripts in Sublime even if I have Pycharm already open.

metalliqaz 9y ago

I also use Notepad++. Was starting to feel left out reading the comments. I roll up my sleeves and work with the junk behind the scenes manually. I think it somehow improves my understanding of how everything work.